Book Trough and Stool
€12,00
Book Trough and Stool
€12,00
The old book calls it a "Combined Book Trough and Stool": a top shelf that is also the seat, two upright ends "pierced with a trefoil", and between them "two sloping shelves forming the trough", "at right angles to one another". Today it is a low seat or footstool by the bed or the fire, and a rest for your books.
At a glance
- Size: 18 1/2" (470 mm) long, 9 1/4" (235 mm) deep, 12 3/4" (324 mm) high
- Skill: Beginner
- Build time: A weekend, plus a day for the finish to cure
- Materials: approx. US$50–100
- In the plan: 15-page PDF, US Letter, 12 illustrated steps, imperial, with metric in the lists and steps
Inside the 15-page plan
- The original article and its drawings, restored and reproduced in full
- An exploded drawing that shows how every part goes together
- Dimensioned views of the finished build, in feet and inches
- Materials list and hardware schedule, with today's actual lumber sizes and metric equivalents
- Cut list, so you can cut everything before you start assembling
- Clear illustrated step-by-step assembly drawings: one job per step, every part drawn, fastener positions marked
The PDF plan is a digital download; nothing ships. Adapted from "Combined Book Trough and Stool", The Practical Woodworker, vol. 1, "A Few Elementary Examples", pp. 308-309, Figs. 1-7, an unsigned public-domain article. Restored, redrawn and edited by Square & Furrow, produced with AI-assisted tools and checked against the original article. Not affiliated with the original publisher.
Illustrated step by step
Imperial + metric
Cut list & checklist
Instant PDF download
Built to work
Book Trough and Stool
Built in home workshops more than a century ago, and redrawn for the way you build today.
RenderingFrom the workshop archive
Restored from the original article
From the archive
“Combined Book Trough and Stool”
Public domain · restored by Square & Furrow
This is the public-domain how-to article home craftsmen built from more than a century ago. We restore its drawings and reproduce the article in full inside your plan, then rebuild it as a modern edition: today's lumber sizes, metric measurements, a cut list and illustrated steps. Every dimension is checked against the original.
Step by step
Every part drawn. Every fastener marked.
Each step is one job with its own clear drawing: the parts it adds are shaded, every nail and screw position is marked, and the hardware and tools sit right beside it. An exploded view shows how the whole build goes together before you make a single cut.
Before you build
Your tools & materials checklist
Tick what you already have. Whatever is left is your shopping list. Your ticks are saved on this device, so you can come back to it from the lumber yard.
0 of 0 on hand
Tools
Materials
Finished sizes. Stock: a 1x10 pine (softwood) board gives the top shelf and both uprights, three crosscuts and no ripping, a 2 x 2 ft (610 x 610 mm) panel of 1/2" plywood both trough boards (Fig. 1). Plywood sold as 1/2" is about 15/32" (12 mm) thick: measure yours and cut the trough grooves to match; glue fills the play.
Questions about this plan
What are the finished dimensions?
18 1/2" (470 mm) long, 9 1/4" (235 mm) deep, 12 3/4" (324 mm) high. The drawings are dimensioned in feet and inches; the materials list, cut list and steps give metric sizes alongside.
What skill level do I need, and how long does it take?
It's rated beginner. Expected build time: A weekend, plus a day for the finish to cure. Each step names the tools it uses, so it's written for first-time builders.
How much does it cost to build?
Roughly US$50–100 in materials at typical US lumber-yard prices. Prices vary a lot by region, so price the materials list at your local yard before you start.
What tools do I need?
Steel rule; Pencil; Try square; Marking knife; Awl; Scissors; Printer (pattern at 100%); Crosscut handsaw; Fine saw or backsaw for plywood; Coping saw, 4" (100 mm) throat or deeper; 1/2" and 3/4" chisels with a mallet; Block plane; Round file; Bench vise; Sanding block; Sandpaper 120 and 220 grit; Lint-free rags; Damp rag; Brace with a 1" (25 mm) auger bit, or drill with a 1" spade bit; Drill/driver with 1/32" (0.8 mm) and 1/8" (3 mm) bits and a countersink; Screwdriver; Hammer and nail set; 2 bar clamps 20" (510 mm) or longer and 2 small clamps; Masking tape; Two heavy books; plus a tape, pencil, safety glasses, hearing protection and gloves. The interactive checklist on this page lets you tick off what you already own.
Where does this plan come from?
It is restored from "Combined Book Trough and Stool", The Practical Woodworker, vol. 1, "A Few Elementary Examples", pp. 308-309, Figs. 1-7, an unsigned how-to article from that is now in the public domain. We redrew it as a modern build guide with a materials list, metric sizes, a cut list and clear illustrated step-by-step assembly drawings, every part drawn. Every dimension follows the original article, and the article is reproduced inside. This edition is our own; it is not affiliated with or endorsed by the original publisher.
Can a beginner follow it?
Yes. Each step is a single job with its own drawing: the parts that step adds are shaded, the nails, screws and bolts it drives are marked where they go, and the hardware for that step is listed beside it. An exploded drawing at the front shows how the whole build goes together before you cut anything.
What do I get?
A 15-page print-ready PDF (US Letter) to download after purchase. It prints well at home or at a copy shop, and reads fine on a tablet in the workshop.