Looking for a table height stool? Maybe you need it at your dining table, or maybe at a crafting table. Maybe you have a dining table height sofa table where you want to add some seating in your living room. This simple table height stool is made from basic 2×4 and 2×8 boards, but shows how just a few simple details can make your work go from completely DIY basic to a better looking piece of which you will be proud to display.
Materials needed
- 1 – 2×4 @ 8′
- 1 – 2×8 @ 3′
Tools required
- Table saw
- Pocket hole jig
- Sander and sand paper
- Tape Measure
- Bar clamps
- Pocket hole right angle clamp (optional, but useful)
- Pocket hole plugs
- Wood glue
- Wood filler
Step 1: Make your legs
The first step in this simple table height stool is to cut your legs. We’re going to be making four of them, and we want them all to be exactly the same so that the stool sits level. So it’s best if you set up a stop block on your table saw to assist in keeping them exact. If you plan on making more than one stool, you definitely will want to set up a jig and cut all of your legs at the same time.
The legs are going to be angled in from the sides at a 7.5° angle to give the stool a little visual appeal. So set your table saw blade at 82.5° degrees. I like to use a magnetic digital angle finder to help set my saw blade accurately. I highly recommend investing in one if you don’t already have one. Now set your fence or stop block at 16 41/64″ from your blade. Don’t worry if you’re not exactly on this mark, being short or long is fine as it just means your stool will sit higher or lower than 18″. You just need to make certain all four legs are the same.
Once you have your four legs cut to length, now we’re going to rip 1/4″ off of each short side so that the legs wind up at 1 1/2″ x 3″ (instead of 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″). This will also give us nice square corners to attach the leg stretchers.
Finally, drill three pocket hole screws in the inside top end of each leg for attaching the seat later.
Step 2: Add the leg assembly stretchers
Next come the leg assembly stretchers. You’ll need four of these per stool as well. You can use a standard 2×2 here, but I would just use some scrap 8″ pieces of 2×4 since you should have some left over from the legs. Leave your blade set to the 82.5° angle when you rip the 2×4 material down to size so the outside and inside edges match the angles of the legs.
Now drill two pocket hole screws on the outside edge of the bottom side of each stretcher. Use these holes to attach one stretcher flush to the tops of both legs. Attach the second stretcher 3″ up from the bottom of the legs. Having a right angle pocket hole clamp really comes in handy for holding your pieces tightly in place while you screw things together. Also make certain to use wood glue on the ends to create a permanent bond.
Step 3: Add the middle stretcher
The middle stretcher for this simple table height stool is another piece of 2×4 stock ripped down to 1 1/2″ in width. You are then going to need to cut 82.5 angles on each end, making certain the bottom side (the longer side) winds up being 14 3/16″.
After cutting the piece to length, again use two pocket hole screws and wood glue on each end to attach this stretcher to the centers of the lower stretchers of each leg assembly.
Step 4: Add the seat
Adding the seat to this simple table height bench is, well, simple. Take your 2×8 and rip 1/4″ off of each side to bring the overall width down the 7″. Now cut two 18″ pieces. Put wood glue on the top of each leg assembly, and on the long edge of the 2×8 boards where they are going to be joined. Use clamps to hold the two 2×8 boards together, and then use pocket hole screws to secure both boards down to the leg assemblies.
Step 5: Sand and finish
Now, go back and fill all of your pocket holes with plugs to hide them. Sand the entire piece first with 120 grit, then 180 grit sandpaper. Finish it off with stain or paint of your choice and you now have a new table height stool.
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