Drilling the leg mortises

Note: We use two types of mortise and tenon joints. Neither method is better; there are pros and cons to each. The choice of which joint to use depends on your stool's design and any structural issues that may call for a particular joint type. Which ever joint type you choose should be used for all leg joints.

• A through mortise and tenon joint goes all the way through the stool seat and shows on the top once the stool is finished.
   
• A stub mortise and tenon joint goes part way through the seat and does not show on the top.
  

If you are using a through mortise and tenon joint, mark the leg joint locations on the top surface of the seat and drill from the top. If you are using a stub mortise and tenon joint, mark and drill the leg joint positions on the bottom of the seat. In each case, carefully re-measure the leg positions and mark the origin and circumference for each joint.

Check both sides again to be sure no knots or other flaws will adversely effect the stool's design and stability. For example, you should not join a leg into a large knot as the knot could come lose in time causing the leg to fall out.

Carefully drill each mortise in the seat, adjusting for angle of each leg. Note that for added stability, legs are often angled slightly away from the center of the stool, thus providing a wider footprint. Legs can also go straight down, but they should never be angled toward the center of the seat.
 

Three leg stool with through mortise and tenon joints.	Four leg stool with stub mortise and tenon joints.