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Build a child’s garden chair

  • Difficulty: hammer
    Close Difficulty
    Beginner Do-It-Yourselfer - Easy
    Intermediate Do-It-Yourselfer - Moderate
    Experienced Do-It-Yourselfer - Difficult
    Professional - Expert
  • Completion Time : 1/2 Day

Construct a smaller version of a “grown-up” chair for the special child in your life. See their eyes light up when they realize the gift of their very own space to sit back and relax. Served with a glass of juice with an umbrella to fit in the built-in cupholders, perhaps this chair will be just the trick to get your little one to sit down and recharge for a bit! This Adirondack style wood chair is perfect for parties, gathering and relaxing around the fire pit. The design is complete with a pull up foot stool for kicking back and getting comfy. Seal, stain or paint the chair to match all styles, making it a great addition to any patio or landscape design.

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Tools and materials required

TOOLS

  • 3/8" bit
  • 3" hole saw
  • Bevel square (optional)
  • Circular saw
  • Compass (optional)
  • Drill
  • Jigsaw
  • Mitre saw (optional)
  • Sandpaper
  • Screwdriver
  • Square
  • Tape measure 
     

MATERIALS

  • 1 length 1" x 6" x 6'
  • 1 length 2" x 6" x 10'
  • 1 length 2" x 6" x 8'
  • 2 length 1" x 6" x 10'
  • 2 length 2" x 4" x 8'
  • 46 deck screws No. 8 (2 ½")
  • 66 deck screws No. 8 (1 ½")
  • Pressure-treated wood : pine or cedar 

Before Assembly

ELEVATION(S)

Elevation – outdoor-children-chair

 

For this project, select-grade pressure-treated pine makes a better choice than regular treated pine because it is generally straighter and therefore easier to work.
As the chair is designed to be used by children, take care to sand the surfaces carefully to avoid splinters or other injuries.
Using glue as well as screws will make the chair sturdier and last longer. If the chair is to be used outside, we recommend the use of glue (available in tubes). For inside use, regular wood glue will suffice. Use a damp cloth to wipe away any excess glue from visible surfaces.
Note: The dimensions of lumber are given in what are known as "nominal" sizes, i.e. the size before planning or surfacing. Finished measurements are always ½" less than the nominal measurement (except 1" lumber, which has an actual thickness of ¾"). This means that lumber sold as a 2" × 6" is actually 1 ½" x 5 ½".


NOTE ON TREATED WOOD


Treated wood should be handled with precautions.

  • Wear gloves and long sleeves when handling treated wood to avoid skin contact and to protect against splinters.
  • Wear dust mask, eye protection, gloves and long sleeves when sawing, sanding or shaping treated wood to avoid skin contact with or inhalation of sawdust, to protect against splinters and to protect eyes from flying particles. When making cross cuts, use a cut sealer as the factory-treatment rarely goes to the heartwood.

During construction :

  • Use nails, screws, bolts, connectors and other hardware resistant to corrosion: stainless steel, hot-dipped galvanized, yellow zinc or other hardware specially coated for outdoor use. Ordinary fasteners will rust, causing unsightly stains and weakening the structure, ultimately causing it to fail.
  • Make certain the wood is thoroughly dry before painting or staining, and follow the coating manufacturer's recommendations. Use only good quality oil or acrylic coatings on water repellent pressure treated wood.
  • Do not dispose of treated wood remnants or sawdust in compost heaps, wood chips, or mulch. Do not use it as animal bedding or litter.
  • Never burn treated wood.

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Build a child’s garden chair
Build a child’s garden chair