| Project by Todd A. Clippinger | posted 969 days ago | 2688 views | 9 times favorited | 24 comments |  |
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This folding stepstool is an old project I did in ‘02. Our kitchen cupboards go clear to the ceiling, and we have 8’6” ceilings, making it difficult for my wife to reach the upper storage. This is something she needs to do more than most, she is an artist with food and does personal meals and catering.
But the stool has been a great experiment in finish endurance for me. I usually spray pre-cat lacquers as a professional, you can’t beat the dry time. I can shoot 4 coats in an hour on a project, 3 coats even in the winter.
On this I did not want a film finish because it folds, and pre-cat lacquers will not hold up to foot traffic, food spills, and water areas. (It is excellent for all the furniture I have done.) I have read many times that Danish oil is not very durable or protective, but I was curious to try it myself. I warmed the can in a shallow bucket of hot water, and generously fed oil to the wood. I had to continually wipe all the oil bleeding out of the pores until it stopped. The stool gets a new coat of oil once a year since, and it has held up very well.
It gets used everyday, gets food all over it, gets wiped off, stepped on, chipped, and the finish has worked out wonderfully. A little oil and 600 grit wet-dry sandpaper will take off the grime, and a few shop towels to apply a fresh coat of oil and wipe off the excess. Just like new!
The stool plans came from a Taunton book, “Classic Kitchen Projects”, by Niall Barrett.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, the black walnut was a salvaged handrail, and I did not have enough of it so I used scrap ash to make up the difference.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
24 comments so far
Karson
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25797 posts in 1293 days
posted 969 days ago
Todd. This is a great design. What is the wood. Nice heartwood and sap wood contrasts.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
DrSawdust
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231 posts in 991 days
posted 969 days ago
This is pure talent.
-- Making sawdust is what I do best
Roger Strautman
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534 posts in 1026 days
posted 968 days ago
Todd, this stool is a very nice example of how a small project can have the same challenges as a big project can. Well done!
-- " All Things At First Appear Difficult"
MsDebbieP
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14161 posts in 1053 days
posted 968 days ago
what kind of lacquer??
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Todd A. Clippinger
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5632 posts in 992 days
posted 968 days ago
MsDeb,
I use a pre-catalyzed lacquer. It is a lacquer that has a catalyst drying agent added right before it leaves the store. It has a pot life of about 6 months. It offers more protection than the nitrocelulose lacqers off the shelf at the box stores. It has a greater level of application performance too.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
MsDebbieP
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14161 posts in 1053 days
posted 968 days ago
ah!! Thanks for the info
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Todd A. Clippinger
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5632 posts in 992 days
posted 968 days ago
Posting the stool was actually to share the experience with the oil finish. I hope I did this in time for Chellar to help with his decision.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
Outnmbrd
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11 posts in 969 days
posted 968 days ago
Nice work! It’s not often that I see a stool like this that the wife would want to have on display. I think she would use this one everywhere.
-- time, there's never enough time...
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7034 posts in 1192 days
posted 968 days ago
Walnut & Ash look great together. The Ash has some beautiful figure in the grain.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Chip
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1058 posts in 985 days
posted 968 days ago
I wholeheartedly agree with Rog and Dan about turning an otherwise mundane piece into something very special. Beautiful job Todd.
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.
cheller
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249 posts in 1002 days
posted 968 days ago
Very nice work. What does heating the oil do?
Chelle
-- Chelle http://artsgranddaughter.blogspot.com
Todd A. Clippinger
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5632 posts in 992 days
posted 968 days ago
Warming the oil helps it penetrate the wood. I have done it cold too. On reapplying I just do it cold, it does not require much to redo it anyway. Initially, I think it makes a difference. A small bucket of water is safe too, no flames or burners.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
cheller
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249 posts in 1002 days
posted 967 days ago
I’ll have to give that a try. But first I have a little more sawdust to make and then I have to clean up…
-- Chelle http://artsgranddaughter.blogspot.com
Don
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2590 posts in 1070 days
posted 868 days ago
Todd, I missed this one when it first came up. I like all of the projects that you’ve shown us. This one is more to the scale of the project that I build, so I’ve added to my favorites list as a possible future project.
Nice work.
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/
scottb
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3403 posts in 1220 days
posted 868 days ago
good information on the finish, I like the ease of re-application versus stripping and starting over. there’s plenty of spots in the house the cats have ruined the finish on… (windowsills, etc…) this info will sure come in handy down the road.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
PanamaJack
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4447 posts in 970 days
posted 868 days ago
Great piece of work Todd, well made.
-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,
oscorner
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4572 posts in 1203 days
posted 868 days ago
The wood is beautiful.
-- Jesus is Lord!
DAN
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6438 posts in 876 days
posted 741 days ago
Very nice step stool. Great christmas idea !!
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
woodgrain411
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139 posts in 745 days
posted 732 days ago
very nice i preffer oil finishes myself
-- I love this site !
Jiri Parkman
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604 posts in 705 days
posted 703 days ago
Very nice.
-- Jiri
rikkor
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11338 posts in 767 days
posted 703 days ago
Todd, everything I’ve seen from you has been wonderful, this is no exception.
Blake
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2759 posts in 767 days
posted 682 days ago
Now that is really attractive. This is going on my favorites list!
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
jwarner75
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251 posts in 367 days
posted 365 days ago
Very nice.
I always wanted to build one for my house, that way for anyone that is over to help with changing the Light bulbs since I’m in a Wheelchair, it would make it easier for them to access the bulbs lol
May have to check into that…
Handi
-- Jimmy "Handi" Warner, http://jwarner75.etsy.com, http://handisworkshop.blogspot.com
Grumpy
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14915 posts in 744 days
posted 364 days ago
Practical & great on the eyes Todd. I like the idea of the quick finish.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python