I came across this on FB on one of my many woodworking groups and was intrigued. I am looking for an easy project to do with my kids Cub Scout troop and this has possibilities for that. I would make the blanks on the CNC and the kids could then sand, decorate, tie the knots and assemble. Bonus being they could bring them along on our campouts.
Some limited google searching has not revealed plans for it. Anyone have suggestions on making this?
Looks like fun. I agree, CNC would be a good way to do those long slots in the legs. The table saw and crosscut sled would make the angles on the ends trivial.
Looks like there are a couple notches on the ends of the seat, what are those for? They aren’t perpendicular to the seat surface, so I might tilt the drill press table and drill those.
For the legs, I would use a bit and brace for the holes. Then a router plane to make that grove on the legs. For the top, drill out the side holes, then Japanese handsaw the ends off. Finally a chisel and mallet to get the top center hole.
That’s how I’d like to try it. But if I were to make it a bit faster (and probably more kid friendly)
For the sides, drill a hole on either end of the groove (hand drill or drill press) and use a large countersink bit, or a much larger sized bit for the large hole. Then jigsaw out the grove with two lines. Clean it all up with a flush trim bit on a router (table) or use rasps and files. I’d do the same process to get that extra long hole in the top for simplicity.
Table saw or miter saw to get any angles on the edges.
A router table could be used for the grooves alltogether if that is accessible and dialed in.
I found other pictures…
See also: Trinity stool | Design Soil with bigger pictures showing more construction details such as handle knot holes on the top and recessed countersink on the end of the leg holes.
In another article I found reference to the designer:
Trinity Stool by Junichiro Oshima is a folding stool with tied knots at the both ends. The rope passes through the legs and the seat to give the relation that pulling each other from different directions, and in doing so, the rope tightens the legs firmly. You can also use the rope as a handle to carry the stool from place to place.
And the source: https://www.junichirooshima.com/trinity
Brian! You found it. Thank you!
Now let’s figure out how to make it together after I get past the maker market in a few weeks.
Found another image with dimensions for what it’s worth.
And I’m willing to help design it fully in VCarve, but it will require a two-sided design and a 15-30 degree Vbit for the top & leg end slopes.
How many do you need to make?
Maybe we should try to tackle this for the December CNC salon?
Would you consider making them out of a 2 x 8 cut down to an actual 1.75" x 6" (similar dimensions to the photo above) or would they be too heavy.
Again, how many stools?
I designed two double-sided CNC toolpaths in VCarve for the Top and Leg. I bought a 2"x8"x8’ at Home Depot. Cut half of it into roughly one 13", and two 16" for the top and two legs. I ran the toolpaths on the Small IQ CNC using a 15° VBit for the sloped top & leg ends, 0.5 endmill for the hollowed-out squares, and 0.25 endmill for the holes, slots and edge. Later I bought a 48" bungee cord to be the “rope”. However, overall it was not a successful build or maybe I couldn’t figure out how to make it “work”. It’s just a bunch of separate items with a cord between them. I’ll bring it to the next CNC SIG for comments and suggestions.
I love that you did this Brian! Thanks for figuring it out!
As we discussed in the shop the other day, your efforts made me realize that this particular project isn’t the best fit for my scout needs. We were discussing during the community social on Wednesday and I may go for a box jointed toolbox instead.
Looking forward to discussing further in the SIG!
