How to Make Chairs Out of Plywood

Use a tape measure to measure in 1 inch from each corner of the 18-inch edge on two 18-inch by 14-inch sections of plywood. Mark this location with a pencil. Draw a line from the 1-inch mark to the corner along the same side of the opposite 18-inch edge using a straight edge. This will create a triangle on each side of the 18-inch by 14-inch plywood section.

Cut along the line drawn in Step 1 to remove the triangle sections from the plywood. This will create a trapezoid that has an 18-inch edge with a 16-inch edge on the opposite side.

Repeat Steps 1 and 2 with the remaining 18-inch by 14-inch section of plywood to create the back and the seat of the chair.

Lay the 32-inch by 4-inch sections of plywood on a flat surface horizontally and measure the length to determine the half-length mark. This mark is located directly 16 inches from each end. Draw a line across the width of the plywood at the center mark.

Measure up 1 inch along the center line from the base of the plywood. Draw a line back to both corners along the base edge beginning at the 1-inch up mark.

Measure down 1 inch from the corner of each top edge end. Draw a line from the 1-inch mark to the top of the center line. Cut along all four lines with the jigsaw.

Repeat Steps 4 to 6 with the remaining 32-inch by 4-inch section of plywood to create legs for the chair.

Center one 2-inch by 14-inch section of plywood along the back end of the 32-inch by 4-inch sections of plywood running along the center mark location. Drive two 2 1/2 screws through each end to attach the three sections of wood together to form an H-shaped structure.

Lay one 18-inch by 14-inch section of plywood on a flat surface with the 16-inch edge closest to you. Measure in 1 inch from each corner. Measure up 2 inches from each mark and draw a line back to the beginning side to create a 1-inch by 2-inch box at each corner. Cut the box from the plywood with a jigsaw.

Measure in 1 inch from each corner along the 18-inch edge of the 18-inch by 14-inch section of plywood. Measure down 1 inch from the 1-inch mark and place one 2-inch by 16-inch section of plywood at each location. Drive two screws through the top side of the plywood to attach the 2-inch by 16-inch legs to the seat of the chair.

Place one 2-inch by 14-inch section of plywood between the two legs along the underside of the seat. Drive one 2 1/2-inch screw through each leg to attach the 2-inch by 14-inch section of wood to the legs.

Place the H-shaped structure in a standing position, and rest the back corner-cut edge of the seat onto the 2-inch by 14-inch section of wood. Line the back edge of the seat base to the back edge of the 2-inch by 14-inch section of wood, and drive one 1-inch screw through the seat base every 6 inches along the edge to join the seat base to the H-shaped structure.

Measure in and mark 1 1/2 inch from the corners along the 18-inch edge of the remaining 18-inch by 14-inch section of plywood. Line the 18-inch edge of the 18-inch by 14-inch edge with the top two back sections on the H-shaped structure. Line the 1 1/2-inch marks to the top of the H-shaped back structure.

Drive one 2 1/2-inch screw at the top and bottom of the back section as well as at the center height of the back structure to attach it to the H-shaped structure.