I hope I am posting this question in the right group, this is my first post. I have been reading this group and other sources for several years and am able to start “putting what I have been reading to the test”. My wife wants me to make five small childrens step stools that she will paint and give as presents. She found a stool she liked, made in China, that is made from some type of composite material. I plan on using ½” poplar stock, this is about the same thickness as the proto type. I have to make three 6” x 12” boards for steps/tops- I intend to make one 7” x 20” board for these boards. I am concerned that ½” stock will cup. Should I mill to 5/8”, cut into thirds and glue up, alternating the growth rings OR mill to 5/8” and cut into two 3” boards and glue. Guess my main concern is glue up and growth ring orientation. Am I being overly concerned? Thanks and thanks for the patience, this will be one of many dumb questions to come – but I do love woodworking!
yos,
Marshall
Replies
Hmmm. I'm not clear on how you get from 1 @ 7x20 to 3 @ 6x12.
Poplar is usually pretty stable stuff though, so using one solid board would probably be OK as long as your wood has been dried well. Gluing up narrower pieces and alternating rings would be extra insurance though.
What I'm really wondering about though, is what age kids are these intended for? Even at only 12" long, I'm just wondering if 1/2" wouldn't sag a bit under some of the older or chunkier kids. You might be better off with 5/8" just for that reason.
I love the smell of sawdust in the morning.
It was my intention to make a single board, 7" x 38", typo on my part. Then cut to size. The stool is intended for children between the ages of 3 and 6 - the age of her friends children. If you think 1/2" is to then, then I will up it to 5/8". The stool only has one step and top which is hinged (doubles as a small toy chest). The step has a vertical board, 2" x 12" supporting it on the front edge. I intend to cut a dado, 1/4" deep in the side panel of the stool for the step. Basically this stool is two 13"h x 17" w boards with a step at 6" and top at 13". I hope i did not confuse the issue more with the description.
yos,
marshall
I guess my basic questions are:a) for a board that can be made up of either two or three boards, which is better? From what I have read, I should consider using three boards with alternating growth rings (up/down/up).
b) is this or is there a rule of thumb that can be applied for all size boards i.e., for a 6" or a 24" board.
Thanks,
Marshall
I'm sure that if you have the ends of the steps restrained by dados in the side boards, they won't cup.
A recent wood working magazine ( I don't remember which one) had an article on why boards cup. The author stated that it was caused by uneven moisture exposure and that it didn't matter how the rings were positioned. He said that when boards cupped that the top side went concave because that was the side that was exposed to moisture. I'm inclined to agree with him because it seems that that is the way deck boards cup.
Welcome aboard Marshall...
I'm not too sure I understand your question... but if I'm right in thinking htat you want to laminate sticks to a final size of 7x37" @ 5/8 thickness, I canna see cup being a factor at all. If you're really worried about it, try to get some quarter sawn stock; that should negate any possibility of cup, period.
Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled