Where can I go to repair a small wooden step stool?

You can take it to a reputable cabinet shop that has been in business for a few years to get it fixed, or look for furniture builders or restorers in your area for someone experienced in not only woodworking, but furniture repair. You want to find someone who has the skills and experience to fix something like this little stool that has great sentimental value without making the repair obvious or having it fail again in a short time.

Without seeing it, it sounds like it may just need a couple of dowels and some epoxy to get it back in shape, but you need to find someone like a retired shop teacher that has the patience and knowledge to fix it right the first time. Don't trust anyone that just wants to put some nails or brads in it or possibly even screws. If it's old, or has been exposed to the weather, it probably needs a dowel or two and some epoxy rather than Super Glue, Gorilla Glue, or wood glue, though yellow carpenter's glue will work if the wood is in good shape without a lot of old glue built up or rot. A simple job of reattaching a leg or four shouldn't take more than a half an hour so don't pay more than $50 as most shops have an hourly rate of $50 - $70 per hour. Most guys will accept a cash payment of $20 or so for a simple repair, but it obviously depends on what is involved. I'd look for someone with some grey in their hair, if they have any, as that's a sign of wisdom and experience.

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If you have knots falling out of the floorboards then the boards were never any good to start with. I worked on the rule of all knots should be able to be covererd with a 2 pence piece, there should be a maximum of two knots per square foot and none of them should have a black edge. This edge is bark and will ensure the knot falls out after a bit of shrinkage. to fill in the holes you could make up some wooden spikes and after driving them into the holes cut them off with a fine toothed saw. Or carefully mark out and cut out a square around the knothole but only half way through the board. fit inserts in these square holes with a good glue and after a couple of days for the glue to dry, plane the inserts down level with the floorboards. To make a really good job of this project, now get a quality carpet fitted over the floorboards. Or move house. enjoy doing the work and don't kneel on the odd screw lying around... they hurt like buggery. Until you get the job done, don't allow any old sailors with wooden legs to walk over it, you may get a sailor on a permanent basis.

Here are literally thousands of organized woodworking projects in a members area and all you have to do is get them off your computer any time you want. Go here https://tr.im/qjCqV

There are thousands of plans so decide which one you are going to tackle next. The choice is yours to make so just click on the proper button for the specific project and then they are right there for you to pick one. The diagrams and instructions will be right there in the computer for you to access at any time or if you prefer you can print them out.

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Call Bob at 305-619-0275. Will gladly look at it. Retired shop teacher.