Salvaging 2 Wooden Stools

My father-in-law made these wooden stools while building the visitors center and hand carts at the Martin’s Cove Historical Sight in Wyoming.  (Info about this place can be found here: http://www.willhiteweb.com/lds_historic_sights/martins_cove/willie_center_125.htm)  These stools stood on their front porch for about 5 years.  They never finished the wood and used them to hold live plants, which they tended to over water.  When I got the stools, they were warped and water damaged.  They would no longer close completely flat.  So I knew that I would need to accomplish two things with these stools.  Sand away the as much of the warp and the damage as possible.  Then put several coats of all-weather stain to protect it from further damage.  Here we go.

Supplies used:
Rasp (the one I used belonged to my Hubby’s grandfather, not shown)
Course sand paper (60 grain) ($1/sheet)
Fine sand paper (220 grain) ($1/sheet)
Electric Hand sander
Wood filler (+/-$4)
All-Weather Stain ( I bought Behr, Semi-transparent Weather Proofing wood stain in Brown, $4 for a sample can)
Sponge brush ($.50 each)
Newspaper (to cover the surface you are working on)
Microfiber cloth (not shown)

I filled in holes where the screws were located with wood filler.
I used the rasp to even out some of the worst warped areas of the stool. These spots were along the two legs that needed to slide by each other for the stools to close for storage.

Then I gave every section of the stool a once over with the course sand paper using the electric hand sander.   (This would have been a lot easier if I could have taken it apart, but Dad Jones glued and screwed all the pieces together.) When that was complete, I did another once over with the fine sand paper. (I did all of this, outside on the front step.)

I used the microfiber cloth to remove the dust, from all the wood surfaces.

I laid down some newspaper to on the kitchen counter.  I put the stool upside down and started putting a thin coat of the stain on all the available surfaces.  I let it dry for one hour.

I turned the stool right side up, and put a first coat on the unstained surfaces that were bare.  I let it dry for one hour. 

I took a piece of fine sand paper, and went lightly over all the stained surfaces.  Then I used the microfiber cloth to remove any dust.

I repeated the sanding and applying for the 2nd coat and the 3rd coat.

I let it dry for 24 hours after the last coat.

Done!  It is now a great little stool that would be great for picnics or camping or other indoor-outdoor activities.