How to Build Bar Stools
Bar stools are just the right height for kitchen islands, and they're necessary furnishings for at-home bars. These instructions provide a straightforward method for building stools relatively easy. The finished height of the stools will be 30 inches tall and the seats will be 13 inches square. The style is contemporary, with slightly slanted rear legs and a square-shaped seat. This will give you options for customized finishing touches. You can varnish or paint the bar stools, and decide later on whether you want to add cushions. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- 1 1-by-1-foot wood board (seat)
- 2 1-by-4-foot boards (legs)
- 3 2-by-2 foot boards (aprons and supports)
- Circular saw
- Square
- Miter saw
- Wood glue
- Drill
- 2-1/2 inch screws
Instructions
-
-
1
Cut the 1-by-1-foot boards for the seats 11 1/2 inches on all sides to create a square-shaped seat. Cut two pieces of the 2-by-2-foot wood 11 1/2 inches long to create aprons for the two opposite sides of the seat. Run a bead of wood glue along the sides of the seat. Attach the aprons by countersinking 2 1/2-inch wood screws from the top of the aprons into the top edges of the seat. Do not worry about the screws being exposed -- the chair legs will cover them.
-
2
Cut two pieces of wood 13 inches long to create the aprons for the other sides of the seat. Run a thread of wood glue along the edges of the seat and attach the aprons with your drill.
-
-
3
Build legs for one side by cutting a 2-by-2-foot piece of wood 30 1/8 inches long, and 5 degrees off square on each end. Cut the second leg 30 inches long. The second leg will remain straight. No off-square cuts are required.
-
4
Cut two pieces of 2-by-2-foot wood to use to join the legs together at the top. Cut the right side of each piece 5 degrees off square. Once you make the off-square cut, the final length should measure 10 inches on the top and 10 1/8 inches on the bottom.
-
5
Cut wood to make two aprons to join the front leg to the back on the bottom. Once again, cut the right edge 5 degrees off square on the right side. The finished cut should measure 12 1/2 inches on top and 12 5/8 inches on the bottom. Use wood glue and 2 1/2-inch wood screws to attach the top and bottom aprons to the front and back legs.
-
6
Repeat Steps 3 to 5 to create the second pair of legs for the barstool.
-
7
Lay one pair of legs on a flat work surface. Attach the legs to the seat by drilling from the underside of the seat into the wood top apron of the legs. Flip the stool over and repeat this process to attach the remaining two legs.
-
8
Turn the bar stool on its side again to attach the supports. Cut one 2-by-2 foot board 13 inches wide. Insert the board in between the straight legs. Attach by applying wood glue to the board and drilling a 2 1/2-inch wood screw from the outside of the leg into the support. Repeat on the opposite side.
-
9
Measure 14 inches from the base of the slanted, rear legs and mark the inside of each leg with a pencil. Cut another 2-by-2-foot piece of wood 13 inches long. Apply wood glue on each edge of the support, and then drill 2 1/2-inch wood screws from the outside of the leg through the support.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Add cork pads on the bottom of the legs to protect flooring.
References
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
