DIY Chairs With Wire Spool Slats

Disassemble one cable spool completely, using a socket set to remove the bolts. Remove all hardware and set the wood aside.

Measure the space between the top and the bottom of the other cable spool to ensure that your chair is at least 20 inches wide.

Place the spool on its round edges, blocking it with scrap wood or rocks so it doesn't roll while you're working.

Measure 17 inches down from the center of the spool. Draw parallel horizontal lines on both sides of the spool.

Cut along the lines with a reciprocating saw or jigsaw. Set the spool, now the frame of the chair, on its flat edges.

Remove the top half of the center spool slats. You may have to use a hacksaw or reciprocating saw to cut through the boards, depending on how the spool was constructed.

Lay the reserved wood in a rectangle, with the best sides down. Measure and cut two pieces of 2-by-4-inch board to fit between the round sides of the chair. Screw one board across the seat, butting against the back edges of the boards. Screw the second board across the front of the seat.

Turn the seat over and place it on the top of the center spool for support. Trim to fit if necessary. Predrill through the sides of the chair and into the 2-by-4 seat supports. Screw the chair and seat together with the reserved hardware from the disassembled cable spool.

Measure and build a second rectangle of 2-by-4 boards and spool slats to make a seat back. Install with the recycled hardware at a slight backward angle, butting the lower part of the back against the seat bottom.

Sand the entire chair with 180-grit sandpaper, removing all splinters and rough edges. Wipe with a tack cloth to remove the dust.

Brush two coats of satin-finish polyurethane over the wood. Allow to dry between coats according to the manufacturer's directions.

Nail felt-covered feet onto the bottom of the chair. Add a chair cushion or patio cushions to the chair.