Original and Copy

An area to upload images of pieces cut using VCarve Pro
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Tailmaker
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Original and Copy

Post by Tailmaker »

I have owned a simple stepstool for some 50 years that I got from a relative who used to be a village cartwright/carpenter back then in Germany. It is European white oak and only made by hand tools like chisel, saw, plane and draw knife.
Although I used and abused it all the years (mostly in my shop), it is still as solid as new. The wedged-in legs are tight in spite of moving to several different climate zones. Unfortunately it is not as pretty anymore and so I set out to make a (slightly improved) copy from cherry on the CNC. This makes extensive use of the moulding toolpath for the radius bevels of the legs and the radius and chamfer of the seat top.

Here the original:
IMG_1063.JPG
And my copy:
IMG_1062.JPG
Components:
IMG_1059.JPG
Legs are fitted in mortises, glued and expanded with wedge-shaped dowels:
IMG_1060.JPG

jay pieper
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Re: Original and Copy

Post by jay pieper »

This is a homerun , I really like the simple style of the remake of the
original. Back in the day it was all about function, and good joinery.
you hit that one out of the park very nice job thank you for posting

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WNC_Ed
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Re: Original and Copy

Post by WNC_Ed »

Absolutely spectacular!
Congrats
Maker of sawdust

vip-klaus
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Re: Original and Copy

Post by vip-klaus »

Excellent work. Please keep us up to date for the next 50 years so that we can see if the copy is as solid as the original. :D

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scottp55
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Re: Original and Copy

Post by scottp55 »

LIKING it G. !! :D
And with Cherry...It'll only get better:)
Congrats on the design remake!
scott
I've learned my lesson well. You can't please everyone,so you have to please yourself
R.N.

Tailmaker
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Re: Original and Copy

Post by Tailmaker »

Thanks guys...
If somebody wants to give it a try, the files and some instructions are here.
This is a rather easy and quick 2-sided project and can be done on smaller machines.
vip-klaus wrote:Excellent work. Please keep us up to date for the next 50 years so that we can see if the copy is as solid as the original. :D
O.K., I will give an update every 5 years and write that also in my will.

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scottp55
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Re: Original and Copy

Post by scottp55 »

Saved!! :D
That was awful nice of you Tailmaker....but I see there's a method to your madness! :D :D
Thanks!
scott
I've learned my lesson well. You can't please everyone,so you have to please yourself
R.N.

Tailmaker
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Re: Original and Copy

Post by Tailmaker »

These stepstools...you can leave them alone or they will multiply like rabbits! Now I have a herd.
DSC01606.JPG
DSC01609.JPG

For that I scaled the design of my stepstool 40% down to toddler size (this is my contribution to this year's toy drive). Might be nice for the kids to sit or reach things they are normally too short for. And I find they look kind of cute.
Most of them are made from donated 3/4" red oak cutoff and one made from alder. I carved the warning about "Children Only" and "max. 100 lbs" given our litigious society.
DSC01617.JPG
DSC01612.JPG

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scottp55
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Re: Original and Copy

Post by scottp55 »

You're right G.!
They are kinda cute(especially arranged like that:)
Too bad the family will be broken up, even if for such a great cause! :)
MUCH more useful than a toy...longer lasting to and I'm sure some lifelong attachments will be made!
You even included a cute runt/ugly duckling of the litter :D
I'm sure somebody with some animation skills could make a good little movie clip from them:)
WELL DONE G. !! :D
scott
I've learned my lesson well. You can't please everyone,so you have to please yourself
R.N.

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mikeacg
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Re: Original and Copy

Post by mikeacg »

Very nice, simple design! Thanks for sharing the files! I am interested to see how you set it up...

Mike :D

Tailmaker
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Re: Original and Copy

Post by Tailmaker »

mikeacg wrote:.... I am interested to see how you set it up...Mike :D
Do you mean how I set this up on the CNC? Work holding method etc.?

If so, that was more or less standard technique for double sided work with unsymmetric alignment dowels for the big version. The boards were held with corner screws on the spoilboard.
for the legs I used sturdy tabs at the ends and for the seat surface I screwed the seat plate also down through the dowel holes so that I did not need tabs for the final cutout. But this was a single piece and I did not mind the bit changes.

For the set of 6 mini stepstools I did not like the dozens of tool changes and screw down. For that I made a "vacuum fixture" (a.k.a. a few weatherstrips on the spoilboard) with alignment dowels for the top as well as for the bottom side so that I could swap the 6 blanks in precise position and make all cuts with a bit before switching to the next bit. It was precise enough so that I did not have to re-zero the bit after each blank swap.

I still have the bottom fixture on the machine so I took a picture. A bit primitive but it works well for a small series production. The vacuum is drawn through the small 1/4" hole in the spoilboard (hard to see in the picture).
I had to cordon off the center handle hole and the dowel holes as to not lose vacuum when these features and the leg mortises are cut through for the bottom side.
DSC01620.JPG

Bobtail Farm
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Re: Original and Copy

Post by Bobtail Farm »

thank you.

Garycarl
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Re: Original and Copy

Post by Garycarl »

A little late to the show here, but my gosh, how beautiful, and yes, definitely going to try them out.

Tailmaker
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Re: Original and Copy

Post by Tailmaker »

Hello Gary, I sent you a message.

Please do not use the link in one of earlier posts! I abandoned the web site and somebody uses the url for scamming purposes.
Proper download for this file is now on Joe Federer's web site: https://fabrikisto.com/tailmaker-software/
Puzzle, Finger Joint, Maze and Guilloche freeware at https://fabrikisto.com/tailmaker-software/

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