Make your own bar stools
These curved top bar stools will cost around R120 each if you make your own. Plus you can increase or lower the height and finish in your choice of stain or paint colour. When you consider that is costs over R200 for a ready-made bar stool, making your own makes sense!
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YOU WILL NEED:
4 of 44 x 44 x 760mm PAR pine - legs
2 of 20 x 150mm / 2 of 20 x 260mm PAR pine - top apron
2 of 20 x 190mm PAR pine - cross piece
2 of 20 x 230mm / 2 of 20 x 340mm PAR pine - cross piece
2 of 270 x 380mm pine - seat
Wood glue
80-, 120- and 240-grit sanding belts or pads
TOOLS:
Mitre saw
Jigsaw, circular saw or table saw
Pockethole jig, dowel centres or biscuit joiner
Belt sander or multi- / orbital sander
Circular saw or Dremel Saw Max
The method for assembling the stools is fairly easy once you have all the pieces cut to size, with 5-degree angles on the top and bottom of the legs. Start by attaching the short top apron at the top of the stool, then add the middle and lower horizontal pieces. To attach these sections you can use a Pocket-hole jig, dowels or biscuits, whichever suits you best. In all instances use wood glue as well and clamp the sections - leave to dry overnight.
On one side section attach the top apron and the first front horizontal piece. You can adjust the placing of the lower horizontal pieces depending on height preference. For a shorty like me (!) I would mount them lower.
Continue adding the horizontal sections for the front and back of each stool.
Shown left is how the completed stool should look. All joints such be secure so that the stool is not wobbly.
The curved top makes these stools comfy to sit on. The seat consists of 2 pieces of laminated pine glued together. To achieve the shape you can use a Dremel Saw Max or circular saw, with the blade cutting depth adjusted from the outside to the centre. Make quite a few cuts along the area to be removed - more than shown here - and use a wood chisel to remove the wood.
Once all the excess wood is removed, do a couple of run-overs with a belt sander and 80-grit sandpaper - or use a multi- or orbital sander. Move up to 120-grit and then 240-grit to smooth off.
You have the option to finish the stools with stain and varnish, or applying wood primer and painting in your choice of colour.