• Certain steps can make any stool-building venture an easier one.tabouret image by photlook from Fotolia.com
  
  Creating wooden stools can be easy, but there are several tips to keep in mind while working with wood. Double-checking each measurement, keeping an organized shop and making safety a key concern will make the process easier and safer. It is also important to have specific plans laid out for the stool's design.
  
  

In the shop

• The rule of thumb in the shop is safety. It is important to wear long sleeves and pants to avoid splinters of wood flying into exposed limbs. Along those lines, wearing protective eye wear such as shop goggles is a necessity. A mask to cover the nose and mouth stops fumes or wood particles from entering the lungs, but is more vital for smaller shops with poor ventilation. As for a work bench, it is best to have a taller bench for a wooden stool so that the stool (when lying flat) will be chest level, and easily seen and adjusted during its construction.
  
  

Wood handling

• When handling and cutting wood for the stool, it is important to always measure twice, and cut once. In other words, always double-check each measurement before cutting to ensure each cut is as correct as possible. When cutting the circular (or in some cases rounded-edge square) seat of the stool, the table saw must never be forced through a cut. If the saw is resisting against a curved cut, it means the saw is having issues with the grain of the wood and the cut should be approached by the opposite side. (i.e. If the seat is resisting while being turned clockwise, attempt the cut by turning the stool counterclockwise.)
  
  

Finished stool ideas

• Creating a stool with an indented seat can make the stool more comfortable as well as more aesthetically pleasing. This is accomplished by simply lathing two 1/4-inch deep wells into the top of the seat symmetrically, and must be done before the finish is applied. When applying the finish to the stool, try experimenting with different colors. Apply a small patch of one type of finish to the back of a leg to see if it is desirable. Remember, any finish can be sanded off using fine sand paper.