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Two step stool - PEP BB dimensional.sand.stool

BB dimensional lumber woodworking - sand badge
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This is a badge bit (BB) that is part of the PEP curriculum.  Completing this BB is part of getting the sand badge in Dimensional Lumber Woodworking.

Sometimes things are up high and they're hard to reach.  You don't want to drag the ladder out of the garage though.  Let's build a two step stool that we can keep closer to where it's needed!

Here are some nice examples to get your creative juices flowing:



And here's a video of one going together:


To complete this BB, the minimum requirements are:
- at least a 14" by 14" footprint (for stability)
- two steps (of course)
- no treated wood
- no paint unless you made it yourself

To document your completion of the BB, provide the following:
 - photo of the wood you're starting with
 - photo of the construction partially underway
 - photo of the finished stool showing how it meets the size requirements
 - or two minute video of the above items
COMMENTS:
 
steward
Posts: 6440
Location: United States
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This is the wood that I started with.



This is a progress picture about halfway through my build of a two-step stool.



This is my finished two-step stool that I built. I placed measuring tapes on two sides of my stool.



The first measuring tape reads about 16 inches.



The second measuring tape reads about 17.5 inches.



I think that my two-step stool meets the requirement of being at least 14 inches squared.
Staff note (Mike Haasl) :

I certify this BB complete!

 
Posts: 64
Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
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Made a step stool! Salvaged some wood (used for targets) from an indoor axe throwing establishment. A lot of it is unusable for building but I was able to find some decent cuts. Untreated wood.
93D61F5F-B84B-4953-B95C-D681BDB093C8.jpeg
Scrap wood
Scrap wood
9AD11ED2-4D6C-4A70-84AA-9D5B529948F7.jpeg
Cut wood
Cut wood
EC395A20-0730-46C6-9322-6AEEB7956B33.jpeg
Nailing the top step
Nailing the top step
F7A32EBE-D7AC-4131-9483-E4320A07E1E6.jpeg
Finished stepstool
Finished stepstool
D6EAC956-1F69-475F-B9FB-444661FE7FFA.jpeg
From the side
From the side
86957BDB-FD73-4771-8472-B7269FB77F41.jpeg
Measurement left to right
Measurement left to right
C0350CF0-0A5A-41B6-8E16-7C3B98124735.jpeg
Measurement front to back
Measurement front to back
Staff note (gir bot) :

Mike Haasl approved this submission.

 
Posts: 73
Location: Alberta, Canada
85
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Here is my attempt at a 2 step stool. It's made with a spare piece of deck board (untreated) and an off cut. It's just held together with screws. It measures about 15" by 18".
Wood.jpg
The wood I started with.
The wood I started with.
Cut.jpg
All the pieces cut.
All the pieces cut.
Assembled.jpg
All put together.
All put together.
Front.jpg
Front measurement.
Front measurement.
Side.jpg
Side measurement.
Side measurement.
Staff note (gir bot) :

Mike Haasl approved this submission.

 
gardener
Posts: 1561
Location: Washington State
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Approved submission
Here is my submission for the Dimensional Lumber - Sand - Build a Two-Step Stool BB.

To complete this BB, the minimum requirements:
- at least a 14" by 14" footprint (for stability) - my stool is 19"x14.25"
- two steps (of course)
- no treated wood
- no paint unless you made it yourself

To document the completion of the BB, I have provided the following:
 - photo of the wood you're starting with
 - photo of the construction partially underway
 - photo of the finished stool
1.JPG
2x4 and 1x4 for stool
2x4 and 1x4 for stool
2.JPG
cutting decorative notch on band saw
cutting decorative notch on band saw
3.JPG
screwing frame together
screwing frame together
4.JPG
placing the step boards
placing the step boards
5.JPG
My 2-Step Stool Finished
My 2-Step Stool Finished
Staff note (gir bot) :

Nicole Alderman approved this submission.
Note: I hereby certify that this badge bit is complete!

 
Posts: 34
Location: Eastern Missouri 6a
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Needed a stool to get up to my new clothline so I grabbed two 2x6s I got for free from someone's deck removal and some leftover 2.5" wood screws.  It's 14" deep x 16" wide.  I made the cuts down to length with an old circular saw.
IMG_20210716_153611_104.jpg
Screws in the base
Screws in the base
IMG_20210716_153537_631.jpg
Lining both sides up
Lining both sides up
IMG_20210716_160538_672.jpg
First level done... level extended under future step to provide more stability
First level done... level extended under future step to provide more stability
IMG_20210716_155249_801.jpg
16" wide
16" wide
IMG_20210716_161102_267.jpg
All done with the tools and leftover wood
All done with the tools and leftover wood
Staff note (gir bot) :

Mike Haasl approved this submission.

 
master gardener
Posts: 2913
Location: Carlton County, Minnesota, USA: 3b; Dfb; sandy loam; in the woods
1433
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Approved submission
I made a stool!

Staff note (gir bot) :

Mike Haasl approved this submission.

 
pollinator
Posts: 1495
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I was about to start work on this project when I realised I may have made a mistake. I bought a nice piece of red oak for the step part, thinking it’s hardwearing and will last. I just took the starting photo and noticed it’s made from more than once piece. Does this disqualify any future submission if I use it?

Thanks
98DDD313-5051-4AC4-A39C-2799C409D4A5.jpeg
[Thumbnail for 98DDD313-5051-4AC4-A39C-2799C409D4A5.jpeg]
 
steward
Posts: 15447
Location: Northern WI (zone 4)
4817
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Good question Edward!  That's a hard one to notice, but yes, there's glue in there so I think it would be an issue.  Good eye!  
 
Edward Norton
pollinator
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Thanks Mike - wish I had noticed it before I bought it. At least I noticed it before I built it and then failed the badge. I’m sure I’ll find some use for it elsewhere. I might just build a stool with it anyway, there are plenty of other projects to choose from.
 
Mike Haasl
steward
Posts: 15447
Location: Northern WI (zone 4)
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If you haven't cut it up you could always return it...
 
gardener
Posts: 1868
Location: Japan, zone 9a/b, annual rainfall 2550mm, avg temp 1.5-32 C
927
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Approved submission
I had a bunch of pine cut offs lying around my shop for ages. They needed to be used and this was the perfect project for them since they're mostly the same dimension and all about 16.5 inches long.

I also need a stool to reach the ceiling of the shop for tying up some long things to the roof rafters. Three birds, one stone.

The design is almost good. Unfortunately at this height the center of gravity of the stool is quite high and when free standing in the middle of the floor it is liable to tip backward. It fulfills the requirements as is, but before I use it anywhere but against a wall I will attach a board extending backwards from the base to prevent it from being able to tip in that direction.

It was fairly sturdy with just the pine cut offs, but I didn't like the tiny bit of racking I felt, so I put in a diagonal stretcher to eliminate racking entirely.

To complete this BB, the minimum requirements are:
- at least a 14" by 14" footprint (for stability)
- two steps (of course)
- no treated wood
- no paint unless you made it yourself

To document your completion of the BB, provide the following:
- photo of the wood you're starting with
- photo of the construction partially underway
- photo of the finished stool
IMG_20211205_141956635.jpg
Starting wood
Starting wood
IMG_20211205_143338571.jpg
Joined with screws, 3-4 in each joint
Joined with screws, 3-4 in each joint
IMG_20211205_145800153.jpg
Finished (except for an extended base to prevent tipping backward due to high center of gravity)
Finished (except for an extended base to prevent tipping backward due to high center of gravity)
IMG_20211205_145718397.jpg
About 16.5 inches
About 16.5 inches
IMG_20211205_145749698.jpg
By 16.5 inches
By 16.5 inches
Staff note (gir bot) :

Paul Fookes approved this submission.
Note: I certify this BB complete.

 
L. Johnson
gardener
Posts: 1868
Location: Japan, zone 9a/b, annual rainfall 2550mm, avg temp 1.5-32 C
927
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Follow up post.

I used another one of the same pine boards on the back to extend the base out from the line of the back side of the top step. This 2 inches was enough to remove the tipping almost completely. Now I'd have to intentionally rock the stool for it to fall back. Easy solution and didn't increase the storage footprint by much.
IMG_20211206_105753760.jpg
New board added to the back
New board added to the back
 
Posts: 35
Location: Virginia, USA
34
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Approved submission
I had my 11yo daughter assist with the build!

We used some 2x4's for the frame and cedar fencing for the platforms.  There are supports under the top platform.
2022-01-26_19-21-05_065.jpg
Starter Wood!
Starter Wood!
2022-01-26_19-27-43_321.jpg
Partially Cut
Partially Cut
2022-01-26_19-31-29_399.jpg
Starting to put together.
Starting to put together.
2022-01-26_19-54-37_750.jpg
Going up.
Going up.
2022-01-26_20-02-13_865.jpg
Top platform
Top platform
2022-01-26_20-12-32_559.jpg
Standing test
Standing test
2022-01-26_20-12-48_706.jpg
Completed!
Completed!
Staff note (gir bot) :

Mike Barkley approved this submission.

 
Posts: 43
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Approved submission
Two step stool:
IMG_20220221_142852909_HDR.jpg
Step boards and plan
Step boards and plan
IMG_20220221_142934336.jpg
Stringers to cut
Stringers to cut
IMG_20220221_144732054.jpg
Dry fit
Dry fit
IMG_20220221_151517193.jpg
24" wide, string 19.25"
24" wide, string 19.25"
IMG_20220221_151541010.jpg
18" front to back
18" front to back
Staff note (gir bot) :

Mike Barkley approved this submission.

 
pollinator
Posts: 100
97
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Here is my 14 inch long by 14 1/2 inch wide two step stool made from upcycled wood.
IMG_3645.jpg
Did not use all this wood. Thought I would need more, but I over-estimated.
Did not use all this wood. Thought I would need more, but I over-estimated.
IMG_3646.jpg
Construction underway
Construction underway
IMG_3647.jpg
Done
Done
IMG_3648.jpg
A little function test
A little function test
IMG_3650.jpg
Measurement #1
Measurement #1
IMG_3651.jpg
Measurement #2
Measurement #2
Staff note (gir bot) :

Carla Burke approved this submission.

 
pollinator
Posts: 708
Location: 4a, high mountain dessert
325
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I'm coming up with ways to use the pallet off-cuts from my siding project. I thought a stool would be a great project, since my kids keep stealing my kitchen stool to use at the bathroom sink. So I began with a few pallet planks, cut them to size, staged the 2 levels, assembled the whole stool in about an hour, then sanded the heck out of it for the sake of the bare little toes that will use it every day. Finally, I used linseed oil to finish it. I think it turned out pretty well for old, warped wood.
20220905_101722.jpg
Starting with pallet wood
Starting with pallet wood
20220905_104621.jpg
pre-drilling planks for screws
pre-drilling planks for screws
20220905_105610.jpg
assembled profile
assembled profile
20220907_183709.jpg
linseed oil
linseed oil
20220908_081651.jpg
sanded and oiled
sanded and oiled
Staff note (gir bot) :

Mike Haasl approved this submission.

 
Posts: 56
Location: Florida Panhandle
30
4
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The boot’s said that they could use a decent step for the library at Wheaton labs. So I made this 14” tall with two steps with 7” rise each.  It’s 16” wide by 21” deep.
E3E079D8-C14D-4866-A9BF-2F2F13FD8A94.jpeg
Some scrap wood that I’m using
Some scrap wood that I’m using
D385F481-B481-49B6-86FE-7A5876F4CABC.jpeg
Pre-drilling to prevent splits
Pre-drilling to prevent splits
ACC2B298-8256-4438-BA74-0D866224B325.jpeg
Both steps made
Both steps made
9BB46F1D-332B-47C2-BC0C-B114B799A180.jpeg
Completed- 16 wide by 20 long
Completed- 16 wide by 20 long
28D44E33-4A83-492A-B5CE-8B16A9ECE024.jpeg
[Thumbnail for 28D44E33-4A83-492A-B5CE-8B16A9ECE024.jpeg]
Staff note (gir bot) :

Someone approved this submission.

 
Posts: 22
Location: Baltimore, MD
8
transportation tiny house bike
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Here's my BB submission. Just built it today. First BB ever!
1-new-boards.jpg
[Thumbnail for 1-new-boards.jpg]
2-cut-up.jpg
[Thumbnail for 2-cut-up.jpg]
3-sides-built.jpg
[Thumbnail for 3-sides-built.jpg]
4-final-product.jpg
[Thumbnail for 4-final-product.jpg]
5-length.jpg
[Thumbnail for 5-length.jpg]
6-width.jpg
[Thumbnail for 6-width.jpg]
7-height.jpg
[Thumbnail for 7-height.jpg]
8-tools-used.jpg
[Thumbnail for 8-tools-used.jpg]
Staff note (gir bot) :

Rebekah Harmon approved this submission.
Note: Way to go, Geoffrey! Keep following all the minimum requirements, and your BB journey will be fun!

 
Posts: 90
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Approved submission
Built a stool with leftover lumber from the bench project and a free 2x4 from the hardware store (no, I didn't steal it).
20240310_165837.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20240310_165837.jpg]
20240310_174535.jpg
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20240310_195807.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20240310_195807.jpg]
20240310_195825.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20240310_195825.jpg]
20240310_190855.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20240310_190855.jpg]
Staff note (gir bot) :

Someone approved this submission.

 
pollinator
Posts: 536
413
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Some live-edge wood adds character in my dimensional lumber stool, which has been helpful at my worksite.
two-step-stool-1.png
Starting materials
Starting materials
two-step-stool-3.jpg
At the worksite
At the worksite
two-step-stool-2.png
[Thumbnail for two-step-stool-2.png]
Staff note (gir bot) :

Rebekah Harmon approved this submission.
Note: nice George!

 
This. Exactly this. This is what my therapist has been talking about. And now with a tiny ad:
Contribute to BEL fund and stay in the Red Cabin for free!
https://permies.com/t/268918/Contribute-BEL-fund-stay-Red
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