Reading Back-Rest
€12,00
Reading Back-Rest
€12,00
"Simple, convenient, and inexpensive to make," says the old book of its bed-rest: a front frame "webbed with strong tape", a back frame hinged to it, and a stretcher with holes that props them apart. Today it is a reading back-rest: the hole you choose sets the recline.
At a glance
- Size: 21" (533 mm) wide; set up 14 7/16" (367 mm) deep and 17 15/16" (456 mm) high on its second hole; folded flat 19" (483 mm) high and 1 5/8" (41 mm) thick (2 3/8" (60 mm) at the stud block)
- Skill: Intermediate
- Build time: A weekend, plus a day for the finish to dry
- Materials: approx. US$45–90
- In the plan: 13-page PDF, US Letter, 12 illustrated steps, imperial, with metric in the lists and steps
Inside the 13-page plan
- The original article and its drawings, restored and reproduced in full
- An exploded drawing that shows how every part goes together
- Dimensioned views of the finished build, in feet and inches
- Materials list and hardware schedule, with today's actual lumber sizes and metric equivalents
- Cut list, so you can cut everything before you start assembling
- Clear illustrated step-by-step assembly drawings: one job per step, every part drawn, fastener positions marked
The PDF plan is a digital download; nothing ships. Adapted from "Simple Bed-rest", The Practical Woodworker, vol. 2, pp. 1165-1166, Figs. 11-15, an unsigned public-domain article. Restored, redrawn and edited by Square & Furrow, produced with AI-assisted tools and checked against the original article. Not affiliated with the original publisher.
Illustrated step by step
Imperial + metric
Cut list & checklist
Instant PDF download
Built to work
Reading Back-Rest
Built in home workshops more than a century ago, and redrawn for the way you build today.
RenderingFrom the workshop archive
Restored from the original article
From the archive
“Simple Bed-rest”
Public domain · restored by Square & Furrow
This is the public-domain how-to article home craftsmen built from more than a century ago. We restore its drawings and reproduce the article in full inside your plan, then rebuild it as a modern edition: today's lumber sizes, metric measurements, a cut list and illustrated steps. Every dimension is checked against the original.
Step by step
Every part drawn. Every fastener marked.
Each step is one job with its own clear drawing: the parts it adds are shaded, every nail and screw position is marked, and the hardware and tools sit right beside it. An exploded view shows how the whole build goes together before you make a single cut.
Before you build
Your tools & materials checklist
Tick what you already have. Whatever is left is your shopping list. Your ticks are saved on this device, so you can come back to it from the lumber yard.
0 of 0 on hand
Tools
Materials
Stock: poplar is today's "whitewood"; two 1x3 boards give both frames, a 1x2 the bar, lever and stud block (Fig. 1). Webbing: a tight twill, not a ribbon; the cuts take 6 yd (5.5 m), buy 7.
Questions about this plan
What are the finished dimensions?
21" (533 mm) wide; set up 14 7/16" (367 mm) deep and 17 15/16" (456 mm) high on its second hole; folded flat 19" (483 mm) high and 1 5/8" (41 mm) thick (2 3/8" (60 mm) at the stud block). The drawings are dimensioned in feet and inches; the materials list, cut list and steps give metric sizes alongside.
What skill level do I need, and how long does it take?
It's rated intermediate. Expected build time: A weekend, plus a day for the finish to dry. It suits someone who has built a simple piece of furniture or cut a mortise and tenon before; each step still names the tools it uses.
How much does it cost to build?
Roughly US$45–90 in materials at typical US lumber-yard prices. Prices vary a lot by region, so price the materials list at your local yard before you start.
What tools do I need?
Steel rule; Pencil; Try square; Compass; Painter's tape (depth flag); Handsaw or backsaw with a bench hook; Coping saw; 1/2" chisel; Sanding block; Sandpaper 120 and 220 grit; Shellac brush; Lint-free rags; Scissors; Doweling jig; Drill/driver with 1/16" (1.5 mm), 3/16" (4.8 mm) and 3/8" (9.5 mm) bits and a 3/4" (19 mm) spade bit; Screwdriver; Awl; Hammer; 3 bar clamps 24" (610 mm) or longer with scrap pads; plus a tape, pencil, safety glasses, hearing protection and gloves. The interactive checklist on this page lets you tick off what you already own.
Where does this plan come from?
It is restored from "Simple Bed-rest", The Practical Woodworker, vol. 2, pp. 1165-1166, Figs. 11-15, an unsigned how-to article from that is now in the public domain. We redrew it as a modern build guide with a materials list, metric sizes, a cut list and clear illustrated step-by-step assembly drawings, every part drawn. Every dimension follows the original article, and the article is reproduced inside. This edition is our own; it is not affiliated with or endorsed by the original publisher.
Can a beginner follow it?
It's rated intermediate, so it helps to have built something framed before, or to have a handy friend on the bigger lifts. Each step is a single job with its own drawing: the parts that step adds are shaded, the nails, screws and bolts it drives are marked where they go, and the hardware for that step is listed beside it. An exploded drawing at the front shows how the whole build goes together before you cut anything.
What do I get?
A 13-page print-ready PDF (US Letter) to download after purchase. It prints well at home or at a copy shop, and reads fine on a tablet in the workshop.