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    How to Build an Adirondack Chair




    more on woodworking safety

    Tools and Materials

    An Adirondack chair is a great project for a beginner or experienced woodworker. You can build one or more in a weekend.

    With it's wide arms, big enough to act as serving trays, and its lean-back seating position, this chair is perfect for kicking back and enjoying a summer afternoon on the deck.

    > The best wood to use is cedar, which is relatively inexpensive, lightweight and weathers well. Mahogany is another good choice. Avoid woods like pine, unless you plan on adding several coats of weatherproof outdoor paint. I prefer to keep the wood natural, and use a wipe-on outdoor finish. The wood will eventually turn an elegant silver color and require only an occasional light sanding and new coat of wipe-on finish.

    This chair is assembled using outdoor wood screws (stainless or galvanized) and galvanized carriage bolts. No glue is necessary.

    Below are plans for building the chair. If you need or want more detailed instructions, full-size plans are available in the online store.


    How to Make

    Step 1: Cut out straight parts with a circ saw or tablesaw

    Step 2: Cut curved parts using a jig saw or bandsaw

    Step 3: Cut tapers on slats (jigsaw, bandsaw, tablesaw, or jointer)

    Step 4: Sand or plane edges to remove saw marks

    Step 5: Round edges with sander or router and roundover bit

    Step 6: Assemble chair, starting with lower section, then adding seat slats, arms, and finally the back


    Tom_Begnal
    Posted by: Tom Begnal - member
    December 6, 2010
    in Plans & Projects, Chairs

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    Comments

    Thank You Mr Novack

    RMorris855
    Randy Morris writes: I agree with your every word..... I really hate to see it come to this.... It's hard enough to get the younger generation interested in Woodworking... but to bait and switch with a teaser ad is pretty sad....
    Posted: 8:56 pm April 26, 2013

    adirondack chair

    mmichalofsky
    michael michalofsky writes: i agree with all the negative comments. my two cents
    Posted: 7:24 pm April 25, 2013

    adirondack chair

    mmichalofsky
    michael michalofsky writes: i agree with all the negative comments. my two cents
    Posted: 7:24 pm April 25, 2013

    I bought the plans for this chair.

    rtfarty
    Charles Stinson writes:

    I bought the plans for this chair and I now have 5 of these chairs on my front lawn.

    The plans took just over a week to arrive in New Zealand, and being full size plans, it was easy to make templates of most parts.

    Without exception, everyone who has sat in them has commented on how good they look and how comfortable they are.

    Posted: 5:24 am May 25, 2012

    Saddened...

    WWTeacher
    Joseph Novack writes:

    ....that this site has already turned to this...
    As a 60 year old HS Woodworking teacher I was excited to see that you posted an article about an Adirondack chair...A great project for my students I thought...Not unless I buy the plan it seems...
    Based upon my 40 years of experience teaching both HS students and adults very few adults who are 'Starting Woodworking' could build this chair based solely upon your posted diagrams...
    This post is obviously no more than an ad for your $15 plan...
    Shame on you...
    Having been a reader/subscriber of Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding for 20 years+ I expected better and actually thought that this website was proof that you were more interested in helping people to 'Get Started in Woodworking' than selling product. I thought that this website would be different...Your main websites offer ample opportunities for woodworkers to purchase plans that match their capabilities. I thought that this site was about providing FREE basic instruction to beginning woodworkers in order to spur their passion in the craft...
    I was wrong...You didn't need to go here...
    Again...shame on you...
    Joe Novack
    www.woodshopteachers.org

     

    Posted: 9:20 pm May 24, 2012

    Feel the Same Way

    chrisnisbett
    chris nisbett writes: Thanks Joe for voicing your opinion, as a newcomer to woodworking I was excited to see the add in FineHomebuilding for a 'Free Plans' website. However it appears to be another 'bate and hope they buy' tactic.
    Posted: 11:19 pm February 6, 2013

    Being from the Northeast, I've seen a LOT of Adirondack chairs..

    Char50
    Charlene Searles writes: Being from the Northeast originally, I've seen a LOT of Adirondack chairs...but I've never seen one with a back support that is higher than the arms. This chair may be very workable and comfortable, but it just looks REALLY strange to me! The chairs shown on the link below are the style I'm used to seeing. http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/63181?feat=osbsr
    Posted: 1:36 pm May 24, 2012

    Adirondack chair

    WDC
    Wade Carden writes: I agree. Adirondack chairs don't need a back support other than the one attached to the arms--not one with a leg down to the ground. This plan is ugly and doesn't trust the time-tested design of the chair.
    Posted: 12:24 pm May 25, 2012
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