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Custom Step Stool for a Christmas present.

The problem, what to get/make for someones birthday or for Christmas that is useful, thoughtful, and won’t cost me way too much money..  and might even be fun to make. (and it ended up being retardedly expensive for a step stool anyway, not to mention the huge strain on time…   I mention this only because I was happy to push other things aside to make time.)

One solution presented itself. I know someone that happens to be short, 5′ 2″ – or so, and she has mentioned/complained that she can’t reach certain things on shelves in her apartment. So I told her to get a milk crate or something like that because the wheels were already turning in my head and I didn’t want her to go and buy a step stool before I could finish making one for her for Christmas!

So I started with image searches online trying to find a really cool step stool to emulate. As it turns out, I didn’t really find the right one so I combined some elements from different step stools and my own ideas and made a completely unique one! Here are some of the step stools I found that are really cool!

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Deciding on a design.

For me this went really well. I sketched out a logo like design for personalization what matched her personality and dreams.

The design of the actual step stool was more of a work in process until it was actually done. I sketched out several ideas but none seemed to fit what I was trying to achieve. Finally I just drew directly on the red oak boards and started cutting and everything came together nicely.      Inspiration is an amazing feeling and I think I have my muse to thank. Love, hate, desire, jealousy, pain, happiness..  all a part of life, all beautiful, all inspire and drive me, and the rest of humanity to create, endure and evolve.

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Materials, tools, etc.

4 board feet of red oak, 2×2x12 poplar, .5x.5×10 poplar (3), wood glue, epoxy, wood stain.

Also used: Table saw, Chisels, Hammer.

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Construction!

As you can see I made the top of two boards laminated together to give it more visual bulk and a solid look even though one peice would have been more than sufficient for strength. I simply kept it clamped together while cutting the unique dovetail like coner connections I designed.

Between the two top pieces I cut out three channels in each, then filled with un-stained poplar to better tie the two peices together and create a visual intrest on the sides with texture and color contrast. See image below.

Before I get too far ahead I should mention the step stool dry-fit when all the pieces were cut apart and ready.

No glue, nothing holding it together except how tight the physical connections between the pieces of wood are. Note that the three center pieces for the top and the cross brace for the legs are not inserted at this point. It was strong enough for me to jump around on as is.  

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Once satisfied that all the parts would fit together properly with a little encouragement from a hammer I moved on to carving out the top to hold the inlay design of travertine stone.

Unfortunately, the stone was too brittle cut properly into the design I wanted without cracking and breaking in many places. So, I came up with a plan to grind up the travertine and mix it with a clear drying epoxy resin that could simply be smushed into the carved out area and then sanded smooth.

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Then everything just needed to be glued together!  …as is in process in the previous picture.

Unfortunately, I do not have a finished picture after it was all glued and finish coated with 3 coats of satin finish polyurithane. I had to pack it up and get on a plane to deliver it and forgot all about taking the last picture. Maybe I’ll get a picture one of these days. Untill then, I hope you can visualize it finished from all the other in-construction pictures.

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Hopefully it will be a lasting memory and much used gift for years to come.