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3 Step Librarian's Ladder

Project by Charles Maxwell posted 688 days ago 732 views 9 times favorited 23 comments Add to Favorites Watch

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

View gizmodyne's profile

gizmodyne

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

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

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.

View Karson's profile

Karson

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 †

View rpmurphy509's profile

rpmurphy509

290 posts in 752 days


posted 688 days ago

Thats gorgeous!

-- Still learning everything

View Marge's profile

Marge

144 posts in 852 days


posted 688 days ago

That is wonderful – too nice to step on.

-- Marge, Colorado

View schwingding's profile

schwingding

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

View TreeBones's profile

TreeBones

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/

View Dadoo's profile

Dadoo

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!

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

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)

View Russel's profile

Russel

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

View schroeder's profile

schroeder

514 posts in 1023 days


posted 687 days ago

Absolutely stunning! – she should be pleased and you should be proud!

-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11335 posts in 772 days


posted 687 days ago

Boy, you pulled this one off. It is gorgeous!

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

4013 posts in 860 days


posted 687 days ago

Excellent work, Max. Neat, clean and very well done.

-- Thos. Angle

View Popintraining's profile

Popintraining

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

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

View Jon3's profile

Jon3

439 posts in 1003 days


posted 687 days ago

Very nice. Creative idea too!

View Mark Mazzo's profile

Mark Mazzo

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

View Blake's profile

Blake

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

View cobbler's profile

cobbler

242 posts in 688 days


posted 686 days ago

Beautiful piece. A labor of love.
Great bending job!

-- ''Carry on my wayward son''

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7352 posts in 1144 days


posted 686 days ago

Beautiful job. Excellent use of one of my favorite woods. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View mostsuitable's profile

mostsuitable

1 post in 686 days


posted 686 days ago

Very Nice

View mot's profile

mot

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)

View teenagewoodworker's profile

teenagewoodworker

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.

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