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The Natural Philosopher

wrote:
Hmmm - planing a long edge square is quite a challenge for a novice -
especially one that hasn't even used a router before. Hopefully he can
get fully squared up boards that don't require it.

I'd agree, butt join the boards - but ideally with biscuits (which
makes getting the two boards dead level a trivial task). Glue with
cascamite or polyurethane, and sash cramp up.

Or even blind screw battens underneath to hold em together.

Making broad thin planks is a fair recipe for cracking and splitting
anyway..as humidity varies over the year..

Unless you want to see exposed wood, always use MDF. Its a far more
stable material.

Or make the treads from MDF with a hardwood nose and a hardwood veneer
on top.

I love natural wood..but I accept its severe limitations in terms of
fine accurate structural work. I.e. you need to go to extreme lengths to
accommodate its movement, or constrain it.