How to Build a Collapsible Chair

Cut two lengths of lumber 48 inches long to serve as the long sides of the back. Cut two lengths of lumber 25 inches long for the short sides of the back. Arrange the four back pieces in a rectangle with the long sides over the short sides. Glue the joints together, then screw them together with 2-inch wood screws at each corner.

Cut another length of lumber 25 inches long. Place the back rectangle out flat. Set the 25-inch piece of lumber across the two long sides of the rectangle. Slide it toward the far right short side until it's 3/8 inch from the side. Screw the board in place with one wood screw at each joint.

Cut two lengths of lumber 44 inches long for the long sides of the seat. Cut two lengths of lumber 22 inches long for the short sides of the seat.

Make a rectangle with the four seat pieces with the long sides on top of the ends of the short sides. Glue the joints together, then screw them together with 2-inch wood screw at each corner.

Attach two 1-by-2-inch pieces measuring 23 3/4-inches long horizontally across the seat frame at one end. Put one piece at 10 inches and one at 10 1/2 inches from the end of the frame. Use 2-inch wood screws to secure the wood in place.

Place the seat rectangle inside the back rectangle. Drill a hole through the long sides of both boards, 16 inches from one of the short sides. For the seat, this is opposite the side where the horizontal 1-by-2s are. The holes in both rectangles should be perfectly aligned. Screw the rectangles together with two of the 2-inch long bolts.

Cut two lengths of lumber 15 inches long and a wooden dowel 25 inches long. Place the two 15-inch-long pieces on a flat space. Arrange them so they're parallel to each other and 24 inches apart. Place the dowel across the two boards and slide it all the way to one end. Glue, then screw, the dowel into place through the sides of the boards and into the ends of the dowel rod. Drill a 1/4-inch hole centered on both of the other ends.

Place the two rectangles flat on the ground. Slowly lift the inside rectangle (the seat) up out of the outside triangle (the back). Hold the seat rectangle up and leave the back rectangle on the ground. Drill a hole on each side of the long seat rectangle 16 inches from the top.

Raise the seat back up and secure the piece with the dowel rod to the back rest by lining up the drilled holes on the dowel rod piece with the holes on the seat rectangle. Attach the two pieces, using bolts and washers. The dowel rod goes toward the back of the chair positioned between the two 1-by-2s on the seat.

Drape the canvas across the frame to form the seat. Use heavy-duty staples to staple the canvas in place on the top and bottom of the chair, using one staple every 2 inches. Use a piece of 120-grit sandpaper to smooth the rough spots on the frame.