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.
Cut the legs. Cut the 48” dowel into three pieces 16” long each.
Drill holes in the legs. Drill ¼” diameter holes about one inch from one end of the dowels.
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.
Put 3 inches of concrete mix in the bucket. Make sure the bucket is clean and dry before opening up the concrete and scooping 3 inches of concrete mix into the bucket. Add some water and start mixing. Be careful not to over water the concrete or it will be weak and crumble. Thoroughly mix the concrete so that every grain of the mix is wet. The mix should be the consistency of cookie dough.
Shake out the bubbles. Mixed concrete has air bubbles trapped inside. Shake and tap the bucket to bring the bubbles to the surface.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cut the legs. Cut the 48” dowel into three pieces 16” long each.
Drill holes in the legs. Drill ¼” diameter holes about one inch from one end of the dowels.
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.
Put 3 inches of concrete mix in the bucket. Make sure the bucket is clean and dry before opening up the concrete and scooping 3 inches of concrete mix into the bucket. Add some water and start mixing. Be careful not to over water the concrete or it will be weak and crumble. Thoroughly mix the concrete so that every grain of the mix is wet. The mix should be the consistency of cookie dough.
Shake out the bubbles. Mixed concrete has air bubbles trapped inside. Shake and tap the bucket to bring the bubbles to the surface.
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.
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.
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.
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.
