Stepstool for Grandson

[Steve Schlumpf]

Just finished this for our youngest grandson, Logan.

Birdseye Maple, approx 10" x 10" x 12" high, when in chair configuration. Sanded to 220 grit and has several coats of wipe-on gloss poly.

Step Stool v1.JPG Step Stool v2.JPG Step Stool v3.JPG Step Stool v4.JPG

This is one of those times where the photos do not do the piece justice. It does not capture how well the wood plays with light or how intense the color actually is.

As always, your comments, opinions and critiques are welcome!

Thanks for looking!

[Mark Ball]

How come it isn't round. Just kidding, I see you post a lot of items in the turners forum, which I browse almost daily. Very nice.

[Prashun Patel]

Wow, the pix look pretty good to me. Wish I could see it live if you say it's even better in person!!!

[John Keeton]

Steve, the pics are great!! They really do bring out the coloring on the maple better. As noted before, you do a great job on these stepstools, and I am sure you win extra points with the grandkids! Logan will be appreciative, but as important, this piece will be handed down for generations.

How come it isn't round. Just kidding, I see you post a lot of items in the turners forum, which I browse almost daily. Very nice.

Mark, like most turners, Steve has a flatwork history, though he keeps it quite - one of those things that isn't discussed openly in the Turner's Forum!!! Besides, this could be considered "reverse turning." Take a log that is already round, cut it in flat pieces and make something from it.

[gary Zimmel]

Another fine stepstool Steve.
I'm thinking you may make these for the grandkids so they can use them to learn to use your lathe a few years early....

[Kevin J Lalonde]

Great Job Steve! It's great to see your flat work. As with your turnings this is beautiful. Thanks for posting!

[Gary Breckenridge]

I like the piece. Good idea to get the full color out of the wood. I do question if that little screw that swivels the first step going to hold up to years of wear ?

[Steve Schlumpf]

Thanks for all the kind words everyone - I do appreciate it!

Gary - the screws used for the swivel function are #10 x 2 1/2" and, so far, I have two of these step stools that have been in use for over 10 years with no problems. Then again - they are subject to some fairly rough use and you just never know!

[Rob Cunningham]

Nice job Steve. Beautiful color and figure in the wood.

[Michelle Rich]

that may be one of the fanciest kid step stool/chairs I have ever seen. Lucky grandson

[alex carey]

my first time venturing into another park of smc, I didn't even know steve made anything that wasn't round. My gosh that looks pretty, i definitely know what you mean, those pictures don't look like they'll do it justice.

[Rick Markham]

Steve, if the photos don't do that justice, I can only imagine how cool that is! That Birdseye Maple is really amazingly beautiful, it has some really unique colors in the "normal" part of the grain. That is seriously a very cool step stool! I really like how you did his name in it. Man, I can't get over the grain in that maple. It almost has a smokey pattern to it!

[Bruce Page]

Now how did you make that on a lathe??

Very cool. I bet Logan loves Gramps!

[Van Huskey]

Gorgeous and the wood is unreal! What finish did you use, you really got the maple to pop!

[Belinda Barfield]

Very nice Steve. Logan is going to be so excited when you give it to him. You have lucky grandkids.