The rectangular panel is about 3/8” less wide than the stair rails and 42” to 48” long.  The angle of the stairs will dictate how long the load platform can be.  In my case, the platform is 26” long.  In order to make the device more compact for storage, I hinged the panel that supports the load platform.  (If you hinge it like this you MUST have a fool proof scheme to prevent the panel from collapsing in use.) The clever part of this design is a winch that is out of the way for ordinary stair use but in a position easy to operate in rooms where the ceiling height is a nominal 8’.

The winch consists of a piece of steel pipe (1/2” electrical conduit called EMT).  A piece of aluminum or steel  pipe that has an internal diameter of ¾”.  A length of 1 ¼” Schedule 40 PVC pipe and PVC end caps.  Pillow blocks are made of scrap Corian, ABS, aluminum or whatever else you may have that is strong enough for the job.  A piece of ¼ x 20 threaded rod serves as a crank.  BE CERTAIN TO PUT A SMOOTH ROUNDED KNOB ON THE END OF THE CRANK!    I used 1/8” diameter wire rope for the winch with a double wheel pulley of one inch size.  (The use of double ropes allows you to pull the outfit from its true center.)

The most difficult fabrication task is to make the long slots in the steel pipe used in the winch.  I happen to have a milling machine but you could do the job by drilling many holes in a row and then filing out the web between them to produce a slot.

When wire rope is loaded, it will wind evenly on the mandrel.

I already had a reel of wire rope.  It is much larger than necessary for this job.

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