How to Make A Folding Chair

How To Make a Folding Camp Chair

I super excited to get to share another project tutorial with you. My last few projects have been so much fun to put together, it's nice to know that others think they're pretty okay too. My husband was even impressed with these chairs! Not because they turned out super cute or anything, but because they are "actually useful"-- silly boy! He has so much to learn about crafting...

Let's get going, summer is here and there are camp outs to attend. First, hit the hardware store and gather your supplies.

Here's what you'll need:

**this is enough to make 2 chairs**

WOOD:

(2) 1" x 2" x 8' furring strips

(4) 3/4" diameter x 48" poplar dowels

 PAINT:

4' x 5' canvas drop cloth

White primer/paint for legs

Colors of your choice for designs on seats(when it came time to paint I ended up using spray paint on my seats, just a thought...) 

HARDWARE: 

(4) 1/4" x 2" carriage bolts

(4) 1/4" hex lock nuts
(8) 1/4" flat washers
(16) 8 x 3/4" flathead wood screws


You'll also need a drill with a 1/4 inch and 1/8 inch drill bits, a 3/4 inch spade bit, a Phillips head screw driver, and a little bit of sandpaper.

If you have a milter saw or mitre box and hand saw you can cut the wood pieces yourself, otherwise take the measurements and have the boys in the wood dept. cut them down for you.

Cut the furring strips into 8 pieces that are each 22.5 inches long. Use the milter saw/box to cut a 45 degree angle on one end of each piece.

Cut the dowels into 4 pieces that measure 14 inches long each, and 4 pieces that measure 12 3/8 inches long each.

Sand the edges to remove any rough spots and then grab the drill...

Find the center of your piece (width wise) and draw a light pencil line all the way down the piece marking the center--this will help to ensure your holes are stay centered.

Using the square end as your starting edge and measuring down toward the angled end make a mark at 3/4 of an inch, 11 3/8 inches, and 18 3/4 inches.

Use the 3/4 inch spade bit to drill out holes at the 3/4 and 18 3/4 inch marks--place the point of the bit onto pencil line/mark to keep things straight.

Drill a 1/4 hole at the 11 3/8 inch mark.

Sand the edges of the drilled out holes. Repeat for the remaining 7 leg pieces.

Paint the legs and dowel pieces and set aside to dry.

Open the drop cloth and cut two pieces that measure 19 3/4 inches x 12 1/2 inches.

Hem the long sides first by folding under 1/2 inch, pressing flat, and then folding again another 1/2 inch, press and sew a 1/4 inch seam. Repeat on the other long sides.

Hem the short sides by folding in a 1/2 inch and pressing flat, fold in another 1 3/8 inches, press and sew a 1/4 seam along the first fold creating a pocket for the dowel to slip through.


From there you get to paint!

I used freezer paper to create my design, ironed it onto the canvas and then painted away.  Super fast and easy--especially if you have a cricut or silhouette.

(Mine is packed so it was a roll of tape and some free-handed fonts!)

How fun would it be to add a monogram or name, or even a personalized symbol of the sitter? Me, I went for bad humor...sit, stay, good camper!

Once the paint is dry, all the pieces are ready to go so let's assemble some chairs.

Each chair needs 4 leg pieces, 2 of the longer dowels, and 2 of the shorter dowels.

Connect two leg pieces with the two long dowels and the other two legs with the two shorter dowel pieces.

You'll end up with two of these:

**Be sure the angles on the bottom are going the same way**

Slip the leg assembly that has the shorter dowels into the assembly with the longer dowels this time being sure that the angled ends are opposite of each other.

Place a washer between the two leg assemblies and then insert the carriage bolt through the outside leg, the washer, the inside leg, add another washer, and then secure with the nut.

Repeat for the other side.

Stand the chair upright and pull out the upper dowels, slip the canvas seat onto the dowels and then replace the dowels into the leg assembly.

So close to done! Secure the dowels into the leg pieces. Drill a shallow pilot hole with the 1/8" bit where the dowels intersect the leg pieces--8 per chair. Use the screwdriver to insert the flat head screws into the leg/dowels.

Touch up any paint that might have gotten scratched in the assembly process and the sit your self down and enjoy your new little treasure!

Pictures By Wendy at W M Craft Goodies

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