How to Fix a Wobbly Child's Step Stool

Dowel-Leg Stool

• 1

  Remove the dowel legs from the bottom of the stool. Inspect each for damage. Make certain they are the same length. Clean the holes in the bottom of the stool of any glue or dirt.

• 2

  Repair or replace the legs by screwing broken pieces together or by using replacement dowel legs. Apply wood glue and screw the legs into place.

• 3

  Affix the legs to the stool by screwing from the top down into each leg. Countersink the screws by using a countersink bit to sink the screw heads into the wood. Fill holes with putty and sand for a smooth finish.

• 4

  Finish by adding a new coat of paint or stain to the stool. Add non-skid tape to the top as an extra safety precaution.

Solid Leg Stool

• 5

  Inspect the legs for signs of damage. Usually the break will happen along a grain line.

• 6

  Remove the broken leg and use it as a template. Cut a new leg out of a piece of scrap wood to match the existing leg.

• 7

  Attach the new leg with wood screws. Paint or stain to match the existing leg.

Build New Legs

• 8

  Remove the old legs from the stool and set aside.

• 9

  Cut two pieces of 1-inch thick wood 14 inches long by 5-1/2 inches wide.

• 10

  Draw a rectangle at the center of each piece 1-inch wide by 2-3/4-inches deep. Drill a starter hole in each corner of the rectangle.

• 11

  Cut out the rectangle using a jig saw and sand the pieces. You will then have a center rectangular cutout in each piece. Dry fit the pieces together by matching up the cutouts and check for level. All four corners should rest on the floor without any wobbling action.

• 12

  Run a bead of carpenter's glue into each of the rectangular cutouts and fit the two pieces together to form an "X" by inserting .

• 13

  Place a bead of glue on the top of the X-shape and center it underneath the top of the stool. Drill through the top of the stool and affix the bottom piece using wood screws.

• 14

  Fill the holes with putty and sand the entire piece.

• 15

  Finish by adding a coat of paint and non-skid tape to the top of the stool.