Shop Stool Design #1: Slick and Simple

Register today to participate in the Shop Stool Build-Off. You must register to win a prize!

I have some shop stool designs drawn up for the Shop Stool Build-Off.  Feel free to use them or customize them to your liking. I don’t have plans, so please don’t ask for any.

Overview

This is the first design for a shop stool based on one pinned to my Pinterest board. My version stands 24″ tall with a 13″ diameter seat. It could be made with either solid wood or plywood. Contrasting materials would look sharp, or you could use just one species of wood. The seat is a great opportunity to use figured wood.

The construction is simple and straightforward with the help of a simple jig to cut the notches in the seat. Once the joinery is taken care of, you can go to town sculpting the stool. Or you could leave it un-sculpted.

Depending on the materials chosen, a stretcher system somewhere along the length of the legs might be a good idea. It would also serve as a foot rest.

Joinery

The notches in the seat are cut with a 1″ diameter router bit and the ends of the legs are rounded over with a 1/2″ radius bit for a perfect fit.

If solid wood is used, the supporting arms of the legs should be made with a separate piece and joined to the leg to avoid a short grain situation which would considerably weaken the stool. A pair of screws is driven through each supporting arm into the seat to secure the legs.

My second design has one simple, but substantial twist to this design. Watch for it!

Links:

• My Pinterest board of Shop Stool Build-Off Ideas
• Register for the Shop Stool Build-Off, January 25, 2014