£1 Piano Stool Makeover

In this video I'll be working on a piano stool which I found at our local recycling centre for something like 50p or £1 - I can't remember... This is less of a furniture restoration project, and more of a conversion project, I guess - as we had no use for a piano stool - but we were looking for a foot stool to go with our Parker Knoll Armchair which I restored back in December (link below). The stool needed some repairs and a replacement seat pad, there is an issue with the hinges too. I reupholstered using some modern foam, wadding and mustard velvet fabric. The original maker of the stool is unknown, but the bottom is stamped with the letter "U".
My Parker Knoll Armchair restoration video: • Parker Knoll Armchair ...
My Card Scraper Sharpening video: • How To Sharpen A Card ...
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#woodworking #furniture #makeover

[@tommeaney7284]

Could you not have cut an angle (a big chamfer) on those back legs?

[@j_b_woodwork7648]

Use magnets in the top of the legs to make the life removable

[@DebsHill1]

J_B_Woodwork i was just about yo make the same comment 😊

[@emmavik-fredriksson640]

That's so easy and brilliant!

[@twwanderer]

@@emmavik-fredriksson640 Maybe add blocks under the lid at each edge to prevent the lid sliding free of the magnets, but the idea of using strong rare earth magnets is a genius one.

[@tom849448]

Rubber pads is all you need on top of all 4 legs

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

You could use larger hinges that pivot further back- that way when you open the lid the pivot point will be further back and shouldn't hit the top of the legs

[@karlpopewoodcraft]

So much better than it ending up in tip mate and matches really well with your chair and decor. How about removing the hinges and placing a wooden rim around the inside of lid so that it's a push fit, like the little trinket boxes 🤔 hopefully you get what I'm trying to explain 😏 cheers Karl

[@RagnBoneBrown]

That's a good idea!! Cheers Karl, I hadn't thought of that 👍

[@oliverapopovart8902]

Had the exact same idea. No hinges, and lid stays safely in its place :) Probably a 3 minute job for you and a couple of the pieces from the scrape draw well utilised :)

[@wolfgollnitz899]

Oops, didn’t see this comment, but essentially this is what I also tried to suggest

[@nathanlucas6465]

My first thought was adding some small battens to the underside of the lid, so it locates securely and lifts off. Or how about some parliament hinges? Something like 76597 from toolstation

[@CartersShed]

Great to see the stool get a new lease of life 👍

[@johnorchard4156]

Could maybe pop some trim on the underside of the lid so it fits snug. Like a jewelry box. But not essential if you don't need the storage. So.....sod it and put your feet up!

[@RagnBoneBrown]

👍 cheers, I will 😀

[@cobberpete1]

Yes. Perfect solution. And although you don't need the storage, you still have access

[@techywill]

I was hoping someone else had the same idea of skipping the hinge and just making it open by being lifted off.

[@Wordsnwood]

@@RagnBoneBrown Yes exactly. but maybe also mortise in some strong rare-earth magnets also to help hold it in place? Hmm....

[@robshamel3210]

I should have read this comment this is what I was trying to say...

[@AeanMichael]

What a beautiful footstool or, perhaps, cat throne. Nicely done!

[@daniel923e]

Pure alchemy, well done.

[@KellyEUTAH]

Wow! I am impressed with how quickly I got that like button. It was like as soon as I saw the kitty, it was knee-jerk. He just looked so fluffy.😍

[@MrJozza65]

Nice work; it's always good to see what would have been firewood rescued and restored back to a nice looking and useable piece of furniture

[@davidmessmer6741]

Just watched this as I was shopping for hinges for a piano bench I've been building out of solid maple so that I can play duets with my daughter. Needless to say, it's a labor of love, and seeing the problem with the hinges on your bench saved mine. Thank you!

[@ConiferProject]

I may repolster my dining chair some day, your videos are a good inspiration with lots of good tips to do this :) thank you

[@AntoniaLister]

'Now I can get those loose legs apart' 😂😂. Excellent.

[@mallymakings2853]

I can’t offer any advice because I’m a complete beginner but I just wanted to Thank You for your videos. Through you very generously sharing your knowledge, tips and advice, I’ve found my confidence to use power tools and get creative. I’ve fallen in love with woodworking and your videos have helped heal my depression and anxiety. Thank You so much. You’re bloody amazing! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@tonyalways7174]

Nice result 👍🏻 well done. When I cant get hinges to play for lids and stuff I’ve used rare earth magnets to have a lift on lift off lid. it works quite neatly.

[@robertharris8106]

Cranked hinges may give you the extra clearance you need. Nice project, it's good to see old furniture re used or re purposed.

[@alastairmackay4589]

A 10 minute lesson from Jay Blades on upholstery corners and you could transform both pieces. And you can’t beat a Parker Knoll wood frame chair - always buy them when you see them. Good work as always

[@JohnColgan.]

But Jay Blades would have painted one leg white, he likes an odd look!!

[@noelwong8223]

Amazing work.

[@danielwillits2173]

Nice job Blofeld 👍🏻

[@mandyleeson1]

The Dylan seal of approval. With the corners on the upholstery: I usually make a cut in the fabric in line with the corner, which allows more room to manoeuvre, pull the fabric over to one side, staple, then start on the other side of the corner, pulling the fabric over for folding into a pleat. I end up cutting a rectangle of fabric away so it doesn’t bunch up in the corner and finish with the pleat. Wish I’d never started this explanation, as it’s so hard to explain! Think John Orchard’s trim suggestion is a good one for the lid. Cheers

[@RagnBoneBrown]

I think I understand what you mean. I'll try that next time! 👍 Thanks Mandy

[@elchimpo9590]

Yeah magnets !!!! Nice work on restoring the bench/stool and matching it to the chair !!!

[@ImUr1nOnlyMaster]

You did a marvelous job upholstering both the chair and footstool.

[@michaelevans1658]

Love doing furniture restores.

[@ronnieahman6958]

Good job, it looks really nice

[@ImperaMagna]

....thank you for brightening my day with another great refinishing project! Such fun watching you work and your explanation about what you're doing and why...

[@diyengineer811]

Great project!

[@jbwoodturning2600]

great video and great project turned out really good

[@terencecharlesworth1499]

Nice video again Keith they look well together

[@darrolmcroberts8614]

6 months to dry out. You poms really have rubbish weather 😂😂 great work mate

[@LoveBud1765]

I love this video! I like how you find things and help them have a new purpose, rather than just buying a cheap product that isn't well made. Really enjoy all your videos =)

[@BillHartCooks.]

Cool... My kind of project!

[@David.M.]

Thanks Keith!

[@AMG63]

I would personally make a small frame on the underside of the lid so it would be a tight fit lid. All my timber gets delivered on monday for my workshop and I just received my epdm roof so I cant wait to start building it 😁😁

[@apierc1]

Ha, exactally what i thought so it just lifts on and off.

[@eladbagan7932]

double side scotch. Graet job

[@awantamta]

I really love your restoration projects. It's a great job !

[@garylee4141]

Lose the lid , put a draw in from the side where the hinges were , use the piece of wood your remove for the draw front , I think for you it's a quick and easy alteration, hope you like the idea , great vid

[@niva8043]

Sweet Dylan 💕 I would have put an inner frame of wood, you know like some boxes are made. The frame make the lid stay put but it will be easy to pull off when needed. I hope you get what I'm trying to explain, English is my second language 😛

[@LoveBud1765]

Like in the corners, yes!

[@susancorvalan6765]

That is my thought too. Even just 4 strips that do not have to accomodate the corners.

[@robshamel3210]

Excellent save, you could make a thin walled box that attaches to the underside of the lid that fits snuggly into the bottom which hold the top in place, then you could even lift it off and use it on your lap as a lap pad or desk of sorts? Maybe....just a thought.

[@lindacgrace2973]

I vote for rosewood and the create a snug inner rim jewelry box idea (that several of your readers suggested. It should be easy to repair the former hinge cut-outs with dutchmen repairs.

[@marchu50]

Nice restoration.

[@chriscooper9216]

You could attach the top with some velcro in the corners,you can then still use the storage.

[@kevinronald4137]

A suggestion add an internal c shape matched on the seat so you generate a sliding top. Good video.

[@thomasbird8478]

That wood looks like either sapele or teak, good restoration by the way 👍

[@catherinecrafts]

Blimey, I started refurbing an identical stool today! Mine someone had used a silicone mastic to fix a couple of the joints.

[@karenstimson2683]

Dylan models the stool perfectly!

[@SMee67]

Great find , and awesome repurpose. 👍🏽

[@rosycarpuntley2557]

When pulling upholstery into a cushion, you are doing it right to start in the center, but if you keep turning it and adding staples one or two to a side, instead of stapling across a whole side at one. So center on on four sides, then one to left and right, rotate to next side and do one to left and right, and keep going until you just have the four corners to do. That will really help pull the fabric more evenly, wear more evenly, and look better.

[@Mark-hc5bv]

I recently made a footrest for my rocking chair modeled off this vid!

[@athmostafa2462]

Just looks wonderful !!😊

[@IngridRollema]

Very nice job on that stool. What a great find! I'd agree with others who have said to make the lid into a fitted box lid type thing and skip the hinges entirely. And very nice shot of Mr. Dylan lounging on his yellow stool against that gorgeous green wall.

[@elenin.3228]

The "big secret" is you use wider hinges that cover the full span of the overhang so that the pin lines up with the edge of the top. That way when you raise it, it stays clear of the apron and the top of the legs.

[@manicmaker52]

Good job....

[@serbanpantis2066]

Put some hinges that have the leafs a bit deeper, from the barrel pivot point to the outside edge, so the pivot is more outside of the edge of the legs

[@Mitrasmit]

I'd say just heavily chamfer the top side of the legs. No need to plane off the entire sides. I've seen it quite a few times for these kinds of constructions.

[@bezsamain1734]

Yes and chamfer the underside of the top/lid

[@francoisfouche2568]

My thoughts exactly !

[@neilf4128]

Agreed

[@fromsweden3503]

Best solution. By far. Exactly what i came to suggest.

[@tom849448]

All you need is rubber pads on top of all the legs!

[@Phil.C1]

you might want to use some rare earth magnets to hold the top in place. Then with a few of alignment pins (nail with head cut off and rounded) would also act as a mechanical support for lateral movement when you put feet on top, push stool from side to stop the lid /top from slipping.

[@orbepa]

It was strangely satisfying seeing that nail come out....

[@dianeconti7602]

You could attach a wood strip flange along the frame of the lid and eliminate the hinges altogether. Lift the lid on and off.

[@pauloadams6330]

If you simply attached blocks to the underside of the lid to sit snugly inside the apron and eliminate the hinges, then the lid can be fully lifted off and replaced and you have that small added but if storage but keep the original look.

[@fedearm]

Another great furniture makeover Keith, cheers from Argentina!

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you!

[@СофьяДрозд-х8ч]

SUPER!👍

[@wildonemeister]

If you get your hands on some free drawer slides you can actually use a couple of those and slide the lid horizontally. That is of course if they have no play in them so they do not make rattling noises when in use. Different type of hinge - one with an angle that lifts the lid up and then backwards. Magnets + guide blocks to keep the lid in place. Some sort of swivel mount (center or corner) to slide the lid sideways. I have no idea what it's called in English, but we call it a "kulesneppert" in Norwegian - a pair of those should work very nicely; probably one of the best solutions to the "problem". Locks quite good, takes care of sideways movement (mounted at a 90 degree angle), quite sturdy and not too hard to fit.

[@fnowicki7996]

Hi Keith. Maybe some rebate on the top of the back. So the lid would open. Nice project for 50p.

[@sandywebster5667]

To use the hinges just put a piece of 1/4" thick by 1" or 3/8's high trim against the rail, all the way around. You already cut the legs so you are not hurting anything by adding a trim. Attach your hinges and a small swing latch on the front to tie the sides together.

[@KSFWG]

Great project, Keith!

[@hansdegroot8549]

Nice little makeover project. Thanks for sharing. The heating tip for stubborn nails is perfect. Never seen/heard that before. Maybe it helps when you round over the bottom side of the lid on the back to prevent it from rubbing the upper part of the apron of the stool.

[@edrowling8217]

Looking good, a dowel in each corner, and an oversized hole in the lid to make for easy alignment,don't tell the Mrs you don't this then you can have a hidi hole 👍👍

[@andrewwilson3663]

A set of cleats around the inside of the lid for a tight fit might do it. If you wanted to keep to hinges they are available with various geometries to throw the door / lid away from the closure surface - like your kitchen cupboards. Try a search on offset hinges. And thanks for your content, always valuable. And well done for supporting Leo's one handed challenge. Respect!

[@erictheviking672]

Another great restoration (I said on the chair video that I didn't much like the colour but I admit it's now growing on me now ;) ) Regarding the lid, I think I've seen these stools like this with a metal retaining device that just doesn't let them open all the way up, maybe because they were made only to keep small amounts of piano music inside. I think it was a kind of elongated metal loop that had a pin in the loop fixing it with a recess allowing it to fold into the rail when it closed and that came out when the lid opened, but only so far. I saw what I thought would have been part of this kind of mechanism on one of the sides, although I didn't see the recess on the matching side. I hope I've explained it well enough and please forgive me if I've got it wrong, as the stools I'm thinking of were in my primary school, many years ago.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

thank you! I understand

[@MM-qd4km]

Stick the off cuts from each leg to each corner of the lid in such a way to hold it in place when fitted - similar to the other suggestions of using battens, hope this makes sense to everyone 😁

[@christianjanes]

Excellent work. Dylan is a big fan obviously. Perhaps magnets to hold the lid down?

[@MigleschienHysteria]

One idea would be to mount blocks on the underside of the top that match the internals corners of the bottom, that way you would use it a loose top which would be secured in place by the blocks?

[@briangoldberg4439]

re: the lid. You can create a skirt that runs around the parameter on the top and then just slot it into the bottom. You don't have to do the whole inside lip with the square parts of the legs jutting upwards into the cavity, you could just do the long flat sides and make it a bit tight so that it doesn't want to pull out easily.

[@CharlieSkapentry]

Take the hinges out, fill the housings and use magnets instead so it just lifts off. Maybe a small batten on the underside of the lid to locate it and stop it sliding off when you put your feet up

[@michaelplays2449]

Good video Keith thanks

[@JohntheSchreiner]

Good idea with the strop compound on the cloth!

[@RagnBoneBrown]

cheers John

[@sfn4702]

Great job, Mr Brown. Top five Rag n Bone vid!

[@sandralima759]

Wow fantástico!!!

[@pitsnipe5559]

Route a slot on the underside of the lid where it comes into contact with the legs when opening the lid. This gives the leg corner a place to go rather than pushing back against the lid.

[@jedisix]

That's the best option, I think.

[@tom849448]

I have funny feeling at some point the rubber pads on top of the legs were lost and the previous owner rebated the hinges so top would would sit flat! you might need to adjust screw holes on the lid if you go with my rubber pad recommendation

[@paulmantegna76]

I would try bigger hinges. If you fit them to the same rebates then the pivot point will be proud of the edge of the rail.

[@carlpage83]

At the point where the lid is hitting I would round the edge so that when you raise the lid it will follow the rounding of the wood

[@pedroallendesmunoz205]

Hi... One possibility is to use bowl hinges, they are not very expensive and you could give it a space that affects the base.

[@maureenwright7001]

The wood is mahogany. To get around the hinge problem raise the hinges higher by placing a strip of wood under the hinges and putting a couple of clear rubber bumper pads/ feet/stops on the front the same thickness as the wood you use at the back. This way it clears the stool. I think the stool legs cracked because the top was overextended you need stronger hinges. 🙂

[@BrodieMott]

Skip the hinges, I've just built a mantel piece for my fire place, I've put removable front panels on the cloums using magnetic cabinet latches,

[@cgoodwin2875]

looks like iroko to me. Hard as nails, partly due to the tendency to draw sand up from the roots. Used to be known as poor mans teak but not as durable or pretty. Parliament style hinges would fix the hinge issue - they are deeper so the pivot point is further away and lifts the lid/door clear of the frame. Usually used for doors with deep recesses or where you want 180 degree opening. Failing that a little chamfer on the top of the legs but that would be noticeable. Thanks for posting.

[@dawn5227]

Try some inset hinges like used in kitchen cupboards maybe? Or instead of hinges. Add a lip to the underneath of the top so that it turns into a removable lid if that makes sense?

[@rwind656]

Nice restoration job. I would like to keep the lid removable; someone will find the perfect items to store inside... just tack little strips to form a lip inside to register the lid against the aprons. Making the inner lid into a wooden tray when turned upside down is also very popular nowadays.

[@zahor0269]

I love recycling of this stool. One thing you can do is maybe turn that into a secret drawer? The space is empty anyway, and I think if you just made a small drawer and used a rail as the face then it would work out pretty well. Maybe even add like a fun secret way to open it like with a magnet or a push-release.

[@krisgavinsmith8840]

I would have counter sunk a disc magnet on each corner (lid and base) so I could take the lid off without the hinges, but still have it fixed when closed

[@thesam19841]

I like the idea of adding wood to make a push on lid... but if it doesn't need be so air tight you could use a piece of wood on the top of each hinge that raises the lid and do the same on the front... or add a full lip all the way around either way, lifting the lid to clear the hinges

[@JohnColgan.]

Love the renovation, no-one likes brown wood these days & so much gets scrapped or burned. Even worse chalk painted! A bit of chamfer relief at the top of the legs & underside of the seat might do the trick, but the seat wasn't designed to rotate more than 90°, so a small chain or restraint to stop it might do the trick. (The brass loop bracket on the frame is a give away) The screw holes might need drilling out and a dowel insert as the threads are likely stripped. I noticed a mix of slot & pozi screw heads, someone fixed it before!

[@boncamino5195]

What about using some good sized dowels that are glued into the top of the legs which then fit into a hole in the top so the top can be taken on and off but still solid enough to be used as a foot stool 😊

[@palletsandmore8529]

Great video and great work again Keith love your videos , really inspiring , i love how honest and natural you are . Keep up the good work buddy :)

[@samrix5793]

As others have said if you don't need it to hinge, you could fit inset rails in the lid and it liif off

[@jmakes3745]

Another really nice restoration Keith - god knows why people think its a good idea to pin mortise and tenon joints - the amount of pieces I've broken trying to get them out! For the hinge, the first thing I thought of was to screw a couple of strips of timber to the top that fit inside the bottom opening. This would allow you to easily take it on and off, without any movement (hope that makes sense!)

[@RagnBoneBrown]

yeah it's quite annoying, it's like they didn't trust the glue to do it's job! cheers, yeah that makes sense 👍

[@susancorvalan6765]

Maybe a frame that is attached to the underside of the lid and fits into the base would work? Even adding 4 narrow strips that are not joined at the corners would keep the lid secure.

[@matthewh7529]

Maybe use strong magnetic that you put in the top of the legs and the bottom of the top. Same place you put the hot glue. So then you can have a secure top but it is also removable.

[@pjgordg]

You could use a surface mount lift off (overlay style) cabinet hinge sometimes called a chest hinge or a pivot hinge either exposed or internal all of these just move the pivot point as part of the design geometry so the top has enough lift during operation to clear.

[@colinaskey9777]

Hi Keith,another piece of unwanted junk saved and given a new lease of life,it was a good vidio wich I enjoyed,with regards to the problem of the hinged lid there is a simple solution,all you need to do is chisel away the material on the lid which comes into contact with the legs,it only amounts to the depth of how much the leg protrudes from the apron,problem solved,all done it would not be noticed,take care and stay healthy .

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thanks Colin

[@robboone4367]

Nice job Keith! You might consider putting a slight bevel on the top of the back legs to give you clearance or notch out the frame of the top where the legs interfere.