Basically two pieces of wood, can't get any easier than that. Most of the dimensions online are too narrow, usually 10-12" wide so I thought I could just make it wider and adjust as necessary. Didn't work or maybe I got the wrong kind of wood.
I've done a lot of projects with plain old plywood but wanted this chair to have nicer finish as it is a gift. I spent $50 on a 4x8 sheet of birch 3/4" thick because it said it could be used outside with proper finishing which I took to be polyurethane sealer.
I measured the seat of the Adirondack chair I made a few weeks ago and decided I needed 20" wide seat that goes down to 16" wide when cut to fit inside the back piece.
Cut it out, sanded the edges, put it together and while it was a bit too "high" for me, it will be fine for the recipient except that it broke when I sat on it. I did not flop, I sat down and poof, there it went.
I am 5'4", 145 lb. The recipient is prob. 6'3" and 270 pounds. Thankfully I did not paint the design on it, seal it and give it away for it to break when they sat in it.
So, I need help. Did making the seat wider go against some law of gravity or something so it wasn't as sturdy as if it was narrower? Was the birch just not strong enough? I had not yet cut the edges into angles either for the ends that sit on the ground but I doubt that had much to do with the breaking of the chair.
Please assist if you can. The gift is already 2 weeks past birthday but I just found out they really want one of these chairs and its a quick project except for painting the design which will take me a week to do.
Thanks,
kjh9835
I've done a lot of projects with plain old plywood but wanted this chair to have nicer finish as it is a gift. I spent $50 on a 4x8 sheet of birch 3/4" thick because it said it could be used outside with proper finishing which I took to be polyurethane sealer.
I measured the seat of the Adirondack chair I made a few weeks ago and decided I needed 20" wide seat that goes down to 16" wide when cut to fit inside the back piece.
Cut it out, sanded the edges, put it together and while it was a bit too "high" for me, it will be fine for the recipient except that it broke when I sat on it. I did not flop, I sat down and poof, there it went.
I am 5'4", 145 lb. The recipient is prob. 6'3" and 270 pounds. Thankfully I did not paint the design on it, seal it and give it away for it to break when they sat in it.
So, I need help. Did making the seat wider go against some law of gravity or something so it wasn't as sturdy as if it was narrower? Was the birch just not strong enough? I had not yet cut the edges into angles either for the ends that sit on the ground but I doubt that had much to do with the breaking of the chair.
Please assist if you can. The gift is already 2 weeks past birthday but I just found out they really want one of these chairs and its a quick project except for painting the design which will take me a week to do.
Thanks,
kjh9835