How to Make a Plywood Chair

Cutting Pieces

• 1

  Cut your pieces from a sheet of 3/4-inch thick, cabinet-grade plywood. Cut one large rectangle 22-by-51 inches. Cut two rectangles 14 1/4-by-16 inches, one 22-by-16 and one 16-by-17 inches.

• 2

  Use a square to draw a line across the 22-by-51-inch rectangle, 17 inches in from each 22-inch end. Measure along one line from the left edge of the board, and mark it at 6 inches. Measure along the other line from the right edge, and mark it at 6 inches.

• 3

  Draw a line diagonally between the two marks you made in the last step. Cut in along the 6-inch part of each line with a jig saw. Cut along the diagonal to separate the two pieces. These are the sides of the chair.

Assembly

• 4

  Apply glue to one 16-inch edge of one 14 1/2-by-16-inch rectangle. Fit the 16-by-22-inch rectangle with one 16-inch edge, overlapping the glued edge, so that it is flush with the face of the 16-by-22-inch rectangle.

• 5

  Nail the pieces together with one 1 1/2-inch pin nail every 3 inches. Fit the remaining 14 1/2-by-16-inch rectangle to the other 16-inch edge of the 16-by-22-inch rectangle in the same way.

• 6

  Stand the two side pieces on their long edges. Apply glue along the edges of the three pieces of the seat assembly you just built. Nail through the side pieces, so that the 16-by-22-inch rectangle is in line with the 6-inch section of the seat. Use one nail every 3 inches.

• 7

  Draw a line parallel to the diagonal cut, 4 inches from it. Apply glue along the two 17-inch edges of the 16-by-17-inch rectangle. Fit it between the side pieces, with the front face of the rectangle on the line, with one 16-inch edge flush with the tops of the side pieces.

• 8

  Do the same with the 4-inch tall baseboard along the bottom of the panels. Fit it against the floor, nail it in place with one nail every 8 inches, and cut a piece to fit at the end of the wall.