Low Stool

I designed and built a low stool for a second-year furniture project.

The assignment was to design a low stool that consists almost completely of linear parts, with a seat that must be formed with a linear weaving material. We were to use a hardwood of choice (maximum 7 board feet), and weaving material of choice (Shaker tape, sheet cane, Danish cord, etc.).

I favored a round seat to allow the user to pivot, and three legs for stability on hard floors. I used sheet cane because it is ideal for round seats, and a sustainable material. I chose to use white oak simply because I had never used it before. The seat is bent laminated because it is stronger and looks better than making a circle out of regular solid wood. 

The stool measures 17 3/4" tall, and 17 5/8" in diameter. It is finished with a plant-based wax-oil.

The images below show some parts of the process.

Ideation sketches.
Digital model made in Fusion 360.
1:4 scale model.
Testing the build procedures of a leg.
Bent lamination of a section of the seat.
Building a jig for mortising.
Another jig for mortising.

I spent more time making jigs and forms than I did shaping wood. But those jigs and forms only needed to be made once, and can be used over and over again for batch production.