How to Build a Chair Out of Wood

Making your own furniture can be a satisfying woodworking craft.

Making your own furniture is one of the most satisfying crafts. You can enjoy your own custom homemade pieces that were built right in your garage, or give them away as gifts. One of the more popular woodworking plan is the simple chair. You can build these simple chairs out of pressure treated wood if you plan to keep them outside, or later add decorative cushions for comfortable indoor seating.

Things You'll Need

• Eye protection
• Wood
• 2 1/2" screws
• Wood glue
• Jigsaw
• Screwdriver
• Sander
• Paint

Instructions

1. Cut two 36 inch long planks of wood. They should be 2 inches wide and 2 inches deep. These will be the rear chair legs and back. Cut two more pieces from wood of equal depth and width that are 17 inches long. These pieces will be the front legs. Cut two pieces of wood that are 12 inches long, 3 inches wide and 1 inch thick. These pieces are the seat back braces.

2. Cut four equal length pieces that are 2 inches wide and 2 inches deep. They should each be 14 inches long. These pieces will be the seat braces and leg braces. Cut two more pieces of pieces of wood of equal depth and width that are 12 inches long. These will be the leg braces.

3. Cut the seat of the chair out of a 1-inch thick piece of wood. It should be 16 inches square. Dab a spot of wood glue on two adjacent corners of the square where the legs will go. Take the two front legs and place them cleanly so that the square corners of the legs meet the square corners of the seat piece. Run a line of wood glue between the two legs and place a 12-inch long seat brace between them securely. Be sure to put a little bit of glue on the ends of the brace so that they attach directly to the legs.

4. Drag another line of glue along the seat bottom from the front legs to the back of the seat. Dab a bit of glue to one end of a 14-inch brace and lay it onto the glue line with the glued ends pressed up against a front leg. Add another 14-inch brace to the other glue line. Let the glue dry.

5. Lay out the two 36-inch boards. Make a mark that is 17 inches from the bottom of the 36-inch post. Lay your chair out so that the two legs are laying on their sides and the chair seat is standing perpendicular, straight up into the air. Dab a bit of glue on the end of the two leg braces that are glued to the bottom of the chair seat. Lay the 36-inch pieces on top of these braces so that the rear and front legs are parallel. Align the 17-inch mark with the bottom line of the seat piece.

6. Let the glue dry. Screw the front and rear legs to the seat braces through the sides. Take the two 3-inch planks and dab glue along the short sides. Gently pry the two seat sides apart. Slip one plank down between the two seat back boards about half way down, and place one at the top. Once the glue dries, secure the top plank with two screws in each side. Sand and paint your finished piece.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint the chair with water-resistant outdoor paint and use it as patio seating.

• Always use protective gear when using power tools.

References

• Ana White - Knock-Off Wood: PLANS: Simple Stackable Outdoor Chair