Be it outside your house, in the kitchen, or even in a mini-bar you recently added to your home, bar stools tend to add to the décor of your home seamlessly. However, the aesthetic appeal it brings to your home is a matter of how well it blends with its surroundings. Yet, most bar stools on sale may not adequately match your expectations; therefore, instead of buying one that will be an eyesore in your home, why not build your own?
What Kind Of Metal Is A Bar Stool Made Of?
Before setting out building your metal bar stool, you should familiarize yourself with the best type of materials to use in the build. The most crucial being type of metal to use in the formation. When choosing the metal to be used in a bar stool, you will have to consider whether the stool outdoors or indoors. In the event, it is out; aluminium usually is most often used. However, steel is the most commonly used metal because it is affordable, robust, and easily manipulatable. Moreover, steel is easily recyclable with little energy requirements.
How To Build Metal Bar Stools
After deciding on the metal you will use in the build, the next step is to use the below steps to build the stool:
Step 1 – Tools and equipment
Before you begin your build, ensure you have the following equipment, and in the event, you do not buy some or rent or improvise as the build cannot commence without these:
Welding Machine
Tape measure
Plywood
Metal for the barstool frame
Glue
Nails
Protractor
Paint pen
Band saw
Drill
Screws
Retainer
Circular Saw or a Hacksaw
Step 2 – Planning for the build.
Before building your bar stools, you need to determine the number of bar stools you will need to create. For a tall cantina-styled table, you may require around eight or so metal bar stools to surround it, whereas a kitchen island countertop may only require four or so metal bar stools.
Step 3 – Determining the height of the metal bar stool and the depth of the cushion.
To determine the metal bar stool’s height plus the cushion, measure the height from the floor to the countertop’s lower lip using your tape measure, then subtract ten inches.
To determine your bar stool frame’s height, factor in four or five inches for the bar stool cushioning, and the remaining height will be the barstool frame. Ensure the height of your bar stool follows this guideline, as any dimensions other than these will result in quite uncomfortable bar stools.
Step 4 – Determining the bar stool design.
After settling on your desired measurements, you need to ensure your bar stool complements its surrounding by designing the stool so that it operates with either a full circle swivel of 360 degrees or a 180 degrees half swivel. The bar stool can also have no swivel at all. You can also design the barstool to either have a square, octagonal, or even rounded seat. Then select the shape and fabric you will use on your cushion, keeping in mind that you always allow for twice the seat’s cushion top’s width or diameter while dealing with upholstery fabric. You can also download a design that you like and tweak it to your liking then, select a metal finish that will enable the barstool to compliment the room.
Step 5 – Cutting the frame pieces of the barstool and constructing the seat frame.
Using your tape measure and paint pen, mark the metal pieces, then using the hack saw or circular saw, cut the bar stools horizontal supports and leg pieces according to your design measurements. Using the horizontal supports, securely weld the seat frame to attach the bar stools swivel mechanism, seat base, and legs.
Step 6 – Weld the frames of the bar stool together
Take the pieces of the footrest cross and lower legs, weld them together, put the seat quarter’s support crossbars to the bar stool external frame, and then securely connect the swivel base to the barstool frame’s top using the retainers and screws.
Step 7 – Attaching the back of the bar stool.
To complete the bar stool, align the back of the barstool and the swivel base, then screw them to the seats of the barstool, after which, to tightly hold the screws, the screw spindles should have retainers placed on them.
How To Make A Metal Adjustable Bar Stool?
But say you want to create a barstool and want it to cater for your entire family without needing to design different-sized bar stools for everyone, you can decide to make your adjustable metal bar stools. These stools will follow more or less the same process earlier; for non-adjustable stools. However, here is a roundup of the process.
Step 1 – Tools and Equipment
Collect the following tools and equipment before starting the bar stool build process
¾ Inch All-Thread that is 16 inches long
Washers and bolts
Screws
Metals for the barstool frame
Tape measure
Drill
Glue
Paint pen
Welding machine
While building an adjustable metal bar stool, you will follow more or less the same process earlier mentioned for the ordinary bar stools from step 2 through to step 4 after which you will incorporate the following steps:
Step 2: Making the metal bar stool’s legs and base
Mark the metals you had collected using a paint pen and tape measure. Using a hacksaw or a circular saw cut the metals you will use in designing the stools legs and the horizontal supports accordingly.
Step 3: Welding the metal legs to the bar stool seat base
After obtaining your metal legs and horizontal supports, use your welding machine to attach them to the metal legs to your bar stool’s base. Then place the horizontal supports about quarter way from the bottom of the bar stool’s feet giving you the overall metal bar stool look.
Step 4: Incorporating the 16 inches long ¾ Inch All-Thread into the metal bar stool design
For your metal bar stool to be adjustable, you will have to incorporate the 16 inches long ¾ Inch All-Thread to the base of your bar stool. To do this, you will weld diagonal supports from the comers of the horizontal supports to the centre of the base stool allowing space for the 16 inches long ¾ Inch All-Thread in the middle of a somewhat incomplete X- shape. After attaining the form, attach the all-thread and lock it in place using a bolt attached to your bar stool seat base to allow for the seat’s adjustment depending on your needs.
In some designs where a gas column is used to adjust the seat, you will typically follow the above procedure but in place of the16 inch long ¾ Inch All-Thread you will place the gas column and secure it in place using bolts. Moreover, you may need to adjust the step entailing adding the bar stool legs and horizontal supports as these types of stools typically have one leg with a round support base. However, you may find the gas column design a little trickier than the earlier laid out process.
Step 5: Attaching the back of the metal bar stool
To complete the bar stool, align the back of the barstool and the swivel base, then screw them to the seats of the barstool, after which, to tightly hold the screws, the screw spindles should have retainers placed on them.
How To Steady Uneven Metal Bar Stool Legs?
By following the above procedures carefully, you will have yourself either a non-adjustable stool or adjustable. However, after long periods of use, you might find that your metal bar stool starts wobbling, which might be quite a nuisance.
Wobbling in stools tends to be caused by various factors such as heavy usage over a long period and improper assembling of the bar stool.
Before you embark on trying to remedy this particular flaw, you must first determine where the unevenness originates from and is usually dependent on the bar stool’s construction and design. To find the origin of the imbalance, starting from the stool’s bottom, slowly work your way up while rocking the stool gently. From your investigations, you are likely to find that the unevenness is caused by:
1. Floor Unevenness – In older houses with traditional slate or tile floors, this tends to be the primary cause of uneven bar stool legs. Some tiles tend not to line up on these floors, resulting in adjacent tiles having a vertical displacement causing the stool’s legs to be unstable.
Solution:– To solve this, you may consider fixing the floor, which is not the most cost-effective solution, or you can move the bar stool elsewhere if the countertop has sufficient room. However, the simplest and cheapest method is to add more padding under the uneven stool legs to even them out.
2. The stool frame and seat moving relative to each other – At times, the screws attaching the footrest and screws become loose, causing the sensation of unevenness in the stool’s legs.
Solution:– To rectify this ensure the seat is correctly aligned with the footrest, then tighten each of the screws connecting the seat and footrest more than once.
3. The Gas lift column and footrest moving relative to each other – With time, the lining between the footrest and gas lift may become loose and even fall off, causing the column to wobble.
Solution: Fix the lining back to place using glue taking special consideration to ensure you do not use excessive amounts that will restrict the movement of the hydraulic column.
4. The base moving relative to the floor – If the barstool was repeatedly dragged across the floor, its legs or base undersides might be damaged, resulting in the loosening of the rubber guard. Moreover, while dragging, a protective pad may have been dislodged in flat-based designs, resulting in unevenness.
Solution: As in the earlier scenario, on a round base, you will push the rubber ring back into position. However, the felt pads will have to be stuck on with an adhesive aid for flat bottoms.
How To Paint A Metal Bar Stool?
Whether you have just built your bar stool or want to change an older bar stool’s appearance, painting it is usually the best solution to ensure your metal bar stool smoothly blends into your surrounding room. To properly paint your bar stool, you will need:
- Grit sandpaper
- Paint (If you desire your bar stool to have multiple colors for the bar stool legs and fabric, then ensure you have them all.)
Painting brush
Step 1: Using grit sandpaper, give the metal frame an excellent scuff to provide the paint with an appropriate surface to hang on. Using grit sandpaper also results in saving the amount of color required for the work.
Step 2: Using your desired paint, paint the bar stool metal frame, then leave it to dry overnight.
Step 3: To refine the paint jobs after the look, apply a considerable coating of clear furniture wax, and let it dry overnight.
If you do not feel like purchasing new fabric, then reupholstering your bar stools seat, you can paint vinyl over it. The good thing about painting vinyl is that it is quite durable compared to fabric and significantly cheaper. Moreover, the painting method is similar to the one used in painting the bar stool metal frame.
Step 4: Give the seat the appropriate number of paint coats, letting it dry before you paint another coat. Using the grit sandpaper, softly sand the seat to remain cushy and not become too stiff. Then let the paint dry overnight.
Step 5: As with the bar stool metal frame, rub an appropriate amount of clear furniture wax to enhance the paint job’s appearance, then let it dry overnight.
Step 6: Reassemble your bar stool.
How To Make A Metal Bar Stool Cushion
In the event you desire to add a cushion to your bar stool regardless of it being backless or it has a back, the process is quite simple and straightforward as below:
Step 1: Determine the appropriate fabric.
The best way to choose a fabric for your bar stool is by considering the color scheme of the room you intend to place it in. A plain color will be most appropriate for a room with a color scheme that is busy. If you desire to breathe life into the room, a print color scheme will do your room wonders.
Keep in mind while purchasing to buy extra fabric amounts just if you need more than you had anticipated. Depending on the affordability and health impacts like allergies, choose the most appropriate cushioning for your bar stool. Some typical stuffing includes:
- Cotton
- Plastic bags
- Feathers
Step 2: Marking and tracing out the bar stool seat on the fabric
With the best side of the fabric facing up, flip the barstool onto the fabric and trace around it while incorporating additional inches for the bar stool’s seam and sides.
Step 3: Cutting the fabric
After tracing out, put the bar stool aside and cut the fabric, remembering to give additional measurements for the seam and sides by following the trace lines.
Step 4: Pinning the bar stool edges and adding elastics
In this process, turn the edge half an inch upwards, followed by another inch, then pin the edges in place. You then position the elastic around the bar stool underneath the location you intend to place the cushion.
Step 5: Cords attachment
In the event, your metal bar stool has a back, cut quadruple cords long enough to reach the attachments at the end. If the bar stool is backless, hem the edges using the fabric while at the edge allowing for two extra inches where the elastic cord will be attached.
Step 6: Sewing of the sides
Test whether the elastic fits on to the barstool after running it through the fabric. Sew it together if it fits. In the event it does not fit, then readjust the measurements.
Step 7: Sewing the cords
In case you desire to have your cushions tied to your bar stool, sew your cords at this time and connect them to the bar stool’s back.
Step 8: Adding a cushion
After using the elastic to fit the cushion onto your bar stool, place the cushion atop the stool, and fit your desired fabric over it. Then afterward, snap it to place while ensuring the elastic is tight to the correct extent to prevent fabric tears.
How To Cover Round Metal Bar Stool Feet
Metal bar stools tend to damage floors, especially if you have wooden ones. To prevent the potential scratching damages, you will need:
- Plastic floor glides suitable for the size of your bar stool legs.
- A hot glue gun
- Adhesive felt strip
- Acetone
- Tape measure
Step 1: Determining the best glide for your bar stool
To find the most appropriate bar stool glides, you will need to consider where you will place the barstool and the barstool legs’ design. The legs design will show you whether you require a stick on glide or hammer on glides.
Step 2: Touching up and cleaning your metal bar stool.
Use spray paint to touch up the bar stool’s feet, then use acetone to clean off the dirt and rust from the bottom of your bar stool legs leaving behind a dry surface.
Step 3: Determining the size of the glide
Using your tape measure or even a ruler, measure the inner diameter of your bar stool’s feet. From this measurement, determine the correct glide size.
Step 4: Attaching the glides to the bar stool legs
If you choose to stick on glides, apply adhesive using the hot adhesive gun, attach the glides to the barstool’s feet, then let them dry.
If you settled on hammer able glides, gently hammer them into position while taking care not to bend them.
How To Refurbish A Metal Bar Stool
From time to time, you will find that your metal bar stools have lost their sparkle. To ensure your metal bar stool retains its beauty, especially after long periods of extensive usage, you need to refurbish them. For this to be successful, you will require:
- Warm water
- A bucket
- Feather duster
- White vinegar
- Aluminum Foil
- Mild detergent
- Baby oil or WD40
- Soft cloth
Step 1: Dusting
Thoroughly dust the bar stool from top to bottom using the feather duster or even a dry microfiber cloth.
Step 2: Cleaning
Use the mild detergent and bucket of warm soapy water to remove dirt that has stuck on to the bar stool using a soft cloth.
Step 3: Stubborn stains and rust removal
You will find that some stains tend to be quite troublesome to remove, with rust being one of the most unsightly. Take your aluminum foil and scrunch it into a ball, with the shinny part being up to remedy this. Using this aluminum foil ball, scrub the stubborn stains and rust off your bar stool to reveal a beautiful finish.
Step 4: Further cleaning
Using white vinegar or even rubbing alcohol eliminates dark marks that may appear, especially if your bar stool has a chrome frame. This step will also alleviate the watermarks and lime scales.
Step 5: Revitalization of the finish
Use the baby oil or WD40 and a soft dry cloth to give the metal bar stool a shiny new appearance by rubbing an appropriate amount of the WD40 or baby oil into the metal surface.
FAQS
How to clean metal base for bar stool
To clean the metal base of your bar stool, use a microfiber cloth to remove the dirt. If you encounter stubborn stains, use a piece of rag and warm water containing mild detergent to wipe them off, always ensuring you dry the metal base afterward to prevent rusting.
How to remove a metal swivel bar stool glide
To remove a glide from a bar stool :
- Clean the glide using a piece of a damp cloth.
- Then loosen it using a pair of pliers.
- If it does not come off, place a screwdriver at the top edge of the glide and gently hammer it on to it to further loosen it.
- Then use the pliers again to wrench it off. You can also hammer on it again if it still bothers you.
Can you spray paint metal bar stools?
Yes, metal bar stools can be spray painted relatively quickly. To accomplish this, you will only require:
- Drop cloth
- Masking paper
- All-purpose cleaner
- Paint
- Tack cloth
- Grit sandpaper
- Rag
Procedure
- Using a drop cloth, establish your spray painting area, ensuring it is adequately ventilated
- Wipe down all the grime and dirt using the all-purpose cleaner.
- If you notice rust or paint flaking off, use the grit sandpaper to remove them, then wipe the surface cleanly.
- While in the sufficiently ventilated room, hold the paint canister to about eight inches from the bar stool’s surface and color using the side- to – side motion allowing for some minimal overlap.
- Give the paint a minute to dry.
- Repeat the fourth and fifth steps till you attain a finish that pleases you.
- Then allow the paint to dry for forty or so minutes while masking the seating area with painter’s tape and covering it with paper.
- Paint the stool legs top as earlier indicated, but this time uses an up-and-down motion while still allowing minimal overlap.
- Give the paint a minute to dry.
- Repeat the eighth and ninth steps till you attain a finish that pleases you.
- Once completely dry, remove the paper masking and painter’s tape from the stool seat.
How To Stop A Metal Bar Stool From Shrinking
Shrinkage of metal stools typically occurs due to defects made during the manufacturing process, especially if you decided to start your build from the molding and casting of the metal frames. In such a scenario, you will find that pinholes can cause shrinkage, open holes, subsurface holes, or even due to washes and cuts, fusion, or even swells. To prevent such, ensure your molding process follows the laid out procedures.
Conclusion
Bar stools tend to add to the aesthetic value of your home. The best thing is that, unlike other components, you need to purchase and have the expert technical know-how, such as in the installation of marble tiles that compliment your room. Bar stools are things you can easily make and refurbish on your own and to your preferences.
