Footstool From Scraps Project

Here's another easy project for the new woodworker. This one will encompass some of the basic techniques of both design and woodworking. It's a project which can be attractive, functional and strong. I'm 6 feet tall and about 230 lbs. - I've stood on it many times and it's still as good as new.

Here's how I made it.

Bill of Materials and Cut List

Design & Cutting

This project was made shortly after I completed the toy stove project shown in Group #1, so this one was made from some offcuts from that one. The size of this project was really dictated by the size of those offcuts. The width of the biggest piece I had left was 9 inches wide so that's what I made it from. The ends and the top were cut to the sizes in the cut list above.

Since the piece would require some lateral strengthening, I also cut 2 stretchers (side pieces) to the dimensions in the cut list.

Since I wanted to add a slight design element to the project, I felt that the ends would be the place to do it, so on each side of each end piece, at about the mid point of the ends, I traced around half of a 1 pint paint can, and then cut out that shape with my scrollsaw, but you could use a jigsaw too.

Since I wanted the stretchers to be nestled under the top, from the centre point of the curve on the sides, I drew a line, 90 degrees to the top and then removed that piece.

After finish sanding the 5 pieces, I rounded over all but the top edges of all pieces, and began assembly.

Assembly

Positioning the ends approximately 1/2" in from the ends of the stretchers, and making sure the project is square, they were secured using the screws, after first drilling a pilot hole and counterboring the stretchers to a depth of about 1/4". It is important that the tops of the ends and the top edge of the stretchers line up, so that the top will have equal heights to sit on. Position the top centrally onto the base assembly you've just completed, and using a similar method you've just used to attach the stretchers and ends, attach the top to the ends and stretchers thereby completing the assembly of this project.

 

 

Plugging the Counterbored Holes

Using a plug cutter, cut a sufficient number of plugs - I used 12 - from some scraps of the same type of wood. Coat the interior of the counterbores and tap in the plugs. Allow the glue to dry. When dry, cut off the plugs to just above the surface of the stretchers and top, being carefull not to marr the adjacent surfaces. Then with your palm sander, sand them flush.

Finishing

Stain your footstool with the stain of your choice, and when dry, coat with 3 coats of your favourite varathane and your footstool is ready for use as a footstool or as an extra seat when your grandchildren come to visit.

 

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