The Wood Whisperer » Stools

Adam’s Shaker Step Stool

thewoodwhisperer — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:35:31 +0000

From: Adam Howarth
Location: Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham
Hobbyist or Pro: Hobbyist
Experience: 0-2 yrs
Project Name: Shaker Step Stool
Wood Species: Walnut
Finish Used: a few coats of teak oil wiped on with an old cloth

Project Description:
A three step stool made from walnut. It is a shaker design that I found on the internet. A curved bottom makes the piece sit on the floor better as well as making it look lighter. The steps are attached with number 10 biscuits and a brace at the back makes the project stable. The picture I found on the internet had no dimensions so I had to make my own.
16″ tall (to the top step)
12″ long (at the bottom)
12″ long for each of the steps
5″ high (at the tallest part of the curve)

Old-Growth Honduras Mahogany Stool

thewoodwhisperer — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:18:06 +0000

From: Tom Buhl

Website: www.tombuhl.com

Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Amateur or Pro: Amateur

Finish Used: Wipe on poly/linseed oil/mineral spirits mix, about 8-9 coats, wet sanded as I applied.

Wood Species: Old-growth Honduras Mahogany

Project Description:
A Christmas gift for my daughter, had to be small and very portable to fit young person’s lifestyle. Saw a small stool in a Pop Woodworking article with pleasing shape. Added some drawers, curved surfaces and edges, and tapered and mitered legs to continue flow of Front and Back surfaces.
Created from old-growth Honduras Mahogany salvaged from the Belize River by Greener Lumber LLC. Mostly mortise and tenon construction. Floating, shop-made tenons in a few places. Detailed slide show of finished piece and the process here.

I hope it will have a life appropriate for material born so long ago.

Step Stool – Project of the Week

thewoodwhisperer — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:04:09 +0000

This week’s project comes from Jason. Here’s his story: “The step stool was a gift for my Father, he has been after me for a long time to make him one. The stool you made on the intro of your old podcasts was my inspiration for the piece. I chose a curly walnut (which doesn’t come through in the pictures) for the sides and a solid 8/4 rock maple top. The sides are mortised into the top, with a walnut inlay to make them look like through mortises. The rail underneath is attached with 2 birch dowels. The finish is a “tung-oil finish” from minwax so it has some urethane in it I think, for protection. Only thing I would do different is curve the top like yours, but at the time I didn’t have a bandsaw, now I’ve got a 14″ Jet, so I am ready for the next one.”