Basic Shop Stool
I’ve made a number of stools over the years but I like this one because it is both easy to build and super strong. If you’ve never made lap joints, this is a great first project to practice them on!
I started by gluing up some boards on their edges to make a panel for the seat.
Next, I ripped some 2x4s down into 2×2 strips, then cut all the legs to length.
Then it was just a matter of taking careful measurements and using a stack of dado blades to cut notches in the legs.
Then I cut tenons on the ends of the cross braces.
With all of the pieces prepared, assembly is a piece of cake! The lap joints are self-squaring and keep everything nice and straight while gluing.
Finally, I cut the seat down to size, sanded it smooth, and glued it to the leg assembly.
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