Simple Wooden Stool - My Wife's First Project | Surprise DIY Woodworking Workshop

There is one person who suffers for years from my DIY & Woodworking hobby, which takes a lot of time in the relationship and the family, and one person who is excited about the results and eager to show everyone. Both of them are actually my wife... ❤️ ️🥰

So for the occasion of our 10 years anniversary celebrations, I decided to surprise her and throw her into the water, into my hobby, and make a project together, so she would experience the thrill of creation with me.

We built this simple stool from scrap wood and some wood & paint leftovers from a previous instructable.

Before the main project, we began by a quick training, of learning (briefly) how to use some basic tools that she has never been touched... It was kind of "Couples Woodworking Workshop" / "DIY Date".

My wife was passionate about the work, and asked when will we make the next project 💪

The project is divided to 2 big phases:

1. I started by making the top board of the stool, myself (Video #1) as a preliminary part for the full project.
2. Later, we continued together to make the stool body, during the surprise. (Video #2)
3. 
   

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Thank you.

General List of tools I'm using - https://www.itzikdiy.com/tools-list?m=1

Tools in this Instructable:

• Circular saw or another saw
• Hand saw
• Sander - https://ali.ski/mcjGAn
• Sanding paper
• Drill driver
• Measuring tape
• Paint brush / Roller
• Plate Joiner / Lamello Wood Biscuit Joiner (Not mandatory)

Materials:

• Wood board for the stool top
• ~4*4.5cm wood profile for the stool body
• Wood glue
• Chalked paint or another
• Clear protective topcoat (Varathane Satin Water-Based Interior Polyurethane)
• Screws
• Wet wipe
• Wood filler

I had a scrap oak wooden board, laying for a long time. It was a part of a 'stair cover' before.

You can see the board original state at the 2 pictures.

The board had 2cm thickness, but had additional frame on 2 sides, which made it look thicker - 4 cm, from the side.

I think it's called 'stair noising' but let me call it 'frame' in this instructable :)

I decided to use it as the stool top board. Preparing it can be seen in the ebove video, and also described in the below steps.

I cut the board, so it will be shorter, since it was too long for a stool board.

The sided I cut was without a frame before.

The new length was 45cm.

The final dimensions of the top board are : 45*30 cm.

I cut 2cm from the left side, but with leaving the 2cm front frame remained protrusive, so it can be ready for connecting a left side frame.

I started with the circular saw, and finished with a hand saw.

For connecting the left side frame, I used a Plate Joiner / Lamello Wood Biscuit Joiner.

I used a Dewalt machine, which I borrowed from a friend for this mission, and I used it for the first time.

I made sockets for 2 biscuits, on the plate left side, using the joiner machine.

I took a 4cm piece of oak wood, for the left side frame.

I made sockets for 2 biscuits, on the piece, using the joiner machine.

The position of the sockets were matching to the ones on the large board, which I marked together.

I put the biscuits on the board and pushed the frame piece, to check that it fits well, before glueing it.

I put wood glue, on both pieces and inserted the biscuits again.

I connected both parts with the glue again, and holded it for drying with a large clamp.

After drying, I sanded the prepared board with the 3 sides frame, using a sander machine.

Finally, I painted the board with a clear protective top coat.

The top board is ready!

As I mentioned in the introduction, this project started as a surprise for our 10 years anniversary celebrations.

I'm making woodworking projects myself for years, and decided to surprise my wife with her first woodworking project ever.

I prepared some basic tools for the project, and started by teaching her shortly, how to use each tool.

This is what happens when you hold a drill for the first time... You should see the video :)

I showed her a quick using of each tool - Jigsaw, Drill driver, Sander.

We're ready to start a real simple woodworking project!

I showed my wife the plans I prepared, for the furniture we were going to build. A stool.

For the body of the stool, we used some scrap pieces and leftovers of pine wood profile, which I had from previous my previous Console table instructable I made long time ago. The design of the stool also looks like the Console table.

The pine wood profile was about ~4*4.5 cm.

We started by cutting all parts of the stool body.

• 4 parts of 38 cm for the legs
• 4 parts of 31 cm for the legs front and back / upper and lower connectors.
• 4 parts of 19 cm for the legs left and right / upper and lower connectors.

We sanded the stool body parts with a Sander machine and a sanding paper.

We used wood glue for all parts connections before putting screws.

It assists with the strength of the build.

We started by making 2 similar front and back pairs of legs.

Each leg was connected to the leg connector, with 2 screws. (see positions in the picture)

For each pair of legs we made on the previous step, we drilled holes, one on each arrow shown on the picture, for connecting the other parts of the left and right connectors.

We put wood glue on all remaining connections.

The front prepared pair of legs, was connected to the left and right connectors.

Later the back prepared pair of legs, was connected to the left and right connectors from the other side.

All screws holes were filled using a wood filler.

After drying, it was sanded using a sanding paper.

After the body was ready, we tested the top board position on the body.

Like additional projects, the kids like to participate as well... They painted the stool body using chalk paint, "soothing blue" color.

This paint was leftover from the Console table I made.

Using a wet wipe, I made a distressed look on the corners of the body, over the chalked paint, to give the stool a vintage look.

Finally, I painted the body with a clear protective top coat.

The stool body, was connected to the top oak board, using 4 screws.

This is the result.

Total dimensions: height - 40cm, width - 45cm, depth - 30cm.

Note: we made the stool not too deep - 30cm, due to a limit of space where it usually stands (there is a kitchen cabinet door which needs to be opened).
If you make this instructable, I recommend making your stool deeper... maybe square size like the width of the stool - 45*45cm. It will be more stable with a larger base. Anyway, for us it being used at the kitchen on a daily basis and it's stable enough.

You can also see the Console table which has similar colors and style.

What do you think of the result and the 'surprise workshop'?

If you are a woodworker pro or amateur, show this instructable to your spouse! Make a project together. It's amazing and fun! (Or make it as a surprise like I did)

You're welcome to visit my starting YouTube Channel to see additional projects and subscribe in order to support me!

Thank you!