Ikea Log Stool

A simple Ikea hack to create a set of two log stools.

I Started with the Marius Stool for £3.50 each from Ikea. This idea was a bit of an impulse idea so I worked from inside my head and didn’t bother with sketching.

I cut two thin slices from a log with an electric chainsaw to use as the stool top. I wanted to keep the bark intact for a very natural, rustic effect.

Even for such a simple job I required quite a number of tools and budgeted at least a couple of hours for cutting and sanding, along with the time needed between each varnish coat.

I gave each log a scrub with a firm brush to remove excess moss and dirt, as well as loose bark. The top of each stool was sanded with a rough belt sander then a soft grit with the hand sander.

I then painted lavishly with 3 coats of clear mat outdoor varnish to protect the tops from the elements.

The logs aren’t perfectly flat, so we must either cut the log flat, which would take a lot of time, or find a way to pack the stool legs. I opted for the latter.

I used a spirit level to create a level line along one axis, so that one set of legs would be perfectly straight.

To straighten the legs over the second axis I drilled a hole large to recess one of the plastic packer, so that the stool legs would sit down into the recess, and packed the other side with soft rubber washers which would compensate for the rough surface and level the stool across the Y axis.

I used long screws to fix the legs to the stool top, and repeated for the second stool.

There was a bit of trial and error to get the right number of packers, even with the use of a level, But eventually the stools sat level enough to sit comfortably on.

The finished result: a simple rustic log stool which complements our garden nicely!

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