Mid-fine woodworking: Toddler’s cooking stand
One of my granddaughters just turned two, and she already likes to help Mom with cooking. Chairs don’t work very well to get up to the kitchen counter and are not safe either.
I had several design requirements: height (obviously), light weight, knock-down (for shipping from Long Island to Charleston), bright colors, and tough–both construction and finish. And of course I wanted it to be attractive! The main load on the steps (even up to adults, already tested!)) is taken on grooves in the sides, held in by the screws. But the screws themselves take no load.
Hardwood (I have cherry, maple, walnut) didn’t quite fit the bill. So this is all void-free 3/4″ veneer-core birch plywood, except for the steps, which are 1″ maple. Joints are a mix of lap joints where there’s a load (particularly the cross member for the upper step), and elsewhere I used what I call extended biscuits, which are essentially easy splines.
[Take two cuts with the biscuit joiner side by side, to extend the length of the biscuit slot to the width available. Then simply cut the ends off two #20 biscuits and butt them together to fill the slot. A good strong spline joint, very easily made.]
For the knockdown aspect I used screw inserts. They just hold the thing together, side to side, taking no load. Also (not seen) are rubber feet, inset into the underneath of the sides, so it doesn’t slide around on the floor.
The finish is hard oil-based enamel, three coats on the sides and back, and four on the steps. Benjamin Moore alkyd enamel, excellent stuff: it hardens very well in a few days. The colors are parental families: Argentina (pale blue and white) and England (St George: red and white).
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