Shaping The Top And Bottom Edges — How To Make A Three-Legged Stool

Before you bore the holes, you need to remove the sharp corners around the top and bottom of the seat and refine the edges to give a pleasant look and a comfortable feel when the piece is finished. As the seat is rather thick, you can chamfer the corners before rounding over to make it look thinner.

Measure 1/2” (13mm) from the outside edge and make a mark. Then, using your finger as a gauge, extend this line around the whole perimeter on both top and bottom faces, and then again on the edge itself, registering against the top and the bottom faces.

Use the spokeshave to take off the corners at 45°, making sure to check the direction of the grain constantly as you work your way around the seat. Once this angle has been established, start to lower/raise the angle with each stroke to create a smooth roundover around the whole perimeter.

Make a mark 1/2" (13mm) from the outside

Use your fingers as a gauge to mark this line all around the blank with a pencil

Flip around and repeat on the top face, keeping your fingers in the exact same position

Mark this same distance from the top and bottom edges

Once you have created a shape you’re happy with, use a card scraper to take off any remaining flats, followed by sandpaper. You will be taking the seat in and out the vise to secure the legs in place so don’t sand the flat faces as you will have another chance to touch up these surfaces at the end.

You will find some woods won't scrape too well regardless of how sharp the scraper is