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Project Information

A few years ago, many of my friends and I went from 0 to 60 down the parenthood journey. Fast forward to today, and birthday parties seem to be popping twice a month. While most of the time, my wife is in charge of the birthday presents, I decided to make this step stool for an old roommate's son, who turns 3 at the end of April. The design was inspired from a stool I saw at Pottery Barn Kids.

The stool is made from two 8 foot S4S 1×6 poplar board that received the wrong end of a forklift. Due to the damage, I saved this particular board from the trash of a local hardwood dealer (with their permission of course). After cutting around the damage, I ended up with a good amount of workable good pieces that I edge glued to create wide enough panels for the stool. No fancy joinery, just butt joints held together with glue and #6 Spax screws. Finish is 3 coats General Finishes milk paint (a mix of General Finishes Snow White and Federal Blue). The part of this project that I think makes me deserve a pat on the back for, is that I actually finished the present BEFORE the occasion (wedding presents average 5 months behind schedule, and I'm already 6 months past my daughter's 2nd birthday present, well on the way to reserving her present for her 4th birthday).

The pictures I posted shares the build journey.
  1. The finished stool
  2. Lamination of the poplar boards
  3. Dry assembly (before the feet were completely shaped)
  4. Assembled, and screw holes covered with wood filler
  5. Primed (2 coats of Zinsser 123 primer)
  6. Painted

UPDATE: A few notes about the stool
  • I had my daughter test the stool height out. It passes the toddler bathroom sink test
  • Since the test, my daughter kept insisting that "daddy fix" her friend's stool
  • My friends who know about this stool build have all been joking that I made it "for my future son-in-law"

Gallery

Comments

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2,397 Posts
Nice job. I love the color. :)
 

· Registered
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654 Posts
Very nice job. These little stools are great to have around the house. I've made a similar one, with plans to make several more. Heck, I use it more than the kiddo does.
 

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191 Posts
Very functional stools. Nice design and the milk paint was a good choice.
 

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7,502 Posts
I like it. A very handy stool for young and old both
 
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