How to Build Outdoor Adirondack Chairs

Design your chair, or find free Adirondack chair plans at Lowes.com or ThisOldHouse.com. Keep in mind that any curved cuts will require additional time, effort and woodworking skill, so design a chair or select a design that meets your abilities.

Build the chair base and legs. Use a table saw to cut chair legs from the 1-by-4-by-6-inch boards according to your design. The front legs, which stand upright, should be approximately 20 1/2 inches tall, while the angled back leg should be approximately 29 inches long. To cut the angled, curved back legs, draw the cuts onto the leg with a pencil first, and use a jigsaw to cut each one. Cut three cross braces with a table saw and sand any rough edges. The braces should be approximately 24 inches long. Sand any rough edges. Assemble the base by attaching a cross brace between the front legs with wood screws. The bottom of the brace should be approximately 9 inches from the ground. Next, screw the front of each angled leg onto the inside of the front legs. Attach the second cross brace over the angled tops of the back legs, approximately 10 inches from where the angled legs meet the ground. Save the third cross brace for Step 3.

Build the support for the chair back. Cut two 22-inch lengths from the 1-inch-by-1-inch baluster and sand any rough edges. Attach each one to either the interior or the exterior of the back legs, according to your design, with wood screws, approximately 4 inches up from where the chair legs meet the ground. The exact placement of the balusters on the back legs will vary based on your design. Lay the second cross brace cut in Step 2 over the tops of the 22-inch balusters, and attach using wood screws.

Cut the seat's back slats from the 1-by-4-by-6-inch lumber using a jigsaw and sand any rough edges. The slats should be cut so they become narrower the closer they get to the seat, and can be curved at the top, according to your design. Attach the slats to the existing chair frame by screwing them to the second cross brace attached in Step 2. Next, screw the slats to the chair back brace attached in Step 3.

Cut the seat slats from another 1-by-4-by-6-inch board and sand any rough edges. The number of slats will vary by design, depending on whether the seat curves at the front or ends flat at the front cross piece. Each slat should be approximately 24 inches long. Screw the slats across the angled back legs, so that they seat dips toward the back of the chair.

Cut the chair arms from another 1-by-4-by-6-inch board, again according to the design of your chair. The arms should be approximately 31 inches long and 5 inches wide. Cut two rectangular matching armrest supports from any scraps you may have from earlier steps. Each support should be approximately 3 inches wide and 5 inches long. Use a table saw for any straight cuts and a jigsaw for any curves. Sand rough edges. Using screws, attach the supports to the exterior of each front leg. Place the armrests over the supports in front, and over the seat back cross brace in back, and use screws to secure each end.

Varnish or paint your chair according to your plans. Choose a vanish or paint that will protect your chair from the elements.