Making Patio Furniture With PVC Pipe

Chair

• 1

  Lay a 12-inch length of 1 1/2-inch PVC pipe on a flat surface. All pipes and connectors in this project will have a nominal inside dimension of 1 1/2 inches. This means their outside diameter will be almost 2 inches. Slip an L-shaped connector onto each end so that the other end of both connectors are flat on the surface and pointing away from you.

• 2

  Stick a 2-inch length of pipe in the open ends of the connectors. Attach a T-shaped connector to the other end of these pipes so that the top of the "T's" are parallel to the pipe and the bottoms of the "T's" point straight up. Attach another 2-inch piece of pipe in the openings in the connectors that are furthest away from you. Attach a T-shaped connector to the end of each small pipe so the top of the "T" is parallel to the row of pipes and the bottom of the "T's" point in toward the center of the project -- insert a 12-inch pipe between these openings. Insert 2-inch pipes in the other openings so that all the 2-inch pieces are in a straight line. This rectangle will be one side of the base of the chair.

• 3

  Add the arms of the chair to the base by placing a T-shaped connector on the ends of the 2-inch pipes so that the top of the "T" is parallel to the pipe. Point the bottom side of the "T's" straight up. Insert 5-inch pipes in the sides of the "T's" that are farthest away from you.

• 4

  Place a "T" connector on one 5-inch pipe so that the bottom of the "T" points toward the center and an "L" on the other one with the open end pointing toward the center. Place a 12-inch pipe between the bottom of the "T" and the open end of the "L." Place a 6-inch pipe in the open end of the "T" fitting. Place an L-shaped fitting on the end of this pipe so that the open end sticks straight up. This is one side of the chair.

• 5

  Make a mirror image of the structure for the other side of the chair. Place 16-inch lengths of pipe in all the fittings that are facing straight up. Fit the fitting on the other side of the chair onto these pipes to make the chair frame. Place the chair on the floor and adjust the pipes until the chair is square. Draw a pencil line across each joint parallel to the pipe. These lines will help you align the pipes and fittings when you cement them together.

• 6

  Cut an 18-inch wide, 40-inch long rectangle of weatherproof fabric. Sew a narrow hem on the long sides, by folding in 3/8 inch then 5/8 inch on each side and sewing between the folds.

• 7

  Make a 1/2-inch fold on the remaining edges, then fold in a 2 1/2-inch casing for the pipes. Sew 1/4 inch from the inside fold to hold the casing in place.

• 8

  Glue the sides of the chair together by applying PVC cement to the inside of each joint, inserting the pipe and twisting it until the pencil lines align. Twist the pipe at least one-quarter turn to insure the cement is evenly applied. The glue dries very quickly so apply the glue to one joint at a time.

• 9

  Glue the remaining pipes to one side of the chair. Thread the top casing of the fabric chair seat on the pipe at the top of the chair back and the bottom casing on the pipe at the front of the chair seat. Glue the other side of the chair in place.

Footstool

• 10

  Make the base of the footstool in the same way you made the chair base following Steps 1 and 2. Place an L-shaped connector on the ends of the final 2-inch pipes with the open ends pointing straight up.

• 11

  Make the other side of the stool in the same way.

• 12

  Insert four 16-inch lengths of pipe between the connectors in each side of the stool. Square and mark the stool as you did the chair.

• 13

  Cut an 18-inch wide and 22-inch long rectangle of weatherproof fabric and make the top of the footstool in the same way you made the chair seat.

• 14

  Glue the footstool together in the same way you glued the chair. Thread the fabric onto the pipes on each side of the top of the stool.