Oak Steps - Precision 23
I made these steps out of Oak boards bought from Home Depot. The boards are 1/4 inch thick and I glued three of them together to make a step 3/4 inches think. Laminating the boards will make them far less likely to split or warp. I used a 1" hole saw to drill out the slots at the ends for the 1" ladder tubing. Measuring for a tight fit is important so that the notch that fits into the tubing prevents the steps from wanting to rotate when used. The steps are held in place by basic pipe clamps bought at the hardware store. I bought Sole Mate steps from West Marine - but found them unsuitable. Only the top step would fit without having to drill into the 1" stainless tubing. I was able to use the stainless 1/2 circle clamps from the steps for my homemade step. The bottom step is far more difficult. The bottom of the step had to be hand shaped using a table saw (not recommended) in order to fit down into the curved 1" stainless tubing. These steps sure make it more comfortable for my aging feet! Also, no drilling through the steel tubing is required!
For details, contact:
Brooks Albery
P-23 in Kansas City