How to Build a Wood Seat for a Bucket

For the tradesman and fisherman alike, having a bucket along not only means a convenient place for storage, but a handy portable seat as well. Buckets often make a good substitute for chairs, except that ordinary buckets are not very appealing to the eye or the the parts you sit on. The solution is to make some handy bucket-top seats that can be removed as needed, or even modified to make particular tasks a little easier.

Things You'll Need

• 1 Plywood 3/4-by-12-by-16-inches
• 1 Pine 2-by-2-by-12-inches
• 2 Pine 2-by-2-by-8-inches
• Pencil
• Tape Measure
• 24-inch String
• Jigsaw
• Wood glue
• 180 grit Sandpaper
• Drill w/ 1/4-inch wood bit
• 2 Dowels 1/4-by-1-inch

Instructions

1. Examine the plywood and place the best looking side down on a flat surface. Turn the bucket with the open side facing down, and center it on the piece of plywood. Outline the bucket on the plywood, and set the bucket aside.

2. Measure to the center of the circle you just drew, and place a small mark. Hold one end of the string on the center mark, and grip the other end between your finger and the pencil so that the pencil tip is lined up with the center-end of the plywood. Holding the string taut, trace the four corners of the plywood to mark equal curves.

3. Cut along the curved lines you made with the string. Lay the longest piece of 2-by-2 material across the width of the plywood. Sand the surface and edges of the plywood.

4. Mark and cut the board to be 1/2-inch shorter than the diameter of the outline of the bucket. Apply 2 thin lines along one side of the board you just cut. Center the board inside the outline, extending across the 12-inch width of the plywood. Allow 30 minutes for the glue to bond.

5. Cut the 2 remaining pieces to be 1/8-inch shorter than the drawn outline when placed at a right angle to the longer piece. Put 2 lines of glue on 1 side of each board, and place them so that a "cross" is formed. Give the glue at least 30 minutes to set.

6. Place the seat on top of the bucket with the attached pieces inside the bucket. Drill a 1/2-inch hole into each end of the 12-inch 2-by-2. Lightly sand the dowels until they fit snugly into the holes. To remove the seat, pull out the dowels.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of dowels to hold the seat in place, use eye bolts. These can be used for everything from handy screwdriver holders to clip connectors for a shoulder strap.

• Upholster the seat by wrapping it in foam rubber and an outer cloth covering. Staple the cloth to the underside of the seat to hold the cushioning in place.

• Make the bucket more stable by filling it with sand, rock, or even water. Better yet, fill it with ice and your favorite beverages.

References

• Best Containers:Plastic Bucket Dimensions