Kitchen Helper With Sliding Step and Drawing Table!

This is my first instructables and my first "real" woodworking and Fusion 360 project. I made this kitchen helper for my son because he constantly wanted to sit on my countertop when we were cooking or doing ANYTHING in the kitchen. The kitchen helper doubles as a drawing table for the kids when you take the sliding step out and placing it in the top instead.

Me and my neighbour did this project together and it was a lot of fun and A LOT of new exploration and trying. We used no fancy tools other than a handheld router, so this project is absolutely something I think everyone can do!

This instructables is an entry in the furniture contest, and it would be a blast if you voted :D

Supplies

1 piece of plywood

Screws

Woodglue

Router + bits

Drill

Miter saw

Grinder and sandpaper, or just sandpaper

Paint or woodoil

Step 1: Step 1: CAD Drawing and Gathering of Supplies

First step is to print the template of the kitchen helper. I have attached both the CAD drawing and the PDF of the model for easy access and modification if you want. The PDF is made so that the template is printed in A4 and it is easy to know where each paper piece fits together. The meaning is so that the two lines is supposed to overlap and that will make it correct (see image). The chair is 88 cm in height due to the height of my counter top, but you can change that if yours is higher or lower.

When everything is printed, glue/ tape the template on top of the plywood and then find your finest jigsaw and start cutting! Be careful to not cut inside the lines. We used 15 mm thick plywood and that worked fine for us. I think you can use thicker, but it will become heavier and less movable. Any thinner than 15 mm will become fragile so it's not advisable. It is best to cut a little bit outside the lines and then fine trim the edges afterwards with a router. When we did this, we made some changes to where the handles where so that is possible to do as well if you see fit.

It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you do NOT cut all the way through on the slots that are horizontally and vertically inside the kitchen helper (see image with red rings). These cuts are to be cut out with the router later. Cut out all holes and notches and continue to the next step!

Step 2: Step 2: Copying and Sanding!

When you have cut out and routed the first side, you use that side as a template for the next side. I laid the first onto the plywood and traced around the edges and sawed it out carefully not to go inside the lines. When it was done, I used the router and clamped together both sides and used a tracing bit on the router (like in the images) and copied the template so I had two identical twins!

Next was to sand and trim the edges on the sides. I used the router to round the edges so that when small children’s hands touch the helper, they won’t get a splinter and it looks better that way. I used a random orbit sander to sand all the sides down to 180 grit, just to make it smooth and avoid splinters and ugly cuts.

When the edges are smooth, use a router to make thehorizontal and vertical grooves where the step is to slide in and out. We used 15 mm plywood and made a groove that where 7 mm in depth and 16 mm in width. DON’T make the depth to deep!! You risk going to deep and making the whole construction fragile, and we don’t want that! We made a jig out of some of the excess plywood to make a straight groove. Fortunately for us we hade a router bit that where 16 mm in width so we made only one pass, but its easy to make a jig and use a smaller bit if that is what you have.

Step 3: Step 3: Cut the Step, Back and Supports

Next is to cut all the supporting parts and the interchangeable step.

We had done some thinking before we made the kitchen helper, but it wasn’t until we where to make the steps and supports that we decided on how wide the chair was going to be. We ended on 40 cm, but you can make changes here so to match your kitchen and size preferences. We made all these parts out of the same plywood and the smaller supports we used a wider router bit to round a small support piece to nearly make it completely round. The back is the same height as the upper step (its more esthetic that way). We made the step with a small curve so its easier for the kids to enter on their own (which is the whole point). We use a string and a pencil where we put the pencil on the string and moved the other end of the string away to gain the correct angle on the pencil (like a pendulum). The router was used to round the edges on all the supporting pieces and the step, in order to get smooth surfaces. We did NOT round the sides that where going to be connected to the sides (those you want to keep at a 90-degree angle) and for the step.

Step 4: Step 4: Sand Some More...!

After all parts are cut you need to sand everything down to about 180 grit and make a smooth surface. Use either a random orbit sander or regular sandpaper. Either way, it will become smooth as silk!

Next step is assembly and paint :)

Step 5: Step 5: Assembly!

Almost finished! The second to last step is to assemble all the parts. It

is recommended that you test fit all pieces to confirm that it fits! Use some clamps to assemble, if something is not fitting, use a sanding paper to sand down pieces which are not fitting.

We pre-drilled all holes for all the parts (except for the step which is to be slide in and out) and using a counter-sink drill bit to make the screws flush with the plywood. Be precise when measuring and drilling the holes so that you don’t warp the chair. If you have made clean, 90-dregree cuts, the whole chair will become leveled, but it’s a shame if that is messed up with a hasty assembly.

I drilled holes to one piece at a time and screwed and glued the part together before continuing to the next piece. When all parts are connected and screwed, make sure to set it in a place where your kid can’t get to it while it dries!

Next step; Painting and finishing!

Step 6: Step 6: Finishing and Painting

Last step! Now all parts are assembled and fitted correctly it is time to oil and paint the chair. I have no experience with oiling plywood, but I used a wood oil which I had for oiling my dining table (regular wood oil). I think that you could use any kind of oil for this, so its up to you.

Next, I painted my chair with interior paint meant for painting wooden walls. This is entirely up to you if you want to paint it or not, but it had to match the colours of the kitchen in order for me to persuade my wife to have it there. All in all, I think it came out outstanding, especially since neither I nor my neighbor had any experience in any woodworking (other than IKEA assembly, but that doesn’t count).

I would say that I have gotten many questions regarding where to buy the chair, so that is a win!

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial, and if you have any question, feel free to post a comment!