Fig. A: The footplate follows a straight line against your
shin support. Fig. B: Find your balancing point, then
mark where the shoes intersect the dowel. Fig. C: Drill
holes in piece B with a ¼" bit. Fig. D: Line up A to overlap
B by 6". Fig. E: Drill through A using the holes in B
as a guide. Fig. F: Using a T square, line up A with C.
Fig. G: Use C to guide you as you drill the hole in D.
Fig. H: Practice with the carriage bolts on the outside.
3. Drill the wood pieces.
3a. For each stilt, you need pieces A, B, C, and D.
Piece A will overlap piece B by 6". Piece C is the
next layer, followed by piece D (Diagram 1, previous
page). Two bolts go through each of these sets, as
shown in Diagram 1. Use caution when drilling the
holes: all pieces should be square on top where
the footplate will attach.
NOTE: Always label your pieces so that you line
them up exactly as you drilled them.
3b. Drill holes in B, as shown in Diagram 1, with a
¼" bit (Figure C).
3c. Line up A to overlap B by 6", including the
drilled holes (Figure D). On a flat surface, clamp
the 2 pieces together. Drill through A using the
holes already drilled in B as a guide (Figure E).
3d. Using a T square, line up A with C (Figure F).
Clamp together and use the holes already drilled
in A to guide you as you drill the holes in C.
3e. Line up D with C and use a T square for the top
edge. Clamp and use C to guide you as you drill the
hole in D (Figure G).
4. Assemble the wood pieces.
4a. Practice assembling (Diagram 1), with the
heads of the 5½" and 4" carriage bolts on the
outside of the assembly (Figure H). If the pieces fit
and form a flat rest for your footplate, take them
apart and reassemble them, gluing each joint as you
go. Holding the head of the bolt with pliers, tighten
the nuts with a
8" wrench so the bolts sink into the
wood. Pre-drill and screw 2 wood screws through C,
attaching it to D.
4b. Pay attention to how the footplate will attach for
each stilt (Figure I). Arrange the pieces for each stilt
so that B is on the outside of the shin. Pre-drill and
attach the footplate to D and A with wood screws
(Figure J).
Photography by Chris Merrick
5. Prepare and attach shin guards.
5a. Cut 2 pieces of your ABS pipe to 6" lengths with
a reciprocating saw or handsaw. Cut out a 3"-wide
vertical section of each with a jigsaw (Figure K).
5b. Clamp the ABS pipe in a vise, heat the middle
section with a propane torch, and using a glove,
gently bend the ABS to flare out to the shape of your
shin. Once you think the ABS is bent out enough to
fit around your shin with foam padding set inside, let
