How to Make a Miniature Spiral Staircase

Spiral staircases allow movement between floors in a very small space.

Spiral staircases are an elegant, somewhat unusual piece of architecture that you don't often see as a part of dollhouse decor. Finding one to buy can be difficult, but you can create your own miniature spiral staircase. The structure of a spiral staircase looks more complex than it really is, making it relatively simple to assemble with the right tools and techniques. 

Things You'll Need

• 1/4-inch soft craft wood
• Scroll saw
• 2 new pencils
• Ruler
• 1/2-inch craft dowel, 20 inches long
• Epoxy putty
• Disposable gloves
• Acrylic paint

Instructions

1. Create a paperboard pattern for the stairs. Sketch an equilateral triangle measuring 2 1/2 inches at its base and 3 1/2 inches tall. Cut out the pattern.

2. Cut the pieces for the stairs. Use the paper pattern and pencil to trace the shape on the craft planks 20 times. Use the scroll saw to cut out these pieces.

3. Draw a small circle near the long, pointed end of each triangle. Circle the eraser of the new pencil with the other pencil to get the right size and shape.

4. Bore through the pencil holes in each of the stair pieces to make threading holes. Use the router attachment on the oscillating power tool, cutting from the middle out for each hole.

5. Thread the stairs on the dowel, poking the dowel through each of the round holes you just made.

6. Put on your protective gloves. Mix the epoxy putty according to the manufacturer's instructions.

7. Fix the stairs in place with epoxy putty. Roll a small ball of putty large enough to fill each hole in each stair piece. Stick each stair in place on the dowel. Space the stairs out a half inch from each other. Fan them out gradually to form the staircase spiral.

8. Let the epoxy set and harden fully.

9. Paint the finished stairs to match your dollhouse.

References

• "The Art of the Miniature: Small Worlds and How to Make Them;" Jane Freeman and Roger Rosenblatt; 2002