STEP UP

THIS STEP-STOOL is a practical, multi-purpose unit for when you need to step up in the home or workshop and a stepladder, even a small one, would be overkill. What you see here serves as a set of steps, a seat and a stand, all in one.

Standing 400 mm high, 400 mm wide and 235 mm deep when the step is turned in, the unit is constructed out of 250 mm x 25 mm and 100 mm x 25 mm boards.

ABOUT THE WOOD DIMENSIONS

All dimensions are given in millimetres. The size (width and thickness) of the wood referred to throughout this project is the “actual size” or “true size”; that is, the size of the lumber when it has been finished or planed. Before the lumber has been finished or planed, it is called the “nominal size”. For example, 250 mm x 25 mm when planed may become 235 mm x 19 mm actual size.

Alongside the plan drawings, with a cutting list containing descriptions of all the pieces. You will also need a bit of wood glue, about 40 wood screws 50 mm long and a couple of hinges.

A comprehensive array of power tools was used to build the step-stool shown here (see “Tools used in this project”) but you can, of course, complete it using minimal equipment – a jigsaw and power drill, plus suitable hand tools, should do the job. (Project devised by Vermont Sales/working with Wood. Used with permission.)

INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1: CUT THE PIECES l Cut all the pieces out of 235 mm x 19 mm and 90 mm x 19 mm board. Refer to the cutting list for the lengths. l Once cut to length, the side pieces [ a] and [ d] need to be shaped as shown in the plan. l You can use a bread plate with a diameter of about 195 mm to mark the curves.the curves can be cut with a jig-saw.

STEP 2: MARK AND DRILL THE SCREW HOLES l Mark the positions of the rails on the side pieces and also mark the positions of the side pieces on the underside of the stool top [ c] and tread [ g]. Refer to the plan for placement and dimensions. l Drill all the screw holes within the marked areas as shown in the picture. l Make the hole diameters slightly bigger than the screw shanks.

STEP 3: FIX THE STOOL SIDES TO THE FRONT RAIL l Glue each end of the front rail [ b] and lay it on a flat surface. l Position the two stool side pieces [ a] either side of the rail. l Screw the two stool side pieces to the rail.

TOOLS USED IN THIS PROJECT*

l Saw Stop contractor saw l Kreg K4 pocket hole jig l Triton 12 v drill and impact driver l Kreg 1 ¼ (32 mm) coarse thread screws l Festool Kapex l Festool PSB jigsaw with CTL 26 dust extractor l Bessey Klik Clamps 400/80 l Triton Router Table (RTA300 + RSA300) with a Triton 2400 W Router l Protech Flush Trim Cutter l Protech rounding over bit

SOMETIMES ALL YOU NEED IS A LITTLE EXTRA HEIGHT.