Synopsis: Harriet Hodges says a Windsor stool is both a good beginner project and a quick exercise for more expert woodworkers. Tool and wood needs are simple, and the process of building allows for mistakes. She advises that you begin by selecting a design, and she explains how to dimension your stock. You turn the seat and legs on a lathe, and then bore and ream the holes in the seat by hand. Next comes fitting stretchers to the legs, and then assemble of the stool and leveling the legs. Her tips along the way include how to color code your parts so assembly is quicker.

A Windsor stool makes an ideal first project for beginners or a quick exercise for woodworkers who have been at it for a while. A stool comes in handy in most households, and it can make a welcome gift. Tool and wood needs are…