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DIY Wood Step Stool – Scrap Wood Series #13

If you’re just joining, welcome to the Bitterroot Scrap Wood Series!

Head over to Day 1 to catch the beginning of the shenanigans, as well as our exciting news.

Long story short – I’ve been sharing a new scrap wood project every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in May and am gonna continue through the first week of June until all 15 projects are out! This is Day 13!

DIY Wood Step Stool

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I have to be honest here.

I wish I could say this step stool was for my child.

It would be a perfect children’s stool.

But I’m 5’1″ and I often find myself struggling to reach the upper shelves of our cabinets.

I’m sure I’ll also share it with Weston once he starts walking around trying to reach things … but for now, it’s in the kitchen just for me.

So whether you’re looking to give a little boost to yourself, your child, or the shorty in your life, this DIY wood step stool is a gooder 😉

 

Tools & Supplies:

  • Saw
  • Drill
  • Kreg Jig
  • 2 1/2″ Pocket Hole Screws
  • Clamps
  • Wood Glue

Lumber:

  • 1   |   2 x 6 @ 6′

Cuts:

  • 2   |   2 x 6 @ 14″ (top & bottom steps)
  • 2   |   2 x 6 @ 5″ (top of the sides)
  • 3   |   2 x 6 @ 10″ (bottom of the sides & back brace)

 

Step 1.

Build two sides for the step stool as shown in the photo below.

The pocket holes will point toward the inside of the stool once it’s assembled so you won’t be able to see them.

DIY Wood Step Stool

 

 

Step 2.

Now, things got a little jumbled with my process for this step … but do as I say not as I do 😉

I did not add the back brace until the end, which was a huge pain cus then I couldn’t get it to fit quite right. Now is the time to add that piece.

If you look at the back of the stool in the photo below, you’ll see the brace between the two sides at the back:

DIY Wood Step Stool

 

Once you have both sides built (step 1), join them together with the back brace. Line the back brace up flush with the edge of the sides and attach with wood glue and 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws.

I faced the pocket holes towards the outside back of the stool since my drill was too long to get between the sides. It’s up to you depending on the tools you have.

 

Step 3.

Attach the top step with wood glue and 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws.

If you completed Step 2 correctly, there should be a 10″ back brace in between the two sides in the photo below.

 

DIY Wood Step Stool

 

Step 4.

Attach the bottom step with wood glue and 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws.

 

DIY Wood Step Stool

 

I attached it from the bottom:

 

DIY Wood Step Stool

 

Step 5.

Sand and finish as desired. I stained mine with Minwax Special Walnut, let it set for a few minutes, added one coat of Minwax Classic Gray, and wiped it off ASAP. It gives it a beautiful gray-brown color 🙂 Lastly, I sealed it with polyurethane since it’ll be in the kitchen and exposed to water.

 

DIY Wood Step Stool

 

 

I apologize for the lack of photos of that back brace … please let me know if you have any questions and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

For more project ideas, you can find me on Pinterest. And to stay up to date with the latest shenanigans, follow me on Instagram.

 

DIY Wood Step Stool

 

DIY Wood Step Stool

 

Renay

Thursday 29th of October 2020

Hello!!!! I made your stool today!!! It’s very nice, I love it, but it took me FOREVER to do the back brace piece. Can you send me some pointers? Or even a video for help!

Thanks

tylynn_sattler

Tuesday 3rd of November 2020

Sorry I didn't include more info for that ... I was still pretty new when I built this project haha! I cut it to fit inside the sides of the stool and just attached it with pocket holes. If you don't own a pocket hole jig, you could just cut a scrap board to fit along the back and screw it right on. Hope that helps!

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