| Project by Charles Maxwell | posted 688 days ago | 732 views | 9 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 "night janitor" at www.hardwoodclocks.com































23 comments so far
gizmodyne
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1678 posts in 988 days
posted 688 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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9537 posts in 886 days
posted 688 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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25806 posts in 1298 days
posted 688 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.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
rpmurphy509
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290 posts in 752 days
posted 688 days ago
Thats gorgeous!
-- Still learning everything
Marge
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144 posts in 852 days
posted 688 days ago
That is wonderful – too nice to step on.
-- Marge, Colorado
schwingding
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122 posts in 723 days
posted 688 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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1557 posts in 921 days
posted 688 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 http://www.portablesawmill.biz/concrete/
Dadoo
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1723 posts in 888 days
posted 688 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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14171 posts in 1058 days
posted 688 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!!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Russel
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2063 posts in 837 days
posted 687 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?
-- Working at Woodworking http://www.VillageLaneFurniture.com
schroeder
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514 posts in 1023 days
posted 687 days ago
Absolutely stunning! – she should be pleased and you should be proud!
-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe
rikkor
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11335 posts in 772 days
posted 687 days ago
Boy, you pulled this one off. It is gorgeous!
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 860 days
posted 687 days ago
Excellent work, Max. Neat, clean and very well done.
-- Thos. Angle
Popintraining
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109 posts in 736 days
posted 687 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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3710 posts in 877 days
posted 687 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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439 posts in 1003 days
posted 687 days ago
Very nice. Creative idea too!
Mark Mazzo
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343 posts in 810 days
posted 687 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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2763 posts in 772 days
posted 687 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.blakeweberwoodworking.com
cobbler
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242 posts in 688 days
posted 686 days ago
Beautiful piece. A labor of love.
Great bending job!
-- ''Carry on my wayward son''
jockmike2
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7352 posts in 1144 days
posted 686 days ago
Beautiful job. Excellent use of one of my favorite woods. mike
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
mostsuitable
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1 post in 686 days
posted 686 days ago
Very Nice
mot
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4903 posts in 934 days
posted 685 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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2482 posts in 666 days
posted 630 days ago
that is just so magnificent. i know that your wife loves it. thanks for the post.