Authentic Adirondack An easy-to-build outdoor classic by Tom Stroup

This Adirondack chair may not have all the flourishes of some elaborate (and harder to build)

designs, but itʼs more in the spirit of the original versions, which were simple to make and supremely comfortable. Making the chair doesnʼt require any complex joinery or tight tolerances,

so basic carpentry skills are all youʼll need. If you have a jigsaw and a drill/driver, you have

almost all the tools required. You can build this project using relatively inexpensive dimensional lumber. (See the

cutting list for sizes.) The best choice is kiln-dried ACQ pressure-treated lumber, often labeled as KDAT (kiln-dried after treatment) because of its weather and rot resistance. This wood is

durable and easy to work, but youʼll need to drill pilot holes for the screws to prevent splitting — more on that later. Of course, you can also use other rot-resistant woods such as white oak and

cedar, or even untreated pine or poplar if you paint the chair. Youʼll also need 1-3/8-in. stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized deck screws because they provide the best corrosion resistance

with ACQ-treated lumber.

Make the parts As with any woodworking project, the best approach for this chair is to tackle it in stages. First, cut all the parts to size. Note that the legs A (front only), seat rails B, arms J and arm brackets

K require pattern cuts. Refer to the patterns in the drawing for dimensions. The curves for the seat rails and arm brackets can be scaled up by drawing your own 1-in.-square grid on paper

and then copying the curves onto it. (You could also scale up the drawing on your computer and print it out.) Donʼt worry about the curves being perfect; they just need to be close.

Next, draw the cut lines on the stock; then cut the curves and angles with a jigsaw or a band saw. I used a miter saw for most of the straight cuts because itʼs fast and accurate. Donʼt

worry if the cuts are a little rough; you can sand them smooth. If the saw blade splinters the edges, score the cut lines first with a utility knife to minimize splintering and tearout. Make the

15-degree cuts that establish the seat angle on the front and rear of the seat rails B before

cutting the seat curves. Note that the seat curve on both seat rails should be as close to identical as possible.

Just a few other things to keep in mind: Not all lumberyards sell the 1x1-1/2 dimensional lumber youʼll need for the seat slats, so you may need to rip wider stock to size or substitute

with a slightly different size. And it will save time if you ease all sharp edges with sandpaper before you start assembly.

Make the subassemblies Before you start the assembly process, itʼs worth mentioning that drilling pilot holes and then installing screws can get pretty tedious if you constantly need to change bits. Having two

drill/drivers is one solution, but Iʼve been using a WORX SwitchDriver that has a rotating dual

chuck that significantly helps to speed up the process. You might also consider using a countersink drill bit to bore the pilot holes. This bit lets you set the drilling depth and bores a

countersink for the screw head. Another option is to apply a little waterproof glue or construction adhesive between the parts to help reinforce the structure. Iʼd caution against using

polyurethane glue because it expands as it cures, so it can get messy. (However, it is a very effective adhesive for outdoor applications.)

Now you need to make the back and side subassemblies. Assembling the sides accurately may be the most critical part of this project. Lay out the parts that comprise the chair

sides (A,B) on a flat surface such as a workbench or a level floor. For the finished chair to sit level, itʼs important that the two sides are square and identical. Use a carpenterʼs square to

check for square and a tape measure to confirm that the legs are parallel.

See the drawing for the dimensions that locate the seat rails at a 15-degree angle to the legs and mark the positions. (Remember, thereʼs a left side and a right side.) Place the seat rail

on top of the legs and bore one pilot hole into each leg. Screw the parts together with one screw in each joint and then check to be sure the assembly is still square. Then you can add two or

three more screws to each joint to secure the attachment. Finally, glue and screw the arm brackets K to the top center of each front leg on the outside.

Moving on to the back assembly, lay out the back slats F and mark the positions of the lower back brace G and upper back brace H. Check to be sure all the parts are square before

gluing and screwing them together. I used two screws at each joint to prevent the assembly

from twisting.

Assemble the chair You should assemble the chair on a level surface to ensure that it won't rock when finished.

Attach the front stretcher C and rear stretcher D with glue and screws. Use just a few screws initially, check that all the legs are touching the ground; then drive the rest of the screws. Note

that the front stretcher stands 3/4-in. proud of the top of the legs so it will be flush with the front leg slat once itʼs installed. Also, you should position the rear stretcher about 1 in. back from

where the seat curve starts to allow room for the thickness of the back. Use the back assembly to position the inside frame brace E. Slide the back into position

so the lower back brace is flush with the top back corners of the rear legs and the back slats rest against the rear stretcher. Use a bar clamp to hold the back in place at the top of the legs

while you position the inside frame brace (see drawing) between the seat rails. Drill pilot holes

and fasten the brace with screws. Once the brace is secure, fasten the back with screws driven through the sides of the legs into the lower back brace and through the inside frame brace into

the back slats. Youʼre on the home stretch now with just the seat slats and arms remaining. Lay out the

seat slats on the chair so theyʼre evenly spaced and mark their positions. Itʼs really critical to bore pilot holes in the slats because theyʼre so close to the edge and can easily split if you donʼt.

Fasten the front and back slats first and then fill the rest in from either end. Now attach the arms by driving screws into the top of the legs and the arm brackets.

To prevent any errant splinters, go over the entire chair — or at least where you sit — with 120-grit sandpaper. Pay special attention to the top edge of the front stretcher by rounding

it over so it doesnʼt present an uncomfortably sharp edge. A random-orbit sander works

particularly well for this job. Unless you want to apply a finish, the project is done. And if youʼre like me, you probably want

to relax with a cold one now that you have just the spot to enjoy it.

Adirondack Chair (all parts kiln-dried pressure-treated construction lumber) Key No. Part Size A 4 Legs* 1x4 x 19-1/2 in.

B 2 Seat rails* 1x6 x 25 in. C 1 Front stretcher 1x4 x 20 in.

D 1 Rear stretcher 1x4 x 18-1/2 in. E 1 Inside frame brace 1x4 x 17 in.

F 4 Back slats 1x4 x 28 in.

G 1 Lower back brace 1x4 x 18-1/2 in. H 1 Upper back brace 1x2 x 15 in.

I 9 Seat slats 1x1-1/2 x 18-1/2 in. J 2 Arms* 1x6 x 26 in.

K 2 Arm brackets* 1x6 x 7 in.

* See patterns (angle cut on front legs only) Hardware and supplies:

No. 8 x 1-3/8-in. stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized deck screws Weatherproof glue or construction adhesive

120-grit sandpaper