Build a few of these small folding stools in an afternoon, and take them out camping or to sit around the fire pit in the evening!

Introduction All practicality aside, this small folding wooden stool is as irresistible as a wooden puzzle. You’ll love the way the stool unfolds—the two halves of the seat glide together as the legs slide apart below. In order for the wooden stool to work smoothly, you’ll have to be precise when you shape the parts and drill the dowel holes. And the best way to ensure precision is to use jigs. The assembly jigs are cut from pieces of scrap plywood or particleboard (see Cutting List). If you want to make more than one stool, you’ll save a lot of time by using the jigs. Figure three hours to build your first one, and about one hour more for each additional stool. We made our stool from pine because it’s light and strong, but almost any wood will work. Your wood must be exactly 3/4-in. thick. If not, the stool won’t work using the dimensions we’ve given in the Cutting List. Putting all these parts together may appear a bit confusing, but taken one step at a time, it’s really pretty easy. The folding stool consists of two main assemblies, an outside half and an inside half. Keep the tech art close by to accurately figure out where everything is fastened to and where the nails need to go.

Tools Required

Materials Required

1-1/4-in. trim-head screws

1/2" dia. X 18" hardwood dowel

1x2 board

1x3

Painter's tape