An illustrated guide to making a stool out of three FedEx or similar triangular shipping tubes. They're free at shipping stores, and most big companies probably have a bunch on hand in the office somewhere.
It's plenty strong enough for an average adult, but is not the most durable piece of furniture you'll ever have. I originally built this in 2004. It still survives, but is a little busted around the enges and saggy in the middle.
As in my other work here, I am interested in making things 1) for free, 2) that are recycled, 3) make imaginative use of material limitations, and 4) are fun to have around. I tried to take advantage of the graphics on the boxes in the design. Perfect "nomadic" furniture for the college student, frequent mover, or cheapskate.
It's plenty strong enough for an average adult, but is not the most durable piece of furniture you'll ever have. I originally built this in 2004. It still survives, but is a little busted around the enges and saggy in the middle.
As in my other work here, I am interested in making things 1) for free, 2) that are recycled, 3) make imaginative use of material limitations, and 4) are fun to have around. I tried to take advantage of the graphics on the boxes in the design. Perfect "nomadic" furniture for the college student, frequent mover, or cheapskate.
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Signing UpStep 1: Cut
These drawings are to scale, but that is difficult to translate to other computer screens. You can print these drawings as templates, or just go after it approximately. If you print the drawings, measure the length of the box in the drawing, then the real-life box, and divide out to get the approximate scale. There are a lot of angles and things that are tricky to describe with words, so the drawings should be a primary guide. Solid lines are cuts, and dashed lines are folds.
Lay three tubes out flat, graphic-side down. Grab a ruler, some wood glue, and a sharp x-acto knife or box cutter. Generally, the stool should be about sixteen inches high, so you can find the center of the box, length-ways, then measure sixteen inches to each side to start your cuts. Cut two boxes as shown. These will be the legs of the stool.
Lay three tubes out flat, graphic-side down. Grab a ruler, some wood glue, and a sharp x-acto knife or box cutter. Generally, the stool should be about sixteen inches high, so you can find the center of the box, length-ways, then measure sixteen inches to each side to start your cuts. Cut two boxes as shown. These will be the legs of the stool.
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Not NiceInappropriateSpammpisaroni
says:
Nov 2, 2011. 9:39 PMReply
Maybe you should have sent this instructable a shipwreck =D
26
LinuxH4x0r
says:
Jul 7, 2008. 7:08 PMReply
Brilliant idea!
firestormcomputers
in reply to Jul 27, 2008. 6:26 PMReply
you are everywhere i go!
5
sharkstun97
in reply to Mar 23, 2009. 5:14 PMReply
lol linux
1
doughnutguy1
in reply to Mar 24, 2011. 4:07 PMReply
do you have a problem with Linux?
Yvette Turnbull
says:
Sep 14, 2008. 10:56 PMReply
Wow!! I just moved out... and am definately a cheapskate student... so i cant wait to make my own set of chairs for our housewarming!! cheers for the chairs! :D
5
ItsTheHobbs
says:
Jul 8, 2008. 8:38 AMReply
Wow, thats really really awesome!!!
MrSeb
says:
Jul 8, 2008. 12:16 AMReply
i got confused, I thought it would be instructions on how to Fed-Ex your stool... sorry!
3
DuctTapeRules!
says:
Jul 7, 2008. 7:04 PMReply
Great to bring to the post office! :)
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