How to Cut Chair Legs to Shorten Chairs or Stools

How to Cut Chair Legs to Shorten Chairs or Stools - Furniture Repair

Рет қаралды 44,384

Күн бұрын

Learn from a pro how to shorten a wooden stool or chair. Scott runs a furniture repair business and shows the tips and trick to cut down chair legs to shorten them.
The first step is to ensure you're working on a flat surface so the chair or stool isn't rocking. Then, setup a few blocks of wood to the height you want to cut off the leg. Mark that measurement using the blocks as a guide. A marking knife is a good tool for this, but a white pencil will also work (see links below).
Once all the legs are marked on 2 sides, it's time to cut them with a handsaw. Scott shares techniques to make it easier to use a handsaw and provides some guidance on how to choose a handsaw to use.
The last step is to chamfer the bottom edges of the chair or stool leg. This eases the edge to prevent splintering and chipping. Apply stain to the edge with a stain marker and you work is done.
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Japanese Dozuki Saw - amzn.to/3LGEe0S
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Japanese Flush Cut Saw - amzn.to/3dBbSbH
🇨🇦 amzn.to/3SKcsmv
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#Stool #Chair #Saw

Пікірлер: 58

@jgeorges 15 күн бұрын

A very sincere thank-you! Your instructions were perfect! I am an older lady and wasn't sure I could take this project on. Thanks to your clear explanations, I shortened the legs on a table perfectly! Blessings to you for sharing your expertise!😇

@sharksbite Жыл бұрын

As a very amateur DIY-er, this video is phenomenal at explaining every step of the process. I thank you and your team!

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Scott

@rustayrnova5385 Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Your video showing how to shorten legs on a chair is terrific. I bought the Japanese saw and scoring tools and followed your directions. My chair has curved legs in the back and without your help, I would have never been able to mark the legs and get all the legs to stand flush to the floor. I first practiced on a scrap piece of wood. I needed to shorten the legs 2.5 inches. I scored all 4 legs first, then one leg I scored at 1" and did a test cut. The test cut gave me the feel of how the saw works on the leg. The saw works great and your tip of guiding the saw with a knuckle really helped.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

That’s awesome! Congratulations on your success. Thank you for sharing that!

@mahmoudomara5421 Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot for your attention to show all the details of how to do work properly.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Scott

@Goalsplus Жыл бұрын

Wow! After lots of other videos mentioning it or roughly showing how to do it this is the first to cover everything. And what fabulous tips along the way which I can apply to other things. First time I ever heard of using the wood itself to support the cut. Keep them coming please.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

Glad you found it helpful. Please share it with others so more people can learn about this. Thanks. Scott

@MB-zj3er Жыл бұрын

Hey, thanks for taking the time to make your video. I was looking for a way to level out a quick pair of sawhorses. I put them on a bench I keep level, shimmed the legs till the top of the horse was level, and then used your scribing method to mark and cut the legs. They are perfect now. 👍

@hiris1903 8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the detailed instructions. I have four chairs I've been procrastinating getting the legs shortened, so I just may give it a try now!

@caroltanzi29 Жыл бұрын

Scott: I love Japanese saws. They are so refined to do the job. Or maybe it’s the hand that pushes the saw. Super job. Carol from California

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed seeing that Carol!

@lozinja 9 ай бұрын

Nice video and surprisingly relaxing to watch due to the calm presenters voice. A bit like the Bob Ross of woodwork

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 8 ай бұрын

Wow, thanks!

@andeechampion8235 Ай бұрын

Quality video and excellent instructions. Thanks!

@zipperdingo6385 7 ай бұрын

Super helpful

@SantiagoSanchez-cw5md 4 ай бұрын

Thank You ! Good Video 👍🏽

@apmartini70 Жыл бұрын

Excellent instruction. Thanks!

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 11 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@rgr3427 Жыл бұрын

I had to do this to a set of 5 Bar height chairs that needed to be shortened, getting that level table IS the key and from there it’s just cut and clean up the ends, (I love the Japanese saws, wish I had them when I was younger). Thank you for the video sir.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

You're welcome! Yes, I'm enjoying using Japanese saws - definitely worth trying. Scott

@lizbethlee3833 Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Very helpful.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

@sunriseboy4837 Жыл бұрын

Prevent the saw from binging in the kerf, by keeping the kerf, the hand, and shoulder in alignment.

@joshuaalvarez988 Жыл бұрын

Great video, thank you!

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it!

@AffinityPhoto Ай бұрын

A think I much prefer a jig with chair upright and just bring the saw across the top of the jig for almost exact uniform leg height. Use the cut legs to replace the height of the cut legs plus a very thin shim to simulate the cutout thickness while you work around to each leg. Add a chamfer to the cut edges.

@user-fv1ej7mv6n 6 ай бұрын

We thank you so much for your detailed and accurate instructions ....... please when you'll have the time help us with" If you have a love seat sofa with wooden legs as this chair and you want to ADD length "

@NDG7583 Жыл бұрын

Very helpful video, specially if you're thinking about learn the art of Wood........thank you!

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for sharing that. Scott

@michelles3187 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for this. I used it to lower my ottoman legs and it turned out absolutely perfect.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 9 ай бұрын

Great job!

@thatkyledude Жыл бұрын

Great video! I almost hope to come across a chair that needs cutting to try this all out.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it Kyle! Cheers. Scott

@Cowgirl77Hikes 5 ай бұрын

I bought a jigsaw to jack the legs off an easy chair. The plan is to change the legs to make it coordinate with an ottoman. Im worried about the fabric for one, around the legs. Any tips? Thank you. Love to learn and you give lots of info.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 5 ай бұрын

I'm not sure what you're asking. I offer project advice over Zoom video meetings. If you're interested, here's where you can buy an Advice Session woodenitbenice.ca/collections/all

@user-by2gz2ok4d Жыл бұрын

Очень толковое и подробное видео по укорочению ножек стула. Задачка очень непростая, когда делаешь в первый раз. Спасибо Автору!

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

You’re welcome

@Grishanof Жыл бұрын

I usually just take a small scrap of wood, size of a matchbox, tape the pencil to it and draw the line pressing it into the table, the height from the surface is still fixed, but way more freedom of movement

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

That's a good suggestion. Thanks for sharing that. Scott

@sharksbite Жыл бұрын

This gives me an idea of actually using a matchbox to mark the legs. (I don’t have spare pieces of wood). Thank you for the tip

@fatersaadatniaki 2 ай бұрын

Scott what would you typically charge if a customer brings in a chair for shortening from bar stool height to dining chair height ?

@briizcustoms9543 Жыл бұрын

Hi Scott! In regards to painting have you ever used a single stage paint ? Have you ever used an electric or battery powered sprayer? I’ll be using a single stage paint for my car as my first DIY to see how it’ll come out and would love to avoid orange peel as much as possible I know it won’t be perfect and I’m fine with that.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

Yes, I've used a single stage sprayer and it gave an orange peel texture I couldn't avoid. I now use a 3-stage turbine with good success. I'm not an expert, but what I observe is that single-stage sprayers are typically used for exterior painting, not fine finishes. I hope that helps.

@phgumerr646 Ай бұрын

Does this work on a real leg? Asking for myself please

@lasmithfromGA 9 ай бұрын

Hello Scott, I have these chairs in counter height and a matching table. I would like to cut them to standard height. The back legs flair outward quite a bit. Will stability be lost if I cut them down that much? Thank you.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking 9 ай бұрын

I don't think shortening the chair legs will reduce the stability. There are many chair designs that have straight legs at the back. I hope that helps.

@ninalee8623 Жыл бұрын

I need to shorten the legs on an adjustable shower chair because even with the several height adjustment options, it's still too tall at the lowest adjusted height. Any advice please? Thank you.

@HomeImprovementWoodworking Жыл бұрын

Does this video not give you the information you need to tackle that project? Scott