DIY Rolling Library Ladder

Although this is a rolling/sliding library ladder, it has nothing to do with a library!

We built this so we could easily turn on the Lego train that rides on an elevated track that circles the Lego room.

Materials/Tools:

• KINMADE Serene Rolling Ladder Hardware Library Sliding Ladder Hardware Kit with 39'' (1000mm) Round Track/Rail
• (3) 1 in. x 4 in. x 8 ft. Select Kiln-Dried Square Edge Whitewood Board
• SPAX #8 x 1-1/2 in. T-Star Plus Drive Flat-Head Partial Thread Yellow Zinc Coated Multi-Material Screw
• Empire 7 in. Laser Etched Aluminum Rafter Square
• Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 10 in. Dual Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw W/ Free 8.0Ah Battery
• Rockler Portable Drill Guide
• Makita 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Variable Speed Compact Router with Built-In LED Light
• 1 pt. Natural Danish Oil Watco

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The first step was to connect the rails to each other. Not going to sugar-coat it, but these rails were a pain to try to get together. We almost sent them back because it was so bad, but once they were secured to the wall, the poor connections were not a problem. We were able to screw the rails directly into wall studs so no additional header board was needed.

For the ladder, we cut the two bottom legs at a 12-degree angle. Save that little cut off piece which will be used as a jig for the step/rung placement.

For comfort when using the ladder, Steph routed a curve onto the edge of the step. Once routed the curve was sanded. The board was cut into seven 12-inch lengths for the steps.

Steph started marking the legs for the step placement using a carpenter's square, but then we realized we could use that cut-off piece from the bottom as a jig to do this. No math required!

The steps are placed eleven inches apart which we marked onto both legs of the ladder. Steph used the "jig" on these marks to get the correct angle for the steps.

The steps were glued and screwed into place onto both sides of the ladder.

Steph once again used the jig to mark the placement of the screws so they would be uniform in their placement.

This Rockler portable drill press is one of the best tools we've recently purchased. With it, Steph was able to precisely screw the screws into place.

We finished the ladder with a coat of Danish oil.

The rolling hardware was screwed into place 3/4 of an inch from the bottom of the legs and at that same 12-degree angle.

The last thing we needed to do before attaching the rollers at the top, was to trim off the excess. To determine this, we held the ladder in place and marked what needed to be trimmed.

Pilot holes were drilled where the rollers would be attached to the tops of the ladder.

Steph clamped the roller hardware to the ladder and screwed the hardware into place.

And with that the ladder was finished and we took it for a test run! It's perfect!

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