From kitchens to basements, wooden bar stools are a great addition to any home. Building bar stools is an easy, inexpensive task, ideal for those new to DIY. Here’s what you’ll need to take on this project:
TOOLS
- Tape measure
- Carpenter’s square
- Circular Saw
- Power Drill & Bits
- Miter Saw
- Orbital Sander
- 80, 150, 220 Grit Paper
- 3” Foam Brush
- Rags
- Pencil
MATERIALS
- 18” Round Wooden Disk
- 2x2s
- Yellow Wood Glue
- Stainable Wood Filler
- 2 ½” Wood Screws
- Stain
- Paint
- Polyurethane
- Tack Cloth
When taking on this DIY task, be sure to equip yourself with the proper safety gear. Throughout the video, we’ll alert you regarding when you should and should not use the safety gear.
STEP ONE
Legs and supports. To build bar stools, measure and cut legs and supports. Start by measuring and cutting your stools’ legs and supports. This can be done with a miter saw, circular saw, or hand saw.
STEP TWO
Cut circle. Using a tape measure, measure 12 inches from the edge of the circular stool top. Draw a cut line across the circle with a straight edge, making your cut with a circular saw.
STEP THREE
Make angled cuts. Cut both 11 ½ 2x2s with a 50 degree angle on one end and a 35 degree angle on the other. You’ll be using these to construct the triangular supports under the stool top. To make a cross brace, cut one of the 12 inch 2x2s at a 45 degree angle on both ends.
STEP FOUR
Pre-drill screw holes. Mark 18 inches from the top of each of the three 28 inch legs. This will indicate where each leg support piece will go. Drill through the legs with a 1/8 inch drill bit ¾ of an inch from the top of the leg and ¾ of an inch below the 18 inch mark. Measure, mark, and drill through the middle of each leg support. Then pre-drill the flat sides of each angled piece.
STEP FIVE
Assemble base. Apply wood glue between each joint. Then use a power drill with a Philips head bit to fasten the legs and supports together with 2 ½ inch screws. Once the legs are complete, flip the stool over and attach the two angled supports between the front and back legs. Attach the cross brace at a 45 degree angle between the back leg and the top support.
STEP SIX
Attach top to base. Mark one inch from each stool corner and half inch from the flat edge of the stool top. Place the support between your two measurements. Using a 1/8 inch bit, pre-drill through each support into the stool top. Attach the top using two inch wood screws.
STEP SEVEN
Fill screw holes. Fill all screw holes with stainable wood filler.
STEP EIGHT
Sand. Sand the entire stool with an orbital sander. Start with 80 grit sandpaper to smooth joints and imperfections. Round off the non-rounded stool edge and continue sanding, progressing from 150 to 220 grit sandpaper. After sanding, light clean with a tack cloth or rag.
STEP NINE
Finishing. Wearing protective gloves, stain the stool using a foam brush, wiping off excess with a rag. Finish with three coats of polyurethane, sanding lightly with fine sandpaper in between coats.
Your build is complete!
Looking for great tools to help get your project done? Shop Stanley, Black & Decker and DeWALT for everything you need!
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