• Shop the Store
  • Best Sellers
  • eBooks
  • Books
  • Plans

  • Videos
  • Tools & Workshops
  • SketchUp

  • Finishing
  • Turning
  • Joinery
• Books
• Plans
• Videos
• Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Give a gift

  • Current Issue
  • Digital Issue
  • Online Extras

  • Magazine Index
  • Contact Us
• Subscribe
• Renew

• Blogs
• Knots
• Gallery

Free Woodworking Plans

Free Plan: Sturdy Footstool

Fine Woodworking Editors, 

296 users recommend

CLICK HERE to download free plans for this Sturdy Footstool.

CLICK HERE to download free plans for this Sturdy Footstool.

Add Comment
Print

This small stool packs a big punch when it comes to learning new woodworking techniques. Angled mortise-and-tenon construction makes this simple project a little trickier because your joints need to be dead-on.

The stool can be made of short scrap pieces of mahogany (or your wood of choice) or from a single board 10 in. wide by 50 in. long. It has just four parts (two of them identical), and only one type of joint to practice and perfect. It's a manageable project for a novice, but the angled through-tenons will offer a challenge to any level of woodworker.

CLICK HERE to download free plans for this Sturdy Footstool.

Add Comment Print

Free Plan: A Simple Desk Organizer

Back to List

Free Plans: Arts and Crafts Storage Bench

Comments (5)

white_eagle writes: Very nice and elegant, I am looking for a library style of stepladder not more than 3 steps with a raised grip for moving it without bending over. I live in Poland a country with nice forests but as a hobby woodworker I can only buy pine or plywood (restricted logging). Any free plans that will inspire me and are relatively simple to make.
Walter J.

Posted: 4:47 am on July 20th

cliff7brown writes: I built this using a poplar stair tread from the home store. I think it might have been a little short of 50" (48?) so I had to adjust a bit.

It turned out pretty nice and I definitely improved by chiseling (and sharpening) skills as a result.
Posted: 6:53 pm on December 22nd

SBMathias writes: I made up this handsome stool, but using oak salvaged from shipping pallets. It was my first try at hand-chopping mortises, and it was quite an ordeal. Now I know why mahogany was recommended! Anyway, it turned out very nice - everyone who sees it is envious.

After this, I tried to think of an easier way to do it, using more machine power. I ended up making strips, and having machine-cut tenons, with appropriate gaps in the strips becoming the mortises. There was no hand chopping, but managing the strips became a whole new problem.

So, now I have two stools. Both very nice.
Posted: 9:56 pm on October 7th

Stew_wood writes: Looks a great item to make. I have some timber set aside for it and am looking forward to getting stuck into the project. Mario is a great contributor.
Posted: 8:36 am on September 28th

bones1 writes: A good experience and practice for the Slanted Mortice and Tenons.
Makes a good chair-side book stand.
bones1
Posted: 3:58 am on June 18th

You must be logged in to post comments. Log in.