Traditional Chinese Stool

  1. The Seat Panel
    1. Rough Dimension
    2. Dimension
    3. Tongue and Groove
    4. Glue Boards Together
    5. Final Dimensions
    6. Outside Groove
    7. Panel Brace Dovetail
  2. The Seat Frame (Tenon)
    1. Rough Dimension
    2. Dimension
    3. Cut Angled Tenon Shoulders
    4. Clean Tenon Shoulders
    5. Create Brace Mortise
    6. Create Panel Groove
    7. Create Waist Groove
  3. The Seat Frame (Mortise)
    1. Rough Dimension
    2. Dimension
    3. Cut Mortises
    4. Cut Mitre
    5. Create Panel Groove
    6. Create Waist Groove
  4. The Seat Support Brace
    1. Rough Dimension
    2. Dimension
    3. Create Tenons
    4. Cut Dovetail
  5. The Seat
    1. Slide Brace Onto Panel
    2. Glue Seat Together
    3. Cut Leg Mortises
    4. Round Edges
  6. The Leg
    1. Rough Dimension
    2. Dimension
    3. Cut Tenons
    4. Cut Mortises
    5. Cut Waist Grooves
    6. Round Edges
  7. The Stretcher
    1. Rough Dimension
    2. Dimension
    3. Cut Tenon Cheeks
    4. Cut Tenon Shoulders
    5. Cut Tenon Mitre
    6. Round Edges
  8. The Waist
    1. Rough Dimension
    2. Dimension
    3. Cut Waist Inset

The Seat Panel

1: Rough Dimension

Cut timber to rough dimensions, depending on the size of your seat you may need multiple pieces.

2: Dimension

Square timber and cut to final length.

3: Tongue and Groove

Cut tongue and groove and glue pieces to accommodate final dimensions.

4: Glue Boards Together

If required, glue tongue and grooves together.

5: Final Dimensions

Trim seat panel to final required width.

6: Outside Groove

Cut a dado along the outer edge of the upper face of the seat panel.

7: Panel Brace Dovetail

Cut a dovetail groove on the bottom face of the panel to accommodate the support brace.

The Seat Frame (Tenon)

1: Rough Dimension

Cut timber to rough dimensions.

2: Dimension

Square timber and cut to final length.

3: Cut Angled Tenon Shoulders

Tenon shoulder needs to be cut at a 45-degree angle.

4: Clean Tenon Shoulders

Remove unused part of tenon.

5: Create Brace Mortise

Create a mortise hole for the panel brace tenon.

6: Create Panel Groove

Create a groove for the main seat panel to fit into.

7: Create Waist Groove

Create a groove for the waist panels to fit into.

The Seat Frame (Mortise)

1: Rough Dimension

Cut timber to rough dimensions.

2: Dimension

Square timber and cut to final length.

3: Cut Mortises

Cut mortise holes for panel pieces.

4: Cut Mitre

To pair with the other panel pieces, the panel ends should be cut as a 45-degree angle.

5: Create Panel Groove

Create a groove for the main seat panel to fit into.

6: Create Waist Groove

Create a groove for the waist panels to fit into.

The Seat Support Brace

Used to reinforce the seat panel construction.

1: Rough Dimension

Cut timber to rough dimensions.

2: Dimension

Square timber and cut to final length.

3: Create Tenons

Create tenons for placing into panel frame.

4: Cut Dovetail

Create tails for sliding brace into seat panel.

The Seat

1: Slide Brace Onto Panel

To allow for panel expansion the brace should not be glued in place.

2: Glue Seat Together

The remaining mortise and tenon joints should be glued in place, careful not to get glue on the panel edges and groove.

3: Cut Leg Mortises

Cut mortise holes for legs, tenon side should be shallower.

4: Round Edges

Round the edges of the seat.

The Leg

1: Rough Dimension

Cut timber to rough dimensions.

2: Dimension

Square timber and cut to final length, bottom of the leg should be cut at two angles.

3: Cut Tenons

Tenon cheeks should be cut straight, but tenon shoulders need to be cut angled parallel to the leg bottom.

4: Cut Mortises

Cut mortise holes for stretchers, a hole on both internal faces.

5: Cut Waist Grooves

Cut grooves for waists on both internal faces of the leg.

6: Round Edges

Round the edges of the legs to form a cylinder. A chamfer should also be cut at the bottom of the leg to avoid splintering.

The Stretcher

1: Rough Dimension

Cut timber to rough dimensions.

2: Dimension

Square timber and cut to final length, both ends should be angled.

3: Cut Tenon Cheeks

Cut tenon cheeks, 3mm away from the curved shoulder line.

4: Cut Tenon Shoulders

Using a custom router bit, cut the remaining cheek waist and tenon shoulders.

5: Cut Tenon Mitre

To fit inside the leg the tenon ends need to be cut at a 45-degree angle.

6: Round Edges

Round the edges of the stretcher to form a cylinder.

The Waist

1: Rough Dimension

Cut timber to rough dimensions.

2: Dimension

Square timber and cut to final length, both ends should be angled.

3: Cut Waist Inset

Create a template so all waist panels are the same, and using a router cut out the waste.