DIY Art Stool

Give an art stool as a gift.

An art stool is an essential accessory for attentive drawing and painting. Crafting a basic four-legged stool with a rounded top provides the artist a surface on which to rest, turn and spin his body. Build the stool small enough to carry to make the accessory a handy object for painting or drawing in an exterior location. Make the stool at a height that suits your needs to ensure your feet are properly planted on the ground while working.

Things You'll Need

• Work gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Saw
• 3/4-inch by 12 3/4-inch maple wood disk
• 120 grit sandpaper
• 2-by-2 by-13 7/16-inch maple wood legs (4)
• 1-by-3-by-9 1/2-inch maple wood runs (2)
• Drill
• 5/16-inch drill bit
• 1 1/2-inch dowel rods (8)
• 1 3/4-inch wood screws (4)
• Wood stain
• Paint brush

Instructions

1. Slide on a pair of work gloves, safety glasses and a dust mask to protect your skin, eyes and lungs.

2. Draw a 12 3/4-inch disk onto a piece of 3/4-inch maple wood with a pencil. Cut out the disk with a saw. Sand the edges of the disk smooth with 120-grit paper.

3. Cut four legs from 2-by-2-inch maple wood, each at a length of 13 7/16 inches at 10 degrees off vertical. Cut two runs from 1-by-3-inch maple wood at a length of 9 1/2 inches each. Sand the edges of all wood pieces smooth with 120-grit paper.

4. Cut a 3/4-by-1 1/4-inch notch at center down into one of the long edges of a run. Repeat this step to cut an identical notch in the second run. The notches are necessary to interlink the pieces in later steps.

5. Measure down 5 inches from the top of one leg. Make a mark with the pencil at this point. Measure 1 inch below the pencil point to make a second mark. Continue this step with the three additional legs. Each leg now has two pencil marks.

6. Drill a 3/4-inch deep hole through one of the pencil marks with a 5/16-inch drill bit. Continue this process for all remaining holes.

7. Measure down 1 inch from the top of one run along the right side edge. Make a mark with the pencil at this point. Measure 1 inch below the pencil point to make a second mark. Continue this step with the three remaining run sides. Each run now has four pencil marks.

8. Drill a 3/4 inch deep hole through one of the pencil marks with a 5/16-inch drill bit. Continue this process for all remaining holes.

9. Interlock the two runs together. Connect the runs with the legs using 1 1/2-inch dowel rods.

10. Fit the disk atop the legs. Drill a 1 3/4-inch wood screw through the disk and into the top of each leg.

11. Coat the stool with wood stain. Allow the stool to dry in a well ventilated area for 24 hours before handling.

References

• Furniture Design Bank: Another 14 inch High Stool, but with a Difference; April 17, 2011