The Woodshop Shed

Folding Stool for Beer Swap

Furnished content.
(from Lumberjocks.com)


I was trying to come up with a project for the beer swap and having no luck when I spied a a folding stool I had made years ago (picture 6). I thought why not make a drink holder for it like many folding picknic chairs have.
The original was made of red oak and was plenty sturdy, so that is what I used for the legs and arms or under seat parts, but I beefed up the dimensions a bit for added strength and increased the oak dowel size to 5/8” (pic 5).The dowel is 3 pieces, the long one for the inside legs and arms and 2 short ones for the outside. I used finish nails to lock the dowels to the outside arms and the inside legs so the other arms and legs can rotate. That results in 3 separate parts at this point which are eventually joined together by the addition of the seat planks.
Particular attention to the orientation of the legs and arms is critical due to the fact that the inside and outside legs unfold in opposite directions (above & pics1, 2 & 4) as do the arms.The legs are 21” long and the pivot point for them is at 7”, 1/3 the length, joined with 2 more short dowels pinned to the outside legs.For the seat I found some mystery wood out of my stash that was hard and dense. I decided to make them 16”, 2” wider than the original. One extra wide slat was cut at 21” to allow for the drink holder. With much trial and effort, I managed to get a hole bored in the end large enough for a beer and split it to the proper dimensions. That hole was the most difficult part of the buildI then chiseled reliefs to fit some harness leather to suppoort the beer. Then drilled and screwed the seat slats in place along with braces for the bottom of the legs.Next came 4 coats of 50/50 MS & BLO. After that the leather was nailed in with decorative domed nails and joined at the bottom with a chicago screw.The beers were selected, the first 4 were from a brewery that does not sell in stores.I also had to make a custom box to hold this monstrous thing and the beer.
My recipient was drsurfrat, Mike, who after receiving it, identified the seat slats as pecan. Thank you sir.I hope Mike enjoys it.

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