This easy-to-make display ladder will be a huge hit in your home. Use it to showcase one of your wonderful makes in living areas or bedrooms.
Ladders are fantastic for keeping things tidy and on display. They’re great for adding pops of colour and showing off your latest make.
Gather your supplies
Rails 1.8m x 67 x 18mm primed pine (2)
Rungs 1m x 25mm-dia. dowel (5)
You’ll also need
Hand saw; pencil; combination square; mitre box; drill; 25mm spade bit; PVA (wood glue); hammer; sandpaper; paint and brushes
Here’s how
STEP 1 Mark lines on the rails for the rungs at 300mm intervals, using a pencil and combination square. Then mark the centre point of each line.
STEP 2 To cut the bases of rails on an angle, lean them against the wall at the desired angle. Lay a block of wood flat on the floor against the side of the rail. Mark a horizontal line on the rail across the top of the block with pencil. Cut the marked line with a mitre box and hand saw. Sand all cut edges.
STEP 3 Drill the centre points on the marked lines on the rails with a spade bit. Don’t drill all the way through, just enough for the point of the bit to make a pilot hole on the other side. Then drill from the other side to finish the hole.
STEP 4 Lay one rail flat and put a little PVA in the holes and around one end of the rungs. Insert each rung into a hole and drive home with a hammer. Use wood block to avoid damaging the rungs.
STEP 5 Apply PVA to other ends of rungs, position second rail on top and tap into place using wood block and hammer on the rail. Lay ladder assembly flat, check for square, then leave the glue to set. Once dry, paint the rails and stain the rungs.
Things to note
- If you prefer a wood finish you can use another timber for the rails, such as Tasmanian oak.
- The timbers used here are standard sizes available from your local hardware store. You can vary the dimensions to suit your own project.
- For safety in the case of small children and pets, you could attach the ladder to the wall with small angle brackets on the top of the ladder rails.
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PROJECT SHEET HERE
For more DIY projects, pick up the June issue of Better Homes and Gardens, on stands now.
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