Stools, Coasters and Handles Come Free

Making a footstool-cum-toddler seat sometimes comes from free wood, as do many other small projects. Oak, ash, cherry, walnut, just about any wood will make a good stool, including the most basic of softwoods. When my daughter-in-law asked me to take a damaged chair with missing parts away to discard I didn't at first think anything of saving it. It was past its best, could be repaired but not really a chair for the age. I dismantled the chair but then thought of how Joseph and Kat had bought them as their first together chair set ten years ago for when they got married. I thought, well, I could at least make a stool from it. Setting aside the other parts, I reshaped the seat and made four tapered legs to create a footstool from it. It was an hour's fun with no pressure for me. Many of the other parts were also useable though some had failed at different pressure points including the bow back.

Having made just one of the stools I gave it to my granddaughter who helped me to shape one of the legs with a spokeshave. She also helped me to sweep up the shavings. There is something very magical about woodworking with grandchildren. Especially two-year-olds! The second stool I made was filmed for a two-episode woodworkingmasterclasses free project.

I did cut up most of the remaining components for firewood for a friend but I retrieved the pierce medallion from the centre splat to make into a coaster and then a part of the arched hoop back for a drawer handle. All very quick and simple projects. I kept other parts for handles for tools like files too!

All in all, these items took about an hour to do. I then went on to film the making of the second one because secondhand chairs can be had from garage sales and secondhand shops for almost nothing.