Music and Guitar Stand Upcycled from old wooden Crutches

Here we have a multi use music and guitar stand made from one of a pair of crutches, a few wood odds and ends, some pieces from a broken artists easle, as well as a little purchased hardware. I hope you are not unlucky enough to have a pair of old wooden crutches lying around, but just in case you do, here is a musical way to upcycle them.

Most of the materials for this project were purchased at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. If you are able, the Habitat for Humanity programs in communities all over the US are a great way to volunteer your time and support. There are many ways to help. From actually volunteering at a build site, to donating new or gently used building materials and supplies. There is another way to help them, and that is to shop at "ReStores". These are stores run by Habitat for Humanity programs that sell excess donated goods. Donating to and Shopping at these stores for materials for your building projects not only helps their programs but it also helps our environment by keeping those materials out of landfills and in the workshops of creative people.

Now then, having removed myself from my "volunteer to save the planet and your community" soapbox, I'll continue on with this instructable. No, but seriously, support Habitat for Humanity. They're good folks doing good things everywhere.

Step 1 Materials OR Inspiration & Whatever you happen to have lying around!

Let me start by saying that taking on a project is a wonderful endeavor that can be very rewarding and fulfilling. There will eventually be a point in every project where you find you don't have the tools needed or wanted, for whatever reason, and that can be very frustrating to say the least.

Case in point, my beloved (not so beloved) power stapler/nailer. It's a cheap little thing that I think of with fond ideas of quickly and happily brad nailing together any little project that comes into my mind. I have tried to buy brads for this little tool many times, usually while in the middle of shopping for other materials for other projects past. All three packages of brads having been the wrong size before, I tried once more to buy the correct size (which happened to be the smallest size on the store shelf 3/4") When I went to load up my trusty nailer I found that once again the brads were to long (mine apparently only takes even shorter brads, which is basically useless for anything other than nailing trim to a wall) Despite my high hopes for this little tool, I have finally realized that it is little more than an overglorified stapler. So, instead I have resorted to the truly trusty ole hammer and nails, elbow grease included.

Now if you find yourself in this predicament or one similar, do not despair. Just keep going, figure it out, and before long you'll have a project to be all the more proud of, having overcome the obstacles in your path. Then post it on Instructables and enter it into a contest where you can hope and pray it will win you the automatic nailer of your dreams.

These are the materials that are needed. Feel free to substitute any materials for those shown. I'm a big fan of use what you have. Improvise, adapt, and overcome, as my husband would say!

1- crutch (or half of a pair)
2- 12"x18" pine boards (or plywood)
2- 4"x8" plywood blocks
2- 6 1/2" 1x2 boards
2- 8" 1x2 boards
2- 6" thin wood slats (or 1 wooden paint stir stick)
2- 2"x5/8" metal corner braces with screws(found in framing department of hardware store)
2- skinny bolts with wing nuts (small enough to fit through the adjustment holes in a crutch)
finish nails 1 1/2"
paint (if desired)

tools needed:
Craftsman Dremel tool
small drill bit (about the diameter of a finish nail)
skill saw or hand saw
tape measure
pencil
hammer
sandpaper
paint brush (if desired)

Comments

[opiewan]

great idea,almost wish i hadn't gave my old wooden crutches away many years ago.and to quote the Mike Granda song "WE WOULD HAVE NEVER LEARNED TO PLAY IF IT WASN'T FOR MEL BAY.' and i still can't.

[princessdee222]

I have that "You can teach yourself" book!

[sharpobjects]

Way to support Habitat! Thanks! Cool idea too.

[lidybug5]

Very Inventive! Great way to reuse! Clear instructions. Im Inspired......Thanks!

[cueballmccue]

Thanks lidybug! You R Awesome!

[cueball]

This is a great instructable and it needs all the support we can give it.

[cueballmccue]

I know the frustration when you don't have the tools you want to build what you've got in your head, You've done a great job on this, what a cool unique idea, I hope you at least get your nail gun out of this. I've given you my vote. Good luck!

[slatefactory]

NICE, VERY NICE! Reuse fanatics everywhere are applauding, LOL. I'm making one for my son. We are one of the unlucky ones, we actually have an old pair of crutches in the garage, never occured to me to try to build something else out of those. Very creative. Thanks!

[Capn Badger]

HA HA!! Joined just for you. You get my instant vote for being awesome. Now you have to be nice to me all day.

[Vintiquities]

Awww, thanks man! You Rock!

[silentgrovearchery]

What an awesome idea! Love the fact that you upcycled the crutch! You've got my vote.

[mcraghead]

A great solution to a problem I'm taken at which I've made an attempt or two: "reduce the number of items you have to bring to a gig." And you've managed to encourage upcycling and get in a plug for Habitat in one fell swoop - Nice work!

[Vintiquities]

Thanks so much for your comment. You're my kind of people. LOL. Have a great New Year!