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This step stool gets its vintage look entirely from its shaped sides — cut both from a single 1x12, using the first cut piece as a pattern for the second so the two match exactly, rather than measuring and cutting them independently. Take the jigsaw cuts slowly and note which side of the traced line to cut on; sanding the two edges afterward is what makes a pair of hand-cut sides read as a matched set rather than two slightly different shapes.
Once the sides are shaped and sanded to match, the bottom supports go on first, tying the two sides together into the stool's basic footprint, followed by the top supports built the same way. Pocket holes keep every joint clean and hidden, though the plan notes a countersunk 2" wood screw works as a simple substitute if you don't have a jig.
The two tread boards rest on the assembled supports last, giving the stool its two step heights. This is a genuinely fast, low-material build — a good weekend project for a scrap 1x12 and a short 1x8 offcut.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x12, 32 in | 1 each |
| 1x2, 50 in | 1 each |
| 1x8, 32 in | 1 each |
| Self-tapping star bit screws, 2", or pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 30 each |
| Wood glue | 2 oz |
| Wood filler | 2 oz |
| Primer and paint, or stain and poly | 1 set |
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Sides1x12, 32 inShaped with a jigsaw; cut one first and use as a pattern for the other. | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 15 1/2" |
| Supports1x2, 50 in | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 12 1/2" |
| Treads1x8, 32 in | 2 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 15" |
Buy 3 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
1 board
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Cut the two side pieces from the 1x12 with a jigsaw, using the diagram as a guide. Use the first cut piece as a pattern to trace and cut the second. Sand both edges so they match.
Attach the bottom supports between the two sides with screws and glue, using pocket hole screws or 2" wood screws with a countersink.
Attach the top supports to the sides the same way as the bottom supports.
Attach the two tread boards on top of the assembled supports with screws and glue.
Fill any screw holes with wood filler, sand all surfaces, and apply primer and paint, or stain and poly.
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