How to Make Classic Adirondack Chairs

Download the Adirondack chair pattern from online references. Prepare a full-scale chair pattern by obtaining a piece of cardboard bigger than the wood needed for each component of the chair. Draw lines horizontally and vertically onto the cardboard that are one inch apart. This will create a 1-inch grid pattern on the cardboard. Copy the shapes on the small-scale downloaded grid onto the full-scale cardboard grid, duplicating the crossing points of the plan grid onto the cardboard grid.

Cut out the cardboard patterns, and use them to trace the shapes needed for the two arm rests on 1-by-6-inch cedar planks. Trace the remaining patterns onto 1-by-4-inch cedar planks.

Cut the four legs of the chair out of the 1-by-4-inch cedar wood with the jigsaw. Two of the legs will be vertical, and the remaining legs will be slanted. With the pieces cut out, screw the vertical legs to the front edge of the slanted legs using four wood screws. Attach the armrest supports to the outer edge of the vertical legs using two wood screws each. Connect the assembled legs to the lower backrest support using four wood screws.

Cut the upper backrest supports with the jigsaw, and attach to the armrest using two wood screws. Cut five back support planks and six chair bottom planks. Attach the center back support plank to the bottom and top backrest support pieces using two screws. Attach the armrests to the vertical legs and armrest support using one screw on each end of the armrests.

Attach the remaining back support planks to the backrest supports using one screw on each end. Make sure to spread the planks so they are equidistant. Attach the remaining chair bottom planks with one screw on each end, making sure they are equidistant also. Attach the front trim panel to the front edge of the slanted legs with four screws, one on each corner. Your Adirondack chair is now fully assembled.

Disassemble the chair using a reversed drill with a driver bit to apply finishing techniques. All pieces should be routed with a router, and then sanded with fine grit sandpaper. Prime and finish with the paint color of your choice. A minimum of three coats should be applied if your chair will be placed outside.

Reassemble your Adirondack chair, countersinking all of the screw holes so that the screw heads are below the surface. Place a small amount of wood glue into each screw hole and then insert a wood plug to conceal it. Apply a small amount of paint over each wood plug to coordinate with the color of your chair.