Japanese Style Stool

Creation of a Japanese-style stool with hand tools only

A 4 foot by 6 inch board of 1 inch thick walnut

A 1-foot-by-1-inch piece of maple wood, 1 inch thick

Three wood chisels (1 ’’, ¾ ’’ and ½ ’’)

A hand saw

A Scraper

Sandpaper (100, 150 and 220)

Wood glue Wood varnish

Cut 4 pieces of walnut with a handsaw

1 piece of 14''x6 " x1" (Platter)

2 pieces of 9''x6'x1" (Feet)

1 piece of 14''x1 ½’’x1’’ (Crosspiece)

Also in maple wood

2 wedges 3''x1''x1 " (to fix the crosspiece)

8 shims 1‘‘x1''x1 / 4‘‘ (to fix the feet)

Using a wood chisel and a scraper, round off the corners of the feet.

Creating holes with wood chisels

4 holes 1’’x 1 '' on the top of the platter

1 hole on each foot 1’'x2 ½ ’’

Make lines with a paper grid at regular intervals. Indicate the desired depth.

Saw to the planned depth with a saw. Remove the extra wood with a wood chisel.

Finish with a scraper until you get the desired curve.

Using a saw and a wood chisel, create two tenons in the legs with the same dimensions in the holes in the table top. Cut the top of the tenons at the same angle as the platter top.

Make two slots in the tenons to insert the future shims.

Cut the ends of the crosspiece at 30 ° with a hand saw

Cut the wedges into spikes until you get a perfect fit between the pieces

Glue the different pieces together with wood glue and checkthat the angles are correct (90 °) and that the feet are lying flat.

Sand with 100 sandpaper, then 150, and finally 220 to obtain a good result.

Apply 3 coats of varnish with a light sanding between each coat.