| Project by Dorje | posted 381 days ago | 705 views | 3 times favorited | 19 comments |  |
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We all tire at the bench and need to have a stool that is “just right” for our body size and all that…so this is what I came up with. It’s recycled from a scrappy old fir bookcase. It even has the pith running through the middle of the seat! Typically a real “no-no,” but I kind of liked it on this!
I shaped the seat and the legs with spokeshaves and joined it all up with through mortise and tenons, wedged with walnut. Didn’t bother to sand this one – didn’t want to waste the time on it! Just put a couple coats of oil and called it good.
What I didn’t do, but should’ve…I didn’t use compound angles but rather splayed the legs only out in one direction. I would have preferred the compound aesthetically, but not sure that it was necessary on this piece. It’s certainly as sturdy as I wanted it to be and as it needs to be. However, I haven’t built any chairs – yet. And, I haven’t done much reading on the subject either, so if you all would give me some feedback on what you know about the use of angles for legs and what have you, I would appreciate that! Thanks!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
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19 comments so far
WayneC
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5693 posts in 486 days
posted 381 days ago
Very charming. It invites you to sit on it.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
hermanv
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15 posts in 412 days
posted 381 days ago
Perhaps you could add as an entry to the fine woodworking contest hosted by Lumberjocks. Jointery looks like its no glue or fasteners.
Dorje
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1694 posts in 385 days
posted 380 days ago
oh, there’s glue in them there joints!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
hermanv
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15 posts in 412 days
posted 380 days ago
Suppose you don’t want to be falling on your
Bob Babcock
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1809 posts in 475 days
posted 380 days ago
Very nice…beautiful in it’s simplicity.
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
oscorner
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4576 posts in 699 days
posted 380 days ago
It looks nice. I don’t know if I could have used that piece with the knot in the center for a seat. It looks like it is just waiting to split at any moment. I like the through tenons and wedged rungs.
-- Jesus is Lord!
mot
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4831 posts in 425 days
posted 380 days ago
Dorje, how are the through mortises cut. Did you taper them to take the wedge? Can you talk a little about the joinery?
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
TreeBones
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1340 posts in 412 days
posted 380 days ago
Maybe I’m doing something wrong cause I never have a chance to sit down at my work bench. Nice stool.
-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3
Dorje
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1694 posts in 385 days
posted 380 days ago
Mot – no tapers – didn’t use any “advanced” techniques here. Just cut the kerfs with a backsaw and wedged them. The round mortises are just drilled out; the mortises in the seat I chopped out by hand.
Ron – you should try it sometime! Ha! I sit for a lot of chopping and paring tasks. I also stand quite a bit!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Dorje
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1694 posts in 385 days
posted 380 days ago
oscorner – that board’s been around for 25-30 years – most of it’s life outside. Not too worried about a split on this one!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
jockmike2
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3821 posts in 635 days
posted 380 days ago
Very nice stool, very cool, just love the finish and texture, jockmike
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
Bill
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2508 posts in 550 days
posted 380 days ago
Looks like a comfortable seat to me! A nice job .
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
Bob Babcock
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1809 posts in 475 days
posted 380 days ago
Did you intentionally leave your construction marks on the seat to save time? I actually like it as a design element…especially considering what the stool is to be used for. It enhances the simplicity by showing disregard for a polished finish, and yet also highlights the technical craftsmanship of the joints.
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
Karson
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11544 posts in 789 days
posted 380 days ago
Very comfortable looking stool. I made a second workbench that 24” off the floor so that I can sit on a chair when I’m working on it.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
Dorje
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1694 posts in 385 days
posted 380 days ago
Thanks for all the great comments!
Bob- I did leave the cutting gauge lines to save time and just ‘cause it was a rough piece from beginning to end. Also, the tenons on the top of the seat are just a hair proud and chamfered. I would have had to plane those down to remove the marks…
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Dick Cain
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4290 posts in 688 days
posted 321 days ago
The crack along the pith of the board gives it character. I don’t think it will crack an further.
-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
TomK
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337 posts in 263 days
posted 249 days ago
Makes the beat up folding lawn chair I use look pathetic. Your stool would be reserved for guests!
-- North Texas
Dorje
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1694 posts in 385 days
posted 248 days ago
Thanks Tom!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
sharad
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241 posts in 193 days
posted 148 days ago
A very nice stool. Joinary of the legs is unique and simple
Sharad
-- patanjali