Shaker Single-Step Stool
Christian Becksvoort's quick-to-build classic step stool is sure to get plenty of use.
Synopsis: This type of stool came in handy for Shakers who wanted to reach items in their tall standing cabinets, and it will come in handy in your house, too. It features a single step, with a dovetailed leg in front and a combined handle/leg in the back, with a brace underneath. A hole at the top of the handle makes it easy to hang for storage. Construction is simple; the stool is light and easy to grab and go, it can be painted or made in any wood species, and it’s built to last for generations.
yield a simple design that’s functional and straightforward
to make. All the parts are cut from 3⁄4-in. stock.
The Shakers made the most out of storage space, both with freestanding tall cabinets and floor-to-ceiling built-ins. To reach into the tops of those cabinets required the use of a stool, most commonly found with two or three steps. Single-step stools like this one were not often seen. The stool features a dovetailed leg and step in front, with a brace underneath, and a long handle in back that comes right through the step and serves as the other leg. A hole near the top of the handle makes it easy to carry and hang on a pegboard when not in use.
The combined back leg and handle is the most intricate part of this simple stool, so I tackle that first. I cut it to length, and then I measure up from the bottom and use a tablesaw with a miter gauge to make two stopped cuts across the grain, one from each side. At the top end, I mark 1-1⁄2 in. on either side of center. With a straightedge and pencil, I connect the ends of the two sawcuts with the marks for the 3-in. dimension at the top. At the bandsaw, I cut the long taper, then cut the top end round. I smooth the long, tapered sides with a block plane and drill a hole in the rounded end.
Next I tackle the step and the front leg. I cut the tails on one end of the step board and then the pins on the front leg. Once they are fitted, I take the joint apart and mark the location of the through-mortise at the back end of the step. Using the back leg as a template, I mark its thickness and width on both sides of the step and chisel out the mortise. Because the bracket underneath locks everything into place, I won’t be gluing this joint. But the mortise should be pared to fit snugly.
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Comments
I made one for my wife and grand children and the they use it daily. But that did not stop there; Now I have to make one for everyone in our large family, I am up to 7 now, I even made a template of every parts so I can make them faster. This is a great design. Thank you
I've just recently built this stool. Nice little project to practice hand cut dovetails and hand chiseling a mortise. Highly recommend this stool for any home or workshop.
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