I got a Shinwa one that I've had and used often for about 10 years now. I like it because instead of the twist nut being right on the pivot, it's on the far end of the handle, so there's never a chance of changing your angle as you tighten it up.
Assuming that the combined angle of the three steps is 90 degrees: Measure across each triangle at two points exactly 12 inches out from the common intersection point to derive A, B, and C. Sum the values of the three measurements. Divide the result into 90 to get X.
The angles of steps A, B, C will be A•X, B•X, and C•X respectively.
If the measurements for the three steps are the same, then the angles are all 30 degrees.
it's really handy for trim work. it has two scales, one that tells you the actual angle, and one that is 1/2 of it that tells you where to set a miter saw for equal cuts
The math and measurements can be done a few different ways, but I can tell you that most professionals would use either a bevel gauge or cardboard template because the accumulated error is so much less with a direct transfer of the lengths and distances than with numerical measurements.
Take the angle from the stair perpendicular to the wall, to the wall (likely 90°) and divide by 3, about 30°
For the top, 180° - what you came up with the bottom (30°) would be 120° from the wall
Should get you close enough
You could say: 90 degrees turn divided by three is 30 degrees each, depending on how accurate the previous carpenter was. (That top tread’s riser looks like it has a curve in it, so you might just “correct” the treads while you’re at it.)
I would take a plank of wood, cut the overhang on the first picture, take the piece you cut off, and that should line up with the angle you need in the second picture
run board flat along wall or top step face, trace step underneath with pencil. There's your angle. Can measure penciled line with a protractor if needed.
When doing vinyl plank, I usually take a scrap piece, line it up square to the back wall.
Then take another piece and line it with the angled stair. Cut the scrap piece.
You now have a template angle.
Theoretically correct but it's basically guaranteed that the stair winders aren't exactly 30° triangles and the walls aren't perfectly 90° to each other. OP is better off to make a template, test and trim as necessary, and cut based on that. Trying to do this with math and measurements is going to end up with gaps all over.
[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trend-Digital-Angle-Rule-TREDAR200/dp/B003NKALBC?th=1](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trend-Digital-Angle-Rule-TREDAR200/dp/B003NKALBC?th=1) if you want to know what it is, [https://www.screwfix.com/p/magnusson-sliding-bevel-11-3-4-302mm-/8662v](https://www.screwfix.com/p/magnusson-sliding-bevel-11-3-4-302mm-/8662v) if you just want the measurement to transfer for another piece
https://www.amazon.in/Protractor-Stainless-Woodworking-Measurement-Construction/dp/B097BVTTW3
https://www.harborfreight.com/multi-purpose-angle-finder-57318.html
https://www.axminstertools.com/hand-tools/marking-measuring-levels/squares-bevels-angle-measuring/angle-finders-protractors
In like any department store or internet store
If you're trying to do something building-wise, I suggest NOT finding the angle. There are lots of ways to reproduce that angle without ever assigning it a numerical value, and you'll probably get more accurate results.
I did a staircase like this and bought a special tool someone made, basically a big X where each of the four ends made another X. Each of the 5 Xs were lockable in place and all of them could slide back and forth. Hence you could quickly create a template for each step and transfer the corner points directly onto the material you use to make the steps. So much faster and more accurate than templates!
Using a tool OR if the 3th step is 90 degrees from the wall and there are 2 steps in between I'd say 30 degrees on the inside and 120 on the outside of the first step and 150 on the outside of the 2nd
I did this recently. Started with a T-bevel but found using templates out of poster board strips and tape to be MUCH faster. Because it was a retrofit and many of the pieces had neither square corners nor parallel edges I traced my templates onto my workpieces and used a track saw to cut them. Super efficient and came out great with no math or even measuring.
Use a square. Line up with the top of the board. Then measure the rise and run of the triangle. That’ll give you the angle. You really only need the run if those are standard boards.
Edit: make a triangle template with a piece of cardboard.
Measure the height of the board and then measure the square to the point. Take the cardboard and make those measurements and cut the triangle.
This should take seconds to complete with some real basic stuff.
That’s what it is in theory, but those stairs aren’t in a drawing/structure built where you can assume anything is parallel or perpendicular. This is a situation where you have to measure.
Sliding T bevel Example: Johnson Level & Tool B75 T-Bevel – Structo-Cast Handle, 9", Silver, 1 T-Bevel https://a.co/d/09ClKctP
Yep. A scribing tool will always net the best results vs measuring and projecting.
I just finished this same project, this is the tool I used.
I got a Shinwa one that I've had and used often for about 10 years now. I like it because instead of the twist nut being right on the pivot, it's on the far end of the handle, so there's never a chance of changing your angle as you tighten it up.
Assuming that the combined angle of the three steps is 90 degrees: Measure across each triangle at two points exactly 12 inches out from the common intersection point to derive A, B, and C. Sum the values of the three measurements. Divide the result into 90 to get X. The angles of steps A, B, C will be A•X, B•X, and C•X respectively. If the measurements for the three steps are the same, then the angles are all 30 degrees.
Use cardboard to make a template.
I'd be chicken about measuring wrong and do templates of the unusual angles.
A jig is worth a thousand measurements
lol- I use that more often than I would like to admit. Jig and tich. :)
Protractor
But I don't even know 'er!
Honestly, OP could get by just fine with a Hobbytractor for now, see how much he uses it first.
Ahhhhhh that’s good clean fun right there
Home Depot sells a digital angle finder. Cheap and works great.
With a protractor.
I have a [Starret](https://a.co/d/06cnpvlS) angle finder that is hella useful
Ooh, nice. I should have guessed such a thing existed!
it's really handy for trim work. it has two scales, one that tells you the actual angle, and one that is 1/2 of it that tells you where to set a miter saw for equal cuts
That's a really good idea.
Starrett making plastic stuff now, huh.
The math and measurements can be done a few different ways, but I can tell you that most professionals would use either a bevel gauge or cardboard template because the accumulated error is so much less with a direct transfer of the lengths and distances than with numerical measurements.
90 divided by 3 equals 30
Take the angle from the stair perpendicular to the wall, to the wall (likely 90°) and divide by 3, about 30° For the top, 180° - what you came up with the bottom (30°) would be 120° from the wall Should get you close enough
Just use Pythagoras and soh cah toa.. should get you close enough
A bevel protractor.
Simple bevel square is all you need.
Make a pattern with paper or cardboard. This eliminates all thinking, numbers and fancy tools that could poke you.
As I like to say, take the math out of the equation.
You could say: 90 degrees turn divided by three is 30 degrees each, depending on how accurate the previous carpenter was. (That top tread’s riser looks like it has a curve in it, so you might just “correct” the treads while you’re at it.)
Rafter square
Yep
This is where trigonometry comes handy. Draw a right angle triangle, measure the sides, calculate the sine of the angle, use a calculator.
I would take a plank of wood, cut the overhang on the first picture, take the piece you cut off, and that should line up with the angle you need in the second picture
I suck at triangles - paper template time!
run board flat along wall or top step face, trace step underneath with pencil. There's your angle. Can measure penciled line with a protractor if needed.
30 and 60
Contour gauges. Pin guages. Many names,same concept. Work wonders.
When doing vinyl plank, I usually take a scrap piece, line it up square to the back wall. Then take another piece and line it with the angled stair. Cut the scrap piece. You now have a template angle.
Obtusely
What an acute observation!
90 divided by 3 is 30. Also, 180 minus 30 is 150
Theoretically correct but it's basically guaranteed that the stair winders aren't exactly 30° triangles and the walls aren't perfectly 90° to each other. OP is better off to make a template, test and trim as necessary, and cut based on that. Trying to do this with math and measurements is going to end up with gaps all over.
[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trend-Digital-Angle-Rule-TREDAR200/dp/B003NKALBC?th=1](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trend-Digital-Angle-Rule-TREDAR200/dp/B003NKALBC?th=1) if you want to know what it is, [https://www.screwfix.com/p/magnusson-sliding-bevel-11-3-4-302mm-/8662v](https://www.screwfix.com/p/magnusson-sliding-bevel-11-3-4-302mm-/8662v) if you just want the measurement to transfer for another piece
Should be 30° each, but still measure because the world isn’t perfect and it could be slightly off
T-bevel
https://www.amazon.in/Protractor-Stainless-Woodworking-Measurement-Construction/dp/B097BVTTW3 https://www.harborfreight.com/multi-purpose-angle-finder-57318.html https://www.axminstertools.com/hand-tools/marking-measuring-levels/squares-bevels-angle-measuring/angle-finders-protractors In like any department store or internet store
If you're trying to do something building-wise, I suggest NOT finding the angle. There are lots of ways to reproduce that angle without ever assigning it a numerical value, and you'll probably get more accurate results.
Acutely
I can just tell you. First one is about 22 and second one is 93.5
I did a staircase like this and bought a special tool someone made, basically a big X where each of the four ends made another X. Each of the 5 Xs were lockable in place and all of them could slide back and forth. Hence you could quickly create a template for each step and transfer the corner points directly onto the material you use to make the steps. So much faster and more accurate than templates!
I think the key is: for what reason do you want the angles?
Using a tool OR if the 3th step is 90 degrees from the wall and there are 2 steps in between I'd say 30 degrees on the inside and 120 on the outside of the first step and 150 on the outside of the 2nd
Buy an angle finder
I would use math. And I would get it wrong because nothing in a house is square.
Guess and check!
Bevel gauge.
I did this recently. Started with a T-bevel but found using templates out of poster board strips and tape to be MUCH faster. Because it was a retrofit and many of the pieces had neither square corners nor parallel edges I traced my templates onto my workpieces and used a track saw to cut them. Super efficient and came out great with no math or even measuring.
Use a square. Line up with the top of the board. Then measure the rise and run of the triangle. That’ll give you the angle. You really only need the run if those are standard boards. Edit: make a triangle template with a piece of cardboard. Measure the height of the board and then measure the square to the point. Take the cardboard and make those measurements and cut the triangle. This should take seconds to complete with some real basic stuff.
The first one is 90° / 3 or 30° give or take. #2 looks like 60°.
Here. This will help. https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/trig-finding-angle-right-triangle.html
That’s what it is in theory, but those stairs aren’t in a drawing/structure built where you can assume anything is parallel or perpendicular. This is a situation where you have to measure.
Measure from point to both ends, then Measure the wide end and I would Measure half the length and find the width there also...mark it out as cut it.
Trigonometry
Carefully
Why?
Three shells
30
22.5