This came in today: http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/shorten-bar-stool-legs-evenly/

 

They don't provide much information on how to do this.   I've done a fair number of these and here's my technique that's always worked, first time.

 

1. If there are pads of any sort on the bottom pull them off.   Save for re-use or buy new to replace.  

 

2. Determine how much lower the seat needs to be.   Standard seat top heights +-1" are

• 18"  :  Dining chair
• 24"  :  Counter-top
• 30"      Pub table

The way I remember this is 6" step up.  

But measure as your aprons, table, or counters may be a bit off standard.

 

3. Cut 4 pieces of wood, about 5-8" long to the width that you want to  reduce the height.  Tack them together in a pattern like this, which shows why length is not critical.   Some times front and back legs of chairs are different so make sure it fits both.

 

4. Put the chair on a known flat surface.  In your shop, this can be your table saw.  In the field, I used a 2x4 piece of lightweight MDF.  If the chair rocks on your flat surface shim up the short leg(s) with a coin or whatever.

 

5. Put each leg in the jig you just made and with a pull- or flush-cut saw, referencing off the top of your jig, cut 80-90% of the way through each leg.  This ensures every cut is co-planar with the flat surface.  Once that is done, finish the cut without the jig.

 

6. Round over and color the cut line.   Reattach the foot pads.       

Splendid. 

meh.  measure once, cut twice.....

3 hours ago, DAB said:

meh.  measure once, cut twice.....

...or, I've cut it off twice and it's still too short

Cool idea, Thanks!!

Sounds like a plan, Keith.

Herb