DIY Chair

Max Lamb

DIY Chair by Max Lamb
DIY Chair by Max Lamb
DIY Chair

Designed by Max Lamb
Published in Fall 2019

A DIY chair’s instructions are just as significant as the design of the DIY chair itself. The DIY Chair by Max Lamb, designed in 2008, is one of the more modern DIY chairs around, mainly because of the way Max chose to communicate the process of making the chair. The simple step-by-step method that he employed meticulously controls the process of production with detailed notes. The simple but time consuming assembly process takes up to 4 hours to complete. Parts cost under 50 USD on average.

DIY Chair by Max Lamb
DIY Chair by Max Lamb
Assembly

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1     Measure a length of wood at 18.5in (47cm) long and mark a line with your square tool.
1     Measure a length of wood at 18.5in (47cm) long and mark a line with your square tool.
2     Elevate the wood from the table and saw along the line you just made. Repeat step 1 and 2 until you have 30 pieces (31 pieces if using 18mm x 34mm wood).
2     Elevate the wood from the table and saw along the line you just made. Repeat step 1 and 2 until you have 30 pieces (31 pieces if using 18mm x 34mm wood).
3     Sand the rough edges and paint the pieces at this time if you would like. If painting, apply 2-3 light coats.
3     Sand the rough edges and paint the pieces at this time if you would like. If painting, apply 2-3 light coats.
4     Place two pieces of wood at a right angle with the wide side on top of the narrow side. The wide piece should hang over the narrow piece by 1 full width of wood.
4     Place two pieces of wood at a right angle with the wide side on top of the narrow side. The wide piece should hang over the narrow piece by 1 full width of wood.
5     Use the square to confirm a 90 degree angle, hold the two pieces down, and drill two vertical holes beside each other.
5     Use the square to confirm a 90 degree angle, hold the two pieces down, and drill two vertical holes beside each other.
6     Using a larger drill bit, countersink the holes. Then screw the two pieces together with wood screws until the screw heads are flush with the wood.
6     Using a larger drill bit, countersink the holes. Then screw the two pieces together with wood screws until the screw heads are flush with the wood.
7     Position the lower piece to be vertical. Place a third piece on top of the horizontal piece, and aligned with the edge of the vertical piece. Drill and screw the pieces together.
7     Position the lower piece to be vertical. Place a third piece on top of the horizontal piece, and aligned with the edge of the vertical piece. Drill and screw the pieces together.
8     Drill and add two more screws, through the wide side of the vertical piece, forming a triangular form secured with 6 screws.
8     Drill and add two more screws, through the wide side of the vertical piece, forming a triangular form secured with 6 screws.
9     Similarly to the process in step 5, 6, 7, and 8, secure two more pieces of wood at the end of the third piece.
9     Similarly to the process in step 5, 6, 7, and 8, secure two more pieces of wood at the end of the third piece.
10     Secure a sixth piece at the ends of the two parallel horizontal pieces. It should hang over each horizontal piece by 1 full width of wood.
10     Secure a sixth piece at the ends of the two parallel horizontal pieces. It should hang over each horizontal piece by 1 full width of wood.
11     Add two more legs to the frame.
11     Add two more legs to the frame.
12     By this stage, you should have a square frame with four legs.
12     By this stage, you should have a square frame with four legs.
13     Turn the frame over, and using one length of wood as a measuring spacer, secure a piece of wood parallel to the edge of the frame. Drill and screw each end.
13     Turn the frame over, and using one length of wood as a measuring spacer, secure a piece of wood parallel to the edge of the frame. Drill and screw each end.
14     Repeat step 13 for seven (eight if using 18mm x 34mm wood) more times.
14     Repeat step 13 for seven (eight if using 18mm x 34mm wood) more times.
15     Turn the frame over. There should be a gap left open on the seat.
15     Turn the frame over. There should be a gap left open on the seat.
16     Lay out another square frame with four wood pieces. Two parallel pieces on their narrow edge, and on top of them two parallel pieces on their wide edge.
16     Lay out another square frame with four wood pieces. Two parallel pieces on their narrow edge, and on top of them two parallel pieces on their wide edge.
17     The top pieces should overlap by 1 full width of wood.
17     The top pieces should overlap by 1 full width of wood.
18     Check that all corners form right angles, and join the pieces together with eight screws.
18     Check that all corners form right angles, and join the pieces together with eight screws.
19     Slide the new frame up the old one, positioning it 4 widths of wood below the seat base. Drill and screw two screws through each wide edge of wood.
19     Slide the new frame up the old one, positioning it 4 widths of wood below the seat base. Drill and screw two screws through each wide edge of wood.
20     This will secure the new frame to the old one using 16 screws total, 4 per corner.
20     This will secure the new frame to the old one using 16 screws total, 4 per corner.
21     To assemble the backrest, make a right angle with two wood pieces, as in step 4. The wide piece should hang over the narrow piece by 1 full width of wood.
21     To assemble the backrest, make a right angle with two wood pieces, as in step 4. The wide piece should hang over the narrow piece by 1 full width of wood.
22     Drill two holes, countersink the holes, and screw the pieces together. As in step 21, place a second piece at the other end of the upper piece. Drill and screw in place.
22     Drill two holes, countersink the holes, and screw the pieces together. As in step 21, place a second piece at the other end of the upper piece. Drill and screw in place.
23     Using the narrow side of a spare piece of wood as a spacer, place another horizontal piece across the narrow edges of the lower pieces.
23     Using the narrow side of a spare piece of wood as a spacer, place another horizontal piece across the narrow edges of the lower pieces.
24     Align with the edge of the first top piece, hold the wood in place, then drill and countersink two holes on each end of the piece you placed in step 23.
24     Align with the edge of the first top piece, hold the wood in place, then drill and countersink two holes on each end of the piece you placed in step 23.
25     Screw the piece in place at both ends.
25     Screw the piece in place at both ends.
26     Repeat steps 23-25, securing two more pieces. The backrest should have four pieces running perpendicular to two pieces holding them in place.
26     Repeat steps 23-25, securing two more pieces. The backrest should have four pieces running perpendicular to two pieces holding them in place.
27     Turn the backrest on its side, and place a piece of wood beneath the lowest of the 4 slats. With 2 screws, secure it to the piece running perpendicular to the 4 slats.
27     Turn the backrest on its side, and place a piece of wood beneath the lowest of the 4 slats. With 2 screws, secure it to the piece running perpendicular to the 4 slats.
28     With 2 more screws, secure the piece you added in step 27 to the lowest of the 4 slats.
28     With 2 more screws, secure the piece you added in step 27 to the lowest of the 4 slats.
29     Repeat steps 27-28, securing another piece of wood on the other side of the backrest.
29     Repeat steps 27-28, securing another piece of wood on the other side of the backrest.
30     Turn the chair frame in its side, place a piece of wood parallel to the front leg (opposite of the leg near the seat gap). Secure to the upper frame with 2 screws.
30     Turn the chair frame in its side, place a piece of wood parallel to the front leg (opposite of the leg near the seat gap). Secure to the upper frame with 2 screws.
31     Secure to the lower part of the frame with 2 more screws. The bottom of the piece you secured should be positioned no lower than the lower part of the frame.
31     Secure to the lower part of the frame with 2 more screws. The bottom of the piece you secured should be positioned no lower than the lower part of the frame.
32     Repeat step 30-31 with another piece of wood on the opposite side of the frame.
32     Repeat step 30-31 with another piece of wood on the opposite side of the frame.
33     Slide the back of the chair in place through the seat gap. Lean the back rest as far back as it will go, and align the arms with the top of the arm supports.
33     Slide the back of the chair in place through the seat gap. Lean the back rest as far back as it will go, and align the arms with the top of the arm supports.
34     Join the backrest to the inside of the frame using 2 screws on each side.
34     Join the backrest to the inside of the frame using 2 screws on each side.
35     Join the arms to the arm supports with two screws on each side.
35     Join the arms to the arm supports with two screws on each side.
Index
Parts
Smooth Planed Pine Wood, 1in x 2in (18mm x 34mm)
*Any popular softwood can also be used, like Redwood. Metric measurements above are actual, not nominal, and availability may vary by location.
 
Quantity required: 30 pieces, 18.5in in length (31 pieces, 47cm in length, if using 18mm x 34mm wood)
Flat Head Wood Screws, #6 x 1-1/2in (4 x 35mm)
 
Quantity required: 124
Tools
Hand Saw
Power Drill
Drill Bits
Ruler or Tape Measure
Screwdriver
Square (or flat object with 90 degree angle)
Sandpaper, 180 Grit
Help Each Other

One thought on “DIY Chair”

  1. Any tips for drilling holes in tight corners? I ended up deconstructing -> drilling -> reconstructing segments.

    Maybe I need a smaller drill!

    Reply

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