How to Build a Child's Adirondack Chair

Remove a 13-1/2 inch section from the 1 by 4 inch lumber. Cut the top 1/2 inch off the remaining 1 by 4 inch lumber, then cut off a 15 inch section. This will form the chair's apron.

Cut the remaining 1x4 inch lumber into two equal sections of 25-1/2 inches, these will form the chair's stringers (the sloping back legs).

Remove two scrap triangles from each end of the stringers. On the front end of the stringer, mark the wood at 3-1/8 inches vertically, 1-7/16 inches horizontally from the top, and 3/4 inches horizontally from the bottom. Connect these marks to form two triangles, then remove these triangles.

Mark the back ends of the stringers vertically 1/2 inch from the bottom and horizontally 2 inches from the back on the bottom and 3/4 inches from the back on the top. Remove theses triangles as well.

Attach the stringers to the back of the front apron so they are flush with its sides. Hold this joint in place with wood glue, then connect each stringer to the apron with two 2 inch screws.

Cut one 15 inch section from the 1x3 inch lumber. This section will form the front slat of the chair. Lay it on top of the apron and the flat section on the front of the stringer, so that it is flush with the sides and hangs over the front by 1/4 inch. Attach the slat with wood glue and 1-1/4 inch screws.

Cut five 15 inch sections from the 1x2 inch lumber. These will form the remaining slats of the chair. Lay the first one 1/4 inch from the top slat, and space them 1/4 inch from each other as they descend the stringers. Attach these with wood glue and 1-1/4 inch screws.

Cut two 13 inch lengths from the 1x3 inch lumber, these will form the chair's legs. Attach these so they are flush with the back of the top slat. Like the top slat, they should be 1/4 inch past the front apron. Attach these with 1-1/4 inch screws.

Cut two 14-1/2 inch lengths from the 1x2 inch lumber. Attach the 1x2 inch sections with 1-1/4 inch screws to the outer sides of the legs so that their front ends are flush with both the front and top of the legs. These sections will form the arm supports for the chair.

Cut two 14-1/2 inch lengths from the 1x3 inch lumber. These will form the chair's arms. Place these sections so that they are flush with the front of the chair's legs and inside edges of the arm supports. Attach these with 1-1/4 inch screws.

Cut five 20-3/4 inch sections from the 1x3 inch lumber. Space these sections so that they are parallel with each other and separated by 1/4 inch. These sections are the back slats. Place the 13-1/2 inch section of 1x4 inch lumber ( that was removed in step 1) to the base of the back slats so that it crosses all five and is flush with their bottoms. Attach it to each back slat with wood glue and 1-1/4 inch screws.

Cut a 13-1/2 inch and 16-1/2 inch section from the 1x2 inch lumber. Lay this across the back slats, 2 inches from their top. Using wood glue and 1-1/4 inch screws, attach this section to each of the back slats.

Place the 16-1/2 inch section so that its base is 8-5/8 inches from the bottom of the back slats. The lengths that spill over on each side of the back slats are equal (they should each be 1-1/2 inches long). Attach this section to each back slat with wood glue and 1-1/4 inch screws.

Position the completed back so that the 16-1/2 inch section lies at the back end of the chair's arms, and the back slopes to meet the last of the seat slats. The 1x4 inch section supporting the back should line up approximately with the stringers.

Attach the 16-1/2 inch section to the arm supports on each side, and the 1x4 inch back support to the stringers on each side, using wood glue and 2 inch screws.

Fill the screw holes with wood filler, then sand around their edges until they are smooth. Paint or stain the chair, making sure it is in a ventilated space where it will not accumulate dust.