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How to Make Camping Chairs

How to Make Camping Chairs

Campfire image by Undy from Fotolia.com

Campers of all ages enjoy sitting around the campfire and spending time with friends and family. Whether young boy scouts are gathered around telling scary stories, or a family is roasting s'mores, fireside socializing is a common pastime. Unprepared campers use hard plastic ice chests or uncomfortable wooden logs as seats--but why be uncomfortable? Building your own folding camping chair is a fun project that can make your camping experience a lot more enjoyable.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:
  • 3 wood rods, each 2 feet long and 1 1/2 inches thick
  • Sandpaper
  • Wood waterproofing material
  • Paintbrush
  • Saw
  • Rope
  • 1 sheet of canvas, 2 feet by 2 feet
  • 3 large-head nails
  • Hammer
Step 1
Sandpaper the wood to grind out any large bumps if necessary..
Step 2
Saw the corners of both ends of each rod so that they are angled. Do not cut off any length so as to trim them; instead angle the ends so that they are parallel with each other. The rods will be coming into contact with the ground and the seat at an angle; this will allow them to rest evenly.
Step 3
Clean the sawdust off the rods and apply two coats of wood waterproofing material using a paint brush.
Step 4
Arrange the rods so that two are lying next to each other and the third one is stacked directly on top, in the middle of them. These are going to be the legs of your stool.
Step 5
Wrap the rope tightly around the three sticks, just above the middle. Tie it off using a secure knot.
Step 6
Spread the bottoms of the legs apart by rotating them to create a triangle-shaped area. The area created by the sticks should be greater at the bottom than at the top.
Step 7
Stretch the canvas across the tops of the three sticks. Pull the sheet taut and nail it into to place. Trim off any excess material.
Step 8
Rotate the rods backwards to fold the chair for easier storage and transportation.

Tips & Warnings

 
Use high-quality wood for a stronger chair that will last longer.
 
Nylon rope is very resistant to rot and will lengthen the life of your chair.
 
Always be careful when using a saw. Wearing safety goggles is a good idea.

Article Written By Jacob Hendriks

Jacob Hendriks' work has appeared in "The Western Front," "The Planet Magazine" and Trails.com. He graduated from Western Washington University with a major in international business management and a minor in Community Health. Hendriks' passion for sports nutrition and fitness, combined with experience as a personal trainer, has led him to pursue health-oriented journalism.

Write for Trails.com

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