English Walnut Counter Stools

These pieces were made using english walnut that was saved from an orchard removal project. In recent years farmers have been ripping out their walnut trees and burning them to make room for planting almonds. There is more money in almonds than there is in walnuts. The company I work for has been saving as many of these beautiful trees as possible before they are all gone. I liked these particular pieces of english walnut because of their dark intricate grain lines and beautiful figure.

Ergonomic seat curves are carved into all of the seats. I started by roughing out the form with an angle grinder and then I went in and got each seat perfectly smooth with an orbital sander. The seat curves follow the contour of your body making for a more pleasant sitting experience.

I designed and rebuilt the steel bases so that they sit perfectly flat on the ground without rocking. I incorporated a foot rest for comfort and a center cross bar for structural stability. Each base got two coats of etching primer and two coats of black enamel paint making a durable finish. The feet all have rubber caps on them making them very scratch resistant on the floor.

The stool seats are finished with Odies penetrating oil and a protective coat of Odies wax. This is a natural finish that is meant to protect the surface from water damage and bring out the color and figure of the walnut.

This project is special to me because it was the first time that I got to apply welding for a furniture project. It was also my first time making a full set of stools. I like to seek out projects that let me exercise new skills and practice my love of carving. Making this a fun and exciting project for me.