DIY: Step up in the world

When you're short like Dude, snacks on the benchtop needn't be beyond your grasp. Photo / Michael Craig

Greig Morgan has just what littlies need to reach the basin.

This footstool is a piece of handy furniture that I made for a good friend's toddler.

It's good as a step up at the basin, except my dog, Dude, had other ideas.

Step 1

Measure, mark and cut the top, legs and support rail to size.

I made the top 450mm long x 300mm wide, and the legs 250mm long and 270mm wide and the rail 80mm wide.

Then set the mitre saw on about a 10-degree angle to cut both ends of the legs so that the legs taper outwards at the bottom.

Step 2

Measure up 100mm on the bottom of the legs and mark the centre, then measure in about 80mm on both sides, giving you the angle to cut out, then finish the remainder of the cut with a handsaw.

Now measure in about 20mm on both ends of the top piece and, placing the legs on the inside pencil marks, measure about 80mm down from the top of them.

This will give you the measurement required when cutting the support rail to length with a 10-degree angle on both ends.

Step 3

Measure and mark the centre positioning on the legs and support rail before carefully drilling 10mm diameter holes about 32mm deep in the rail.

Step 4

With enough pieces of dowel cut at 60mm, glue the holes and the centre of the rail before hammering the dowels into the holes in the legs through to the rails, clamping the joints nice and tight.

Step 5

With the glue now set, sand the legs smooth so the dowel joint is also nice and smooth.

Then, with an even overhang, measure and mark the centre positioning of three evenly spaced apart holes for the top of each leg and the top piece. Follow the same steps as before when fitting the dowels.

Step 6

Sand the finished footstool nice and smooth, removing all the sharp edges. Remove any and all remaining dust with a damp cloth before applying three coats of stain, sanding lightly between each coat.

Materials

30mm-thick untreated pine
10mm-diameter dowel
PVA glue
100grit sander belt
150grit sandpaper
Wood stain

Tools

Mitre saw
Sharp handsaw
Screw gun
10mm drill bit
Clamps
Tape measure
Pencil
Hammer
Belt sander
Finishing sander
Paintbrush