| Project by Charles Maxwell | posted 327 days ago | 441 views | 6 times favorited | 23 comments |  |
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I built this ladder for my wife as a gift to recognize her successful completion of a Master of Library Science degree (MLS). It’s solid walnut with holly pegs. Joinery at the turned pole is mortise and tenon. The bowed horizontal supports are steam bent. As you might guess, bending wood was the challenge here. I learned that you should steam the wood about 1 hour per inch of thickness and you have about 5 seconds to get the wood out of the steam box and bent around the shaping jigs! Finish is 6 well thinned coats of polyurethane.
-- Max the janitor at www.hardwoodskeletonclocks.com
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23 comments so far
gizmodyne
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1486 posts in 627 days
posted 327 days ago
This is beautiful. I am sure she will love it. Congrats to both of you.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
GaryK
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8561 posts in 526 days
posted 327 days ago
Very nice! You got it about right about the steaming. Patience and speed is everything.
I love the holly pegs.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Karson
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13653 posts in 938 days
posted 327 days ago
Great design. it would also make a great plant stand for the gardeners around.
Are the curved pieces cut as tenons on the end and go into the legs or do then continue all of the way through.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
rpmurphy509
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292 posts in 392 days
posted 327 days ago
Thats gorgeous!
-- Still learning everything
Marge
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134 posts in 491 days
posted 327 days ago
That is wonderful – too nice to step on.
-- Marge, Colorado
schwingding
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122 posts in 363 days
posted 327 days ago
Wow, that is an absolutely BEAUTIFUL piece of work.
You should look into compwood. You can get walnut from them that will bend cold and will stay bendable as long as it stays wet (and cold). I have oak planks from them that you can cold bend into pretzels.
“Now ya tell me”, he says…
-- Just another woodworker
TreeBones
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1456 posts in 561 days
posted 327 days ago
Very nice, perfect for the occasion.
-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3
Dadoo
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1557 posts in 528 days
posted 327 days ago
Real nice! I see that a lot of thought and care went into the creation of this. Bet she loves it.
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
MsDebbieP
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12282 posts in 698 days
posted 327 days ago
beautiful.
I saw one of these in a store recently… I would have been afraid to lean on it, it looked so wobbly. This .. now this is a ladder!!
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Russel
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1325 posts in 477 days
posted 327 days ago
That’s quite attractive. I haven’t seen one of those for quite a few years. It’s way too pretty to really step on, don’t ya think?
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
schroeder
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479 posts in 663 days
posted 327 days ago
Absolutely stunning! – she should be pleased and you should be proud!
-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe
rikkor
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8574 posts in 412 days
posted 327 days ago
Boy, you pulled this one off. It is gorgeous!
-- Maplewood, MN
Thos. Angle
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3432 posts in 500 days
posted 327 days ago
Excellent work, Max. Neat, clean and very well done.
-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon
Popintraining
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109 posts in 375 days
posted 327 days ago
Very Elegant
-- Illegitimis nil carborundum - Don't let the bastards grind you down http://woodworkingtipsfrompop.com
Lee A. Jesberger
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2898 posts in 517 days
posted 327 days ago
Spectacular!
The design and workmanship is staggering!
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Jon3
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259 posts in 643 days
posted 327 days ago
Very nice. Creative idea too!
Mark Mazzo
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296 posts in 450 days
posted 327 days ago
That’s a really fine piece of work! Congrats to your wife as well.
Was the Walnut kiln-dried or air-dried? Great color.
-- Mark, Webster New York, Visit my website at http://thecraftsmanspath.com
Blake
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2243 posts in 412 days
posted 326 days ago
How did I miss this before? That is BEAUTIFUL! I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s a true work of art.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com
cobbler
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112 posts in 328 days
posted 326 days ago
Beautiful piece. A labor of love.
Great bending job!
-- ''Carry on my wayward son''
jockmike2
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4497 posts in 784 days
posted 326 days ago
Beautiful job. Excellent use of one of my favorite woods. mike
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
mostsuitable
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1 post in 326 days
posted 326 days ago
Very Nice
mot
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4859 posts in 574 days
posted 325 days ago
Charles! Just awesome!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
teenagewoodworker
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2137 posts in 306 days
posted 270 days ago
that is just so magnificent. i know that your wife loves it. thanks for the post.