Russ Kay
09-07-2009, 7:09 PM
For whatever reason, I've just not done anything much in my shop for many months now. But a friend of mine, age 82, recently fell down some stairs and broke several ribs. He's recovering now, but still not as nimble as he was. He's a long-time bicyclist, and wants to set up one of his bikes on a stationary rig as an exercise unit. Problem is, that becomes higher than he's comfortable with to climb up on.
So he asked me if I'd build him a little platform, about 7 inches high and 16 inches square, so he could get up more easily onto the bike. He mumbled something about buying a few 2x4s.
Well, he's a good friend whom I respect a lot, and I had a bunch of wood lying around just waiting to be put to use, so ... I did.
http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1378532015/PictureID=51056621015/a=2392783_2392783/ The top is teak-veneered MDF bordered in ash with birch Miller dowels connecting them to the base, which is walnut (had to use some sapwood that shows) and a piece of 2x going between the walnut end panels and connected with pocket hole screws. I had some problems slicing the Miller dowels off cleanly (used a flush-cut saw for some, LOTS of work; tried chiseling others off, not so cleanly) and discovered that my barely used Bosch ROS is totally dead. But got reacquainted with how nice it is to use a really sharp, well tuned hand plane, even just for edges.
All in all, a satisfactory project. Better than the client is expecting, and I learned and relearned a few things. Next project will be done better, I expect.
-- Russ
So he asked me if I'd build him a little platform, about 7 inches high and 16 inches square, so he could get up more easily onto the bike. He mumbled something about buying a few 2x4s.
Well, he's a good friend whom I respect a lot, and I had a bunch of wood lying around just waiting to be put to use, so ... I did.
http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=1378532015/PictureID=51056621015/a=2392783_2392783/ The top is teak-veneered MDF bordered in ash with birch Miller dowels connecting them to the base, which is walnut (had to use some sapwood that shows) and a piece of 2x going between the walnut end panels and connected with pocket hole screws. I had some problems slicing the Miller dowels off cleanly (used a flush-cut saw for some, LOTS of work; tried chiseling others off, not so cleanly) and discovered that my barely used Bosch ROS is totally dead. But got reacquainted with how nice it is to use a really sharp, well tuned hand plane, even just for edges.
All in all, a satisfactory project. Better than the client is expecting, and I learned and relearned a few things. Next project will be done better, I expect.
-- Russ