My spouse was doing some step-ups on the deck one afternoon but needed a bit higher step, so I grabbed some scrap 2x4 pieces and nails from a shed I was working on to bang together a "lift" to add a few inches. Later she was using the lift in the basement with some thick books for added height ("exercise" books? Sorry) and I figured I could get rid of a few more 2x4 scraps by making a more flexible step.
This actually required violating one of my woodworking maxims that goes something like "don't waste time making things out of crappy wood", but since one of the main aims was to repurpose the aformentioned crappy wood, I invoked the notwithstanding clause and carried on. This is a somewhat crudely fashioned step although I suppose not too unsightly for those fans of the "distressed knotty pine" look.
It has a height of 8 inches with extra 1 and 2 inch lifts so the step height can be set to be 8, 9, 10 or 11" by selective stacking of the lifts. It was all constructed from a pile of 12"-long pieces of 2x4 (complete with nail holes and knots) and mostly just glued together as detailed
here.
| Material: | Kiln dried SPF (spruce, pine or fir), #2 and better grade. AKA 2x4s |
| Finish: | 3 coats Miniwax Fast-Dry Poly, Clear Satin |
| Size: | 11.5" wide x 12" deep x 8" tall |
| Done: | October 3, 2018 |
