Friday in my shop, steps

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reible
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Friday in my shop, steps

Post by reible »

Hi,

As it has turned out one of my grandsons loves the cistern pump in the back yard. First thing he wants to do is pump some water. He is no where tall enough to do so on his own so someone needs to lift him. Then of course his little brother gets to have his turn....

So add this to my wife spotting this little idea, "plant stand" she liked...

[ATTACH]22500[/ATTACH]

Only one thing a fella can do is in this situation, yep make a Friday project.

The other day I picked up a couple of 2 x 4's at the hardware store (11% off), dug out some 2 x 6 scraps from a long ago project, and added a left over treated 2 x 4 from yet another project and put together a set of steps that will make the cistern self service for the grand kids, a plant stand as needed and utility steps for me sit on and sip an ice tea.

The assembly is with kreg blue coated screws. The runners on the bottom are treated wood so it should go for a few years without any issues.

It still need a few pieces of trim, and paint but the main assembly and construction are done.

[ATTACH]22501[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]22502[/ATTACH]

Now that was fun!

Ed
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Gene Howe
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Post by Gene Howe »

Great idea and a nice set of steps, Ed. Saves the back, eh?
Now, if that windmill were installed.......but, that wouldn't be as much fun for the grandkids.
Gene

'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton
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dusty
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Post by dusty »

Ed, I love your yard but I am thankful that I don't have to do the work that keeps it looking so great.

I like your many projects as well.

This last set of steps are going to get copied (sorta). I need something outside the RV while I am working on it in the drive way.
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Dusty
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robinson46176
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Speaking of steps

Post by robinson46176 »

Here is a step I made to use instead of the pull-out RV steps. I don't really like those pull-out steps at all.
I put it together using some 7/16" OSB I had on hand and some other scraps and used stuff. It has braces under both the front and back of each step and 2 smaller supports under the center of the 2' x 3' top platform. To help keep weight down I used a couple of diagonal braces on the back instead a solid panel. It is quite solid and the 2 long flat wedges currently under the front will make it rock stable if the ground is not even.
I made it of odd stuff on hand because I figured I would have to make a couple before I was happy with it but so far I am satisfied. It still gets another coat of paint and a 1" white stripe painted all around the edge of both step platforms. I also have enough 2" wide "grit strips" to put a full length piece near the front of both steps to keep from slipping with wet shoes.
Currently we just sit it up on its heel (back) and turn it side-wise and sit inside of the door and it fits and rides fine there. I have given thought to making it a perch on the over-sized back bumper but haven't made that decision yet.

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farmer
Francis Robinson
I did not equip with Shopsmiths in spite of the setups but because of them.
1 1988 - Mark V 510 (bought new), 4 Poly vee 1 1/8th HP Mark V's, Mark VII, 1 Mark V Mini, 1 Frankensmith, 1 10-ER, 1 Mark V Push-me-Pull-me Drillpress, SS bandsaw, belt sander, jointer, jigsaw, shaper attach, mortising attach, TS-3650 Rigid tablesaw, RAS, 6" long bed jointer, Foley/Belsaw Planer/molder/ripsaw, 1" sander, oscillating spindle/belt sander, Scroll saw, Woodmizer sawmill
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robinson46176
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Post by robinson46176 »

reible wrote: Now that was fun!

Ed
Hi Ed
Don't you just love more casual projects like that... Especially ones that bring kids pleasure (and future memories). :)


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Francis Robinson
I did not equip with Shopsmiths in spite of the setups but because of them.
1 1988 - Mark V 510 (bought new), 4 Poly vee 1 1/8th HP Mark V's, Mark VII, 1 Mark V Mini, 1 Frankensmith, 1 10-ER, 1 Mark V Push-me-Pull-me Drillpress, SS bandsaw, belt sander, jointer, jigsaw, shaper attach, mortising attach, TS-3650 Rigid tablesaw, RAS, 6" long bed jointer, Foley/Belsaw Planer/molder/ripsaw, 1" sander, oscillating spindle/belt sander, Scroll saw, Woodmizer sawmill
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Ed in Tampa
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Post by Ed in Tampa »

Is the first picture where you have the arrow pointing to the steps your yard?
If it is I'm envious. Beautiful simply beautiful

Great idea to give the little guys a way to pump until they are tired. :D
Ed in Tampa
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reible
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Post by reible »

Boy I wish that first picture was my yard but no such luck.

This is garden center so to speak, called The Growing Place and we love to visit and get ideas and sometimes a plant or two. They are very creative and have a lot of ideas you can buy (or copy). We've seen people bring a lunch and pick out a bench to sit at or sit under a tree. It is more of an experience then it is a "store". They have a play area for small children so they can stay busy, a old farm house that they had moved to the location for nostalgia, lots of antiques stuff as decorations or as part of garden rooms.

If I were a rich man, a very very rich man....

Ed
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beeg
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Post by beeg »

So now Ed. Are ya going to add a pipe to pump the water into, so that it goes BACK into the barrel?
SS 500(09/1980), DC3300, jointer, bandsaw, belt sander, Strip Sander, drum sanders,molder, dado, biscuit joiner, universal lathe tool rest, Oneway talon chuck, router bits & chucks and a De Walt 735 planer,a #5,#6, block planes. ALL in a 100 square foot shop.
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Bob
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reible
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Post by reible »

beeg wrote:So now Ed. Are ya going to add a pipe to pump the water into, so that it goes BACK into the barrel?

So far we fill watering cans and when the lot is full the game is over. I'm not too sure how long that is going to last, I may need to add a funnel for recycling the water back in. We try to teach some water conservation so we don't just pump it on the ground, however spills do happen when grandpa is too slow....

Ed
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