Make a Three-Legged Windsor Stool

This three-session class will cover all the steps involved in creating this stool in the classic Windsor style, which originated in England and was further developed in America during the Colonial era. 

• First session: An introduction to the Windsor furniture style, in which legs get tenoned into a seat. The instructor will give an overview of the process, from turning a seat and legs, to boring the seat for tapered round tenons and fitting the stretchers. He'll demonstrate how to use the lathe to make the seat and legs and taper the leg tenons.  You'll have two weeks to complete the parts during Open Studio sessions.
• Second session:  Lay out and bore angled mortise holes in the seat, and ream the holes to fit the leg tapers. Fit the legs, then set and mark the stretcher locations. The instructor will show you how to bore the stretcher mortises in the legs so the length of the stretchers can be determined and how to turn round tenons to fit a hole. You'll have two weeks to make the stretchers and bore the holes so the stool parts are ready to assemble.
• Third session: Stool assembly. You'll begin by tuning up mortises and tenons, doing any borings still needed, and cutting other details, such as wedge slots in the tops of the legs. After you glue up your stool, the instructor will show you how to trim the wedged through tenons flush to the seat and how to scribe the feet to the floor so the stool doesn't wobble. He'll also talk a bit about finishing.

Details

• Bring a lunch. BARN has a microwave and a refrigerator you can use on the lower level.
• Because this involves making multiple copies of the leg pieces, you'll need to work on your own during Open Studio sessions between classes to complete the parts you need for the next steps. 

Project

Materials

Prerequisites

Class Policies

Instructors or Guides