How to make a Simple Garden Chair

Introduction

This garden chair is an extremely simple design and is probably one of the easier chairs to construct.

Building this garden chair merely requires that you cut and drill all the pieces (of woodTimber, lumber. The hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees) according to the detailed plans provided and then assemble all the pieces.

Once all the wood pieces have been cut and the holes marked and drilled, simply line up the holes in the various pieces (according to plan), place the bolts in the holes and the chair frame will take shape automatically!

On the next page is a drawing of every different piece of wood used in this project and a cross-section drawing showing all the pieces in place. Each drawing shows angle cuts, dimensionsAny of the three linear measurements, length, breadth and depth. and the placement of any boltA metal rod that has a head on one end and threads on the other and is used to fasten together lumber. The most common bolts used or referred to in projects within this website are coach/carriage bolts and hex bolts. holes.

You can purchase this plan in downloadable PDF file, print friendly and in clean copy (free of ads) for only $5.00.   Click here to purchase.
The plans can be purchased online and immediately downloaded to your computer.

To help you even further, the drawings are followed by further explanation, information about wood sizes and notes regarding measurements.

Plans

 

Part identification and stock sizes are on the following page.

Part identification

[a] Front leg. 90 mmAbbreviation for millimeter which is a metric unit of length equal to one thousandth of a meter. 25.4 mm equals one inch. x 45 mm (1 ½”x 3 ½”) stock. Cut 2 pieces as per plan drawings on the previous page.

b] Rear leg. 90 mm x 45 mm (1 ½”x 3 ½”) stock. Cut 2 pieces as per plan drawings on the previous page.

[c] Back support. 90 mm x 45 mm (1 ½”x 3 ½”) stock. Cut 2 pieces as per plan drawings on the previous page.

[d] Seat support. 90 mm x 45 mm (1 ½”x 3 ½”) stock. Cut 2 pieces as per plan drawings on the previous page.

[e] Armrest support. 90 mm x 45 mm (1 ½”x 3 ½”) stock. Cut 2 pieces as per plan drawings on the previous page.

[f] Common slats. 90 mm x 20 mm (¾”x 3 ½”) stock. Cut 6 pieces as per plan drawings on the previous page.

[h] Front seat slat. 90 mm x 20 mm (¾”x 3 ½”) stock. Cut 1 piece as per plan drawings on the previous page.

[i] Arm rest. 90 mm x 20 mm (¾”x 3 ½”) stock. Cut 2 pieces as per plan drawings on the previous page.

Altogether you will need 6.6 meters (22ft) of 90 mm x 45 mm (1 ½”x 3 ½”) stock and 6 meters (20ft) of 90 mm x 20 mm (¾”x 3 ½”) stock.

You will also need 10 galvanizedCovered with a protective coating of zinc. carriage boltsAre round headed bolts with square shoulders that resist rotation when located or driven into place. They can be called coach bolts or carriage bolts depending on which part of the world you live in. The head end of the bolt does not need a washer, but the other end of the bolt (the nut end) usually does. 10 mm (⅜”) diameter x 100 mm (4″) long, with nuts and washers, and 40 wood screws that are 50 mm (2″) long.

You can purchase this plan in downloadable PDF file, print friendly and in clean copy (free of ads) for only $5.00.   Click here to purchase.
The plans can be purchased online and immediately downloaded to your computer.

Plans sectional

About the wood stock sizes

Only two common stock sizes (widths and thicknesses) are required for this project.
They are dressedSurfaced; planed; smooth; even surface; gauged. or surfacedSee Dressed. 100 mm x 50 mm (2″x4″) and 100 mm x 25 mm (1″x4″).

When 100 mm x 50 mm (2″x4″) wood is dressed or surfaced, the size becomes approximately 90 mm x 45 mm (1 ½”x 3 ½”) which is called the ‘actual size’.
When 100 mm x 25 mm (1″x4″) wood is dressed or surfaced, the size becomes approximately 90 mm x 20 mm (¾”x 3 ½”) which is called the ‘actual size’.

All the measurements referred to in this project are the ‘actual sizes’.

Use a wood that is suitable for exterior use.

Dimensions for this project are given in both metricMillimeter measurements. and imperialStandard. Feet and inch measurements.. All measurements are given in millimeters first, followed by feet and/or inches in brackets ( ). The metric sizes are not an exact match to the equivalent imperial sizes. A chair built using the metric measurements will be approximately 1.6% smaller than a chair built using the imperial (ft and in) measurements. The imperial measurements are more suited to North America. The metric measurements are more suited to Australasia.

Instructions – Making the side frames

This garden chair is constructed solely from 100 mm x 50 mm (2×4) and 100 mm x 25 mm (1×4) wood. Both are common stock sizes and can be obtained from most wood stores.
Note that when wood is dressed or surfaced, the finished (actual) size (width and thickness) is less than the nominal sizeThe rough-sawn size of a piece of lumber. Before the lumber is surfaced, planed or dressed. The nominal size is usually greater than the actual dimension. e.g. 100x50 (2 x 4) actually equals 90x45 (1 1/2" x 3 1/2").. The sizes referred to in this project are the actual sizes.
There is further information on wood and sizes on the previous page along with detailed drawings of every part showing dimensions, angle cuts and exact placement of required bolt holes.

Step 1.

Cut all the individual pieces to the sizes and shapes according to the plans on page 2.

Step 2.

Mark and drill 10 mm (⅜”) bolt holes where required according to the plans on page 2.

Step 3.

Assemble the two side frames.
Lay members [e] and [d] on even ground or bench and then lay members [a],[b] and [c] on top with the bolt holes aligned. Then bolt the members together.
Screw the bottom of member [c] to member [b].
Refer to the side view plan (page 4) if you need to.
Note that the two side frames will be a mirror image of each other. See fig.1 below.

You can purchase this plan in downloadable PDF file, print friendly and in clean copy (free of ads) for only $5.00.   Click here to purchase.
The plans can be purchased online and immediately downloaded to your computer.

 

Instructions – Adding the seat  and back slats

Step 4.

Lay the frames on their backs to commence fixing the slats. See fig.2 above.
Space the side frames 640mm (25 ½”) apart and ensure that they are parallelBeing of equal distance from each other at all points..
Pre-drill screw holes through the slats (two at each meeting) and then screw the slats in place to members [c]. See the front view plan on page 4 for placement.

Step 5.

Stand the chair frames upright ensuring members [d] are parallel.
Pre-drill screw holes through the seat slats (two at each meeting) and then screw the slats in place.
See the top view plan on page 4 for placement.

Step 6.

Pre-drill screw holes through the two arm rests [i] and then screw them in place to the arm rest supports [e].

All done!