Norms Adirondack Chair

[steve_ma]

I have wanted to build Adirondack chairs for a while....must have been Aug 05 since thats what my Popular Woodworking mag says. The cover says "Plans for Norms chair". I wanted it to be built to last - not like alot of the stuff thats commonly found. At one of my favorite lumber yards, they have had Friejo shorts on sale for over a year - I had no idea what this stuff was - then they put up an info sheet "brazilian hardwood, durable, teak substitute, used for boatbuilding". I couldnt resist. They also had DF shorts on sale. I created full size templates on the PC from the scaled drawings in the magazine and got them printed at a Signal Graphics for about $3. (If anyone wants a soft copy, I will send them for a nominal deposit to my wood fund :-). Norm used 3M 5200 adhesive and stainless hdw, plugged all the screw holes. I used epoxy (I build boats) and galv brads to let the epoxy set. It a bit messier but this thing will never come apart. Finished it will boiled linseed oil. Solid contruction, should last my lifetime with oil once or twice a year.

My Friejo wasnt quite wide enough so I had to edge join the boards (epoxy). I placed the biscuits strategically so they wouldn't show, but I messed up and I think I hit nearly every one! It was also my first attempt matching grain. In some cases it worked out well, in others not so well. This chair is the better matched of the 2 I built. Cost me about an average of $2.50 bd/ft which is pretty good around here for this kind of wood.

[Whaler]

They would sure look good on my patio. Nice work.

[JR]

The grain looks greate! You thought that project through nicely. Those chairs should last a long time.

JR

[steve_ma]

The oil brought the Friejo grain right out. It looks great in person. The DF came out a bit blotchy in places. I might try some wood conditioner before I oil it on the next one.

[docrowan]

Looks beautiful! I've been hankering to build a set myself.

Pardon my ignorance, but what does DF stand for?

Duh, just figured it out. Douglas Fir.

[HarmsWay]

Very nice! I've had some Lee Valley full-size plans for quite a few years waiting for the right wood to fall into my hands. Hasn't happened. I'm envious of your wood score and beautiful Adirondacks.

Bob

[Mr__Bill]

I have always thought that Norm's chair didn't look very comfortable. Never having sat in one it's only from pictures that I have drawn this conclusion. So the question today is: Is the chair comfortable to sit in, of does it just look good?

You did a really nice job on the chair so I do hope you get a lot of use out of it.


Bill

[steve_ma]

Well I haven't sat in it for long, but so far so good.
DF = douglas fir

[Woodboy]

Nice Job

Steve,

Nice job. My first real project was Norm's single Adirondack in Cypress which is hard to find in Denver. I liked it so much, I built the love seat which I like to sit in even more. Both reside on the covered porch of a mountain cabin.

Like you, I just blew up the scale plans on a large scale plotter, cut them out and transferred them to Masonite templates.

Great project and very functional. Try the love seat - you already have the templates for the arms.

[TB Roye]

Very nice look chair you should be proud. Norm would tip his hat to you if he wore one.

Tom

[lrogers]

Now you have to get a small TV out on the patio so you can watch Norm in style!

[SARGE..g-47]

Very nicely done, Steve. I like the contrast you used as most are usually just one species. I would like a set as they bring back fond memories of my child-hood down south. About everyone had them in those days before people had Air Conditioning. You didn't have to look far to see several sitting under a big shade tree.

Maybe someday when I get done with the inside furniture builds I can do some outside things. Maybe...

[jabe]

Looks GREAT! Classier than plastic lawn chairs.

[Pappy]

Beautiful job, Steve. The combination of light and dark wood really looks good.

I would like to have Adirondack chairs, too, but the wife can't bet in and out of them. They are suprisingly comfortable but can be hard to get up from.

[drillman88]

Nice job on the chairs Steve!!
That is one of the most rewarding projects from a usefulness point of view.


I haven't built any from Norm's plan yet but I built several modified Jake's chairs. I had to scale them down as they are huge but they are comfortable.