Industrial Stool Makeover

ScavengerChic
by ScavengerChic
12 Materials
$20
4 Hours
Easy

I have another thrift store find for you today, a pair of well used and well loved industrial metal stools. I was on the hunt for a file cabinet but when I saw this pair I couldn’t resist, and besides, the thrift store didn’t have a file cabinet.

The stools were two different heights, so in my mind I’m thinking of ways I could minimize the difference but at only $4 a piece, they had to go home with me.

Start by getting rid of that existing, stained wooden seat.

Here I was using my grinder to get rid of the rivets holding the seat on when I noticed that there are 4 other holes which I can use to hold the new seat . 


You can get rid of the rivets if you want or just leave them there. They weren’t bothering me so I just pried off the existing seat (I just used a flat head screwdriver).

Use those newly pried off seats as patterns to make your new wooden seats. This is a 1 inch piece of scrap plywood, cut with a jigsaw.

Sand off any rust, paint drips, or any other gunk to get the stools ready for painting.

Use masking tape to cover any areas you don't want painted.

Spray paint the color of your choice. This is semigloss black from rustoleum.

Back to the seats...sand the edges of the wood seats and use the seats as a template to cut 1 inch foam. Cut the foam slightly larger than the wood so you don't feel that hard wooden edge.

Use the wood seat again as a pattern to cut your seat fabric and a layer of quilt batting, this time allowing an extra 2 inches on all sides. You want to give yourself plenty of extra fabric to cover the foam.

Pull the fabric tight and alternate sides as you staple the fabric and batting to the wood seat. By the time you're finished you should pretty much have a solid line of staples encircling the seat.

Use wood screws to attach the seat to the stool.


Stop by my post if you want to see why these stools are no longer different heights. Hint..it's a ridiculously easy fix. :)


I've also rehabbed one other set of industrial stools with a different top You can find those here. http://scavengerchic.com/2018/07/22/industrial-stool-makeover/

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2 of 3 comments
  • Ellen Ellen on Apr 15, 2020

    Making them of equal height was pretty simple since they have adjustable legs. Had one in my classroom I had to adjust. You did a great job in improving the seat area. I could have used the padding in the classroom! Thanks for sharing.

  • LINDA LINDA on Apr 16, 2020

    WOW!! no too long ago our local Re-Store in Mooresville, NC had about 50+ of these stools for $5 ea...I looked at them several times, but just couldn't think of anything I would do with them...dang!! You did an amazing job.....


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