Bucket Stool

By Ben Uyeda

SKILL
easy

The bucket stool epitomizes exactly what we are trying to do at Homemade Modern. The stool is durable, simple to make and aesthetically pleasing. It looks like something that could retail for $50 but you can make it for about $5. What’s great about this project is that there is very little waste. The bucket serves a vessel for mixing the concrete and as the form for the stool. When the stool has cured it can be removed without damaging the bucket. A 48" dowel cut into three 16-inch pieces provides legs without waste.

Download Plans

Tools

  • 18V ONE+ HP Brushless Multi-Tool
  • 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 1/2" Drill/Driver

Accessories

  • 25 PC. ROUND SHANK BLACK OXIDE DRILL BIT SET

Materials

  • 1-1/4" Diameter Wooden Dowel 48" Long
  • Bucket (with smooth bottom)
  • Quikrete 5000
Download Plans

Steps

STEP 1

Cut the legs. Cut the 48” dowel into three pieces 16” long each.

Tools

Circular Saw

Materials

1 ¼" DIAMETER WOODEN DOWEL 48" Long

STEP 2

Drill holes in the legs. Drill ¼” diameter holes about one inch from one end of the dowels.

Tools

Drill, 1/4" Drill Bit

STEP 3

Insert wire. Insert the wire into the holes you just drilled and wire the 3 legs together. The wire keeps the legs from coming our of the concrete.

Materials

Metal Wire

STEP 4

Put 3 inches of concrete mix in the bucket. Scooping 3 inches of concrete mix into the bucket. Add some water and start mixing. Thoroughly mix the concrete so that every grain of the mix is wet. The mix should be the consistency of cookie dough.

Materials

Quikrete 5000, Bucket

STEP 5

Shake out the bubbles. Place the legs. Once the concrete has settled, place the legs in the bucket. Stick the legs about 1 ½” past the surface of the concrete and let them rest against the sides of the bucket.

STEP 6

Wait 12 hours. Once the concrete has cured for at least 12 hours you can trim the legs with the Multi Tool. Just cut the legs using the edge of the bucket as a guide. You can also use the multi tool to sand the legs.

Tools

Multi Tool

STEP 7

Remove the stool from the bucket. Bend the sides of the bucket outwards a few times in each direction to loosen the concrete; then pull the stool out by the legs.

STEP 8

Sand the edges. The concrete has not yet fully hardened and is pretty easy to work with. 120 grit sand paper can be used to smooth the edges.

Tools

Multi Tool