Creative Woodworks & crafts 2002-08, страница 54

18 • Creative Woodworks S. Crafts August 2002

CLASSIC LITTLE STIP STOOL

SUPPLIES

Wood: clear pine—two pieces 3/4" x 11" x 11 -11 /16" [for the sides), one piece 3/4" x 11" x 13-3/8" (for the step), one piece 3/4" x 6-1 /4" x 16" (for the top), two pieces 3/4" x 2-3/8" x 13" (for the stretchers) Tools: table saw with miter gauge and sliding cross cut table; jointer (optional); band saw, jig saw or scroll saw; marking gauge; compass; spindle sander or drill press with drum sander; router with 1 /4"-Dia. roundover bit; hand drill; flathead screwdriver; block plane Sandpaper, 80 ana 120 grits Eight No. 4D finish nails

Twelve No. 8 or No. 10 x 1-3/4" brass oval head

wood screws Circular templates (one 3-1/2" radius and one 6" radius)

Batten (approximately 16" long) Yellow woodworker's glue Wood putty

Shellac or finish of choice

A s/mpJe design that is easy and economical to make!

Introduction

A little step stool is sometimes the most convenient piece of furniture to have around the house. That top shelf is always just inches out of reach. The light bulb that needs replacing must have been installed by someone just a little taller than yourself. If you were only a few inches taller, you wouldn't have to drag that bulky stepladder in from the garage, or be tempted to boost yourself up on something that wasn't designed for that purpose. At times like these this step stool is the perfect solution, high enough to give you the needed lift, but small enough to tuck out of the way in a corner or closet. Step stools are a favorite among small children, allowing them to do things on their own, like washing hands, brushing teeth, or even raiding the cookie jar.

This step stool requires only six pieces to make and is perfect for a weekend project. It is designed to be easily constructed from commonly available 1x12 pine. If clear pine is used, a 5-foot length of wood will be enough to make one stool. Since the stool requires only short pieces, No. 2 pine can also be used. In this case select a piece of 1 x 12 pine longer than 5 feet to give yourself room to cut the required short pieces from in between any major knots or imperfections in the board.

INSTRUCTIONS

First cuts

Begin construction by referring to the cutting diagram and rough cut four pieces to length. Hint: it's a good practice to cut these pieces a little longer (about 1") than the finished length. If you have a jointer, joint an edge on each piece perfectly straight and use the table saw to rip cut the pieces to finished width (see the cutting diagram). The top step and front and rear stretchers are designed to be cut from the same piece of wood. The I x 12 is just barely wide enough to make all three pieces, so cut the 6-l/4"-wide top step first and if necessary the stretchers can be slightly narrower than

by Peter Brylinski