From the page: This bucket still has more chapters ahead
Idea 8
Sturdy little stool
Plastic buckets turned upside down have always been improvised seats in workshops, fishing trips and market stalls. The secret lies in physics: the cylindrical shape distributes the weight along the bucket's entire wall, and a well-fitted wooden lid becomes the seat that transfers the load straight to the bottom.
What you need
- 1 rigid plastic bucket (15 to 20 liters) well cleaned inside
- Wooden board about 2 cm thick
- Saw or handsaw
- Coarse sandpaper
- Short screws (that won't go through the bucket bottom)
- Drill or screwdriver
- Tape measure
How to make it
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1
Wash the bucket well inside and out and let it dry — wet paint residue slips and keeps the seat from sitting firm.
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2
Measure the bucket's mouth and mark the board with that diameter slightly smaller (about 1 cm less), because the wood needs to rest on the rim without overhanging, where it would cause instability.
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3
Cut the circle with the saw and sand the edges well — no burrs can remain, since this is the surface you'll sit on.
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4
Rest the wooden lid over the bucket's mouth, inside the rim, and mark the points where it touches the inner wall; drill the wood at those points and screw with short screws, so the seated weight stays attached to the structure and doesn't wobble.
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5
Test the stool by placing it on flat ground and sitting down slowly in the center — if it rocks, lightly sand the bucket's resting rim until it settles evenly, because three well-distributed contact points hold the weight without tipping.
Finishing touches
If you want more height and stability, fill the bottom of the bucket with dry sand before closing it up: the extra weight in the base lowers the center of gravity and prevents falls. For outdoor use, apply a coat of old cooking oil on the wood to protect it from moisture.
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