Set the ladder halves on bearers on the ground and hold them in place using clamps or weights.
- Have somebody watch while you’re drilling to check your angle. Face the same direction along the sides as you drill so that any deviation is consistent.
- Drill ¾” rung holes from the inside face of your sides, perpendicular to the flat face. On a tapered ladder, the rungs will flex when the two halves are joined which adds tension and rigidity to the ladder.
- Taper the holes using a tapered auger bit, drilling until the auger is just touching the outside of the ¾” hole on the exit side. The holes near the base of the ladder will require more augering because the timber is thicker.
Here, Robin is drilling from the curved face to make a thatcher’s ladder. For a builder’s ladder you would drill from the flat face – sand bags can be used to support the sides when the curved face is downward.
Wooden Ladder Making 