A handmade home for woodworkers and admirers of woodworkers. Our community icon is a planter box made by @Captain Aggravated, the winner of our summer '24 woodworking contest. Congratulations!
Found it on the curb, and I liked the design. Looks like solid wood, but the joints are all coming apart and look tricky to reinforce. Would you bother?
As someone who isn't a woodworker, but enjoys having things that make me happy- if you like the design and it makes you happy, go for it. You have nothing to lose but time, and if you learn something in the process (i.e. those tricky looking joints you mentioned) then you are ahead no matter what.
Haha it wasn't sturdy when it was new, what a design. I guess it'd be okay for small children (reaching sink to brush teeth, that sort of thing.). I'd still reinforce because that one time an adult steps on it's gonna bear trap their legs.
That said, this would be super neat as like a planter holder or something - pure decoration. A fresh coat of something to make the character lines pop. I'm amateur as it gets and would probably varathane it lol so don't ask me how.
I like the idea of using it as a small decorative shelf, thanks.
If you have the time there's no harm, but you're probably going to want to disassemble the steps to repair it halfway well.
Depending on the weight of the person/people who will be be using it, you might want to rethink the design or make the steps out of something thicker/beefier. Since the two treads are essentially cantilevers, the riser and torque is all that's prevent the far end of either step from collapsing. I don't think a butt joint is good enough here, even if it has a backer (as the pictures show). A finger joint between the treads and the riser, with many smaller fingers, is probably your best bet. You'll probably want a table saw and a jig/slead to cut them, unless you're familiar with a good alternative and/or have the skill and time to do it with hand tools.
I think this is made from an exceptionally hard wood. It looks a lot like walnut or pecan. I would be concerned about cutting across the grain with a powered saw causing chipping and ruining the piece. I think I would repair the current joint and add a center leg or probably a leg on both sides to support that joint.
I just made a table saw box joint jig, I like the idea of using that to redo the joints on this.
And thanks for the word of caution about chipping on very hard wood, maybe I can test on a small area.
If so else fails, some nice scrap wood for making splines.
Depends how short you are...
I'd do it, though I might cut new side stretchers and do a full mortise and tenon through the legs; maybe also add a cross stretcher between.
But I agree, looks pretty neat
*furiously scribbling notes* side scratchers, mortar and tenderloin, cross dresser.....
Ok, I think I've got it.
Username definitely checks out
It'll only cost you time and a few materials. When I take on a project I never consider it a waste of time even if I fail. Just enjoy the process.
I like the look of it too. But even if the bottom step were a single piece of wood, that's a bad design. If you support that bottom step under the riser and from there to the front, maybe. Best be lightweight.
Bother? Maybe. Understand how that thing could be even a tenth as old as it looks, used even once, and still in (relatively)one piece? Never.