A stool is a compact and very comfortable piece of furniture that has become familiar to many people. Wooden products purchased in a store do not always satisfy consumers in terms of cost, practicality and aesthetic qualities.
Therefore, the question of making stools with your own hands arises in the minds of many. On the one hand, such a product can be made based on your personal preferences (material, size, shape, etc.), but on the other hand, a do-it-yourself stool made of wood is a long and labor-intensive process.
DIY stool made of wood
Stool design features
To make a stool, different materials can be used, but most often craftsmen take ready-made timber, waste wood or ordinary plywood . These are cheaper and more reliable materials that are used in the furniture industry. Working with wood is not difficult, so if you have a ready-made drawing, you can easily make a kitchen stool.
Most often, stools are made of wood
In the classical sense, a stool is several elements securely connected to each other. These include:
- stool base , which has a square shape (sometimes the base of the structure is round);
- durable legs in the amount of 3 or 4 pieces;
- fasteners that connect the legs of the product. They are called kings;
- a seat with rounded edges.
Creative wooden stools
For convenience, the surface of the seat is covered with thick fabric or leather. Such stools will look more presentable.
Design features of the stool
Product requirements
A stool is a universal piece of furniture, because if desired, it can be hidden in a closet, under a table, or taken to another room. A stool can also replace a coffee table or a small stand. But for a handmade product to be truly functional and of high quality, it must meet several requirements.
Product requirements
- Structural strength . In the process of making a stool, all wooden elements must be fixed using high-quality wood glue. A durable product will be able to withstand even the largest people and will not fall apart.
- Correct sizes and proportions . The design of the stools should correspond to the size and height of family members. For example, a stool for children should be ideally selected so that they can place their feet on the floor or on a special crossbar.
- Compactness and convenience of a wooden product . You need to seriously think about the choice of upholstery material. It is desirable that the seats be soft, so materials such as leatherette, leather or velor are better suited for upholstery.
Ladder stool
Note! If you are going to make a stool for the first time, then it is recommended to choose simple designs first. But after some time, after gaining the necessary experience, you can begin to manufacture more complex products.
General requirements for material for manufacturing
When choosing a material for making a chair, it is important to pay attention to the following points:
- No damage to wood in the form of internal and external cracks, fungal infections and traces of parasites;
- In a cut of high-quality material there should be no traces of fused or underdeveloped knots;
- The wood must be strong and wear-resistant.
The main varieties of trees from which you can build a chair for home use are:
- Larch;
- Oak;
- Maple;
- Ash;
- Alder;
- Pine;
- Cedar;
- Beech.
To construct an element of garden furniture, it is recommended to use coniferous trees. Possessing a large amount of resin, they resist decay processes, as well as fungal infections and parasites, much longer.
Material selection
If you do not take into account glass and plastic models made in designer style, then wooden stools are the best option. It is advisable to use oak, cedar or yew, but budget types of wood, such as alder or pine, are also suitable. Craftsmen from other countries successfully use jute, bamboo, hemp or even stones to make furniture. But if you choose the most pliable material, then it is, of course, wood. The finished pieces of furniture are convenient, comfortable and extremely beautiful.
Choosing material for the stool
If desired, you can combine different materials, for example, the upper part of the stool is made of wood, and the legs are made of metal. But to make beautiful and durable forged legs, you need to be a real master of hot forging. Such products will decorate a summer terrace, corridor or living room.
Chipboard, plywood and veneer
The upper part of the stool (seat) must be covered with high-quality and soft material, for example, faux fur, textiles or even sisal ropes. Although a more aristocratic and practical option is genuine leather. With it, the finished stool will look more expensive and attractive. If we talk about wicker, then this option will be most suitable for decorating a summer house.
How to make a three-legged stool
Stools made of logs, saw cuts and branches
By abandoning the legs, the seat can be made from an ordinary log. By sawing it into several logs and equipping each with a soft pad, we will get an original set for a country holiday.
The disadvantage of this solution is obvious - heavy weight, which creates inconvenience when carrying.
Here's what you can do by combining wooden legs with a massive seat made from a rounded piece of log. This unusual stool claims to be a designer find.
There are no drawers or legs here. The rigidity of the structure is ensured by a massive seat, into which four legs are embedded at 1/3 of its height.
Anyone who is good with a chainsaw can create an original piece of furniture from a log. To do this, you need to make three neat side cuts in a thick block of wood to form the legs. Having made precise markings on the scraps of one trunk, you can cut them out into a set of two stools, nested one inside the other.
Continuing the “forest theme”, let’s see what can be built from the material lying under our feet. A beautiful product can be made from thick branches, freed from bark and polished. This design has one original detail - a drawer for household items located under the seat. The lid is assembled from planed boards mounted on wooden tenons and glue.
This piece of furniture will fit perfectly into a rustic interior style, which is characterized by massive wooden beams, stairs and tables. But it is unlikely to take root in an ordinary kitchen.
Cutting a log makes a ready-made seat for a stool. By cutting three legs from thick branches into it, we get a durable and attractive structure.
Hemp and forks of trunks can be used as bases for the manufacture of original products. Sanded and topped with thick log cuts, they fit perfectly into the interior of a log cabin.
Types of stools
Despite their simplicity, stools can be made in different variations and used for different purposes. Therefore, before starting work, you need to decide on the type of stool you plan to make. Below are the main types of products.
Types of stools
Table. Popular types of stools.
| Type of stool, photo | Description |
| Children's stool | It can be used not only by children, but also by adults, so this option will never be out of place in the apartment. The children's stool has a compact design, it is lightweight and can be transported without problems. Even a child can carry the product. |
| Box stool | It functions not only as a stool, but also as a small storage box. The box stool is an ideal model for workshops, kitchens or other rooms with limited space. Such structures are made primarily of wood. |
| Folding stool | Such designs are mainly used in small country houses or apartments with small kitchens. If desired, the folding stool can be folded and hidden in a closet or under the bed. The folded product will not take up much space. |
| Step stool | Another type of stools that you can make yourself. The product folds up and is used as a stepladder. A step stool can be used not only in private homes, but also in ordinary apartments, for example, during renovations or for screwing in a light bulb. |
| Dachny | An excellent option for a stool, made like a bench. The product is small, so it can be easily carried around the house. To make a country stool, you need to use only a wooden beam made of durable wood, because plywood is not suitable for such a design. |
On a note! When creating wooden furniture that will be used outdoors, it is necessary to make small gaps between the wooden elements. This is necessary to prevent moisture retention, which can harm the entire structure.
Simple round stool
What do you need for work?
Regardless of the type of structure being manufactured, work must always begin with a drawing of the future project . It is advisable to consider several options so that you have something to compare with and ultimately choose one. The preparatory stage does not end here. You also need to take care of the tools.
Woodworking tools
So, to make a stool you need to prepare the following:
- softwood boards;
- furniture stapler;
- set of self-tapping screws;
- seat upholstery material;
- PVA glue for working with wood;
- sandpaper with different grain sizes;
- hand saw or jigsaw;
- plane;
- screwdriver and electric drill;
- safety glasses and work gloves.
Hand wooden plane
Be sure to prepare paint and varnish materials and decorative finishing products. It is also necessary to purchase various stencils, rollers and brushes for painting the finished product. Once everything you need is at hand, you can get to work.
What will you need for the job?
In order to make a stool from a solid log, you will need the following:
- chainsaw or equivalent;
- scraper for removing bark;
- sanding machine and sandpaper;
- carpenter's level;
- router;
- drill and drill bit;
- threaded furniture pins - for attaching legs;
- wood glue or all-purpose glue;
- furniture or polyurethane varnish.
The presented project did not involve impregnations that protect the wood and give it color. But of course, they can be used. And if you do not want to use furniture or polyurethane varnish in your work because of the shine, then you can “seal” the wood with mineral oil or wax.
We make a comfortable duvet cover with our own hands: you will need two sheets
Vacationing in Russia has become even more profitable: how a tourist can get cashback
Water scarcity on Earth is increasing: March 22 is World Water Day
Children's stool puzzle
A great way to decorate a child's room is to make small stools in the shape of a puzzle. If you make several of these products at once, they can eventually be combined into one large bench. Below are step-by-step instructions for this process.
Step 1. Prepare supplies to create a stool. We need boards for making the top part and beams for the legs.
Consumables
Step 2: Place one board on the table and draw large puzzles on its surface. A simple pencil is used for this purpose.
Puzzles are drawn with a pencil
Step 3. Place the marked board on the second one and, aligning them, screw them together with self-tapping screws. To create children's stools, it is not necessary to use wood - plywood can also work.
The boards are leveled
Step 4. Screw the screws so that they do not stick out from above. This will make it easier to carry out further work.
The boards are twisted with self-tapping screws
Step 5 . Cut the material into several pieces - this will make it easier to cut out the puzzles. You can cut with a regular saw, but with a jigsaw all the work can be done in a few minutes.
Wood cutting
Step 6. Carefully trim away any unwanted parts of the wood, following the marks made in pencil.
Excess parts are cut off
Step 7. Sand the cut areas to make the surface smoother.
Sanding parts
Step 8 . Sand the cut out puzzles with sandpaper. This is necessary to eliminate all irregularities and chips. Upon completion of work, carefully inspect the product. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
Processing puzzles with sandpaper
Step 9 . Drill holes for the legs. They must be the same so that the finished chair stands level. Therefore, if you twisted two boards together, now you need to unscrew the top part of the chair and make a through hole in it.
Holes for legs are drilled
Step 10 . Connect the top and bottom parts of the future structure again. Use old screws for this.
Connection of upper and lower parts
Step 11 . Make marks on the blanks for the stool legs. It is advisable to make the stools low, so a leg length of 30 cm will be sufficient.
Future legs are marked
Step 12 . Using a jigsaw, carefully cut off the legs and sand the cut areas.
Legs are cut off
Step 13 . Make the first two crossbars, securing them with wood glue.
The crossbars are attached with wood glue
Step 14 . Mark, drill holes and glue the ledgers in the next two crossbars. All the steps performed are similar, so you just need to follow the workflow shown in the photo.
Trying on crossbars
A hole is drilled in the leg
Step 15 . Once the legs are ready, glue them to the base and press down with something heavy for a while. Good wood glue needs 3-5 minutes to completely harden.
The product must be pressed with something heavy
Step 16 . Using the same technology, make several stools at once, and then check them for evenness. If necessary, use a sander or plane. Try to connect all the puzzles together, thereby getting one bench.
Sanding finished stools
Step 17: Paint the stools. Since they are for children, it is advisable to paint them in different colors. Moreover, it is not necessary to paint the legs - just coat them with varnish.
Painting stools
Step 18 . Wait a little while for the paint to dry. Now the puzzle stools are ready. You can enjoy the result of the work done.
Ready-made puzzle stools
5 stools that turn into a bench
Another photo of the products
Stylish wooden stool
After practicing with simple types of stools, you can try yourself in making more complex designs. These include a “slat” stool, detailed manufacturing instructions for which are given below.
Step 1 . Make a sketch of all parts of the future structure on a piece of whatman paper. There are only two such details.
Sketch of future details
Step 2 . Using a utility knife or regular scissors, carefully cut out the drawn parts.
Drawn details cut out
Step 3 . Place the cut out templates on a large sheet of plywood and trace them. There should be a total of 11 thin parts, and 2 large structures.
Templates transferred to plywood
Step 4 . Carefully cut out the drawn parts using a jigsaw. To cut out the lower parts of the groove, it is recommended to use a regular jigsaw, as it is more convenient.
Next you need to cut out the parts
Step 5 . As a result, you should have the following elements. Once all the parts are cut out, you can proceed to the next steps.
Ready-made structural elements
Step 6 . Level the surface of the crossbars. To do this, they need to be folded together and secured with a clamp. File them first and then use sandpaper. The treated surface should be as flat and smooth as possible.
Fixed bars
Crossbars after processing
Step 7 . Start assembling the finished elements. To do this, use a small hammer and spacers. If necessary, treat the joints of wooden elements with wood glue. This will increase the strength of the structure.
Assembling the stool parts
Build process
If necessary, the joints can be treated with wood glue
Step 8 . Try to install each part on the same level as the others so that the structure looks even and of high quality. This is an important part of the work, so there is no need to rush when assembling wooden elements.
Parts should be installed at the same level
Step 9 . As a result, you should end up with a stool like this. Cover it with varnish, let it dry, and then use it for its intended purpose. This product will fit perfectly into any type of interior, so it can be placed in the living room, kitchen or country house.
Finished stylish wooden stool
Another photo of the result of the work
This stool will fit into any interior
How to do it?
There is nothing difficult in making a stool from a log, but the work will require physical strength.
First you need to round the cut, give it the desired shape using a chainsaw or other powerful tool. After this, remove the bark with a scraper.
The next step is creating the legs. In the presented project, they are cut by hand from thin logs. However, it is quite possible to use ready-made carved furniture legs in your work.
At the upper end of the legs you need to drill a hole for the mounting pin and screw it in, strengthening the fixation with glue. Also, holes for the legs should be drilled in the lower part of the stool seat made from a log.
The parts cut from wood must be carefully sanded and joined together. The legs are simply screwed into the seat, the fixation is strengthened with glue.
And the very last step is decorating the furniture. In the presented project, the stool is covered with a couple of layers of furniture varnish.
Found a violation? Report content
