outofstepper Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 Greets all, I'd like to build a chair or two for the front yard and I'm leaning towards the Adirondack. I would prefer to build a chair with no hardware (screws), but can't seem to find anything. I'm not necessarily hooked on an Adirondack -- that's just what comes to mind. Most plans seem as if they would take some considerable re-work to replace screw joints with glue joints, though. Anyone have a suggestion as to, perhaps, a chair style/type that might better lend itself to glued construction? Would just an Adirondack with through tenons be the easiest way to go? I suppose I could work through this myself (designing), but plans would be a lot nicer. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechwood Chip Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 I also like to avoid screws, If I was in your shoes, I'd take an existing design with screws and just replace each screw with a dowel driven into a pre-drilled hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outofstepper Posted June 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2011 Beechwood, thanks. I thought I posted a reply and its disappeared? Short story: I'm afraid just replacing screws with dowels leaves one with a lot of cross grain glue joints. I think I may be able to double up some of the thicknesses and built in some mortise/tenons -- at least for the seat. Lets hope it doesn't look too weird. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick LoDico Posted June 22, 2011 Report Share Posted June 22, 2011 IMHO I would never give a thought to an adirondack chair without screws. If I didn't want to see screw heads, I'd cover them with plugs. If it something you just gotta do, the dowels would work just fine and there'd be no grain/glue problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ztifpatrick Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Funny I'm drawn to Adirondack chairs and the idea of screws bothers me too. I've thought of using a domino for most of the joints and maybe the idea of plugs for the seat and back slats isn't bad. Yeah the screw thing bothers me, but then I'll open a magazine and see Christopher Schwarz nailing something together, makes you think...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechwood Chip Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 The nice thing with being a hobbyist is, you can do it whatever way you want. Pocket screws everywhere, or all glue joints. Electrical power or muscle power. Hand cut dovetails, dominoes, pneumatic brad nailer, whatever you want. People whose opinion I trust have convinced me that a screw joint can hold just as well as wood/glue joinery over the years, and nails go back to ancient times, but I prefer not to use them. I can't explain it; it's just how I feel. In Pennsylvania I'm told that there are hunting seasons for rifle, black powder musket, bow and arrow, and even atlatl. Makes me wonder if someone out there is doing woodworking with hand-chipped obsidian or flint scrapers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flairwoodworks Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Nails? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outofstepper Posted June 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Nails always take too long.. usually my battery dies and I only manage to push one in about 1/4 of the way. I have nothing personal against screws (some of my best friends are... ).. but having built some "nice furniture" I just don't like the way they look... even if it is just a deck chair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skuutr Posted July 21, 2022 Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 Any luck with this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G Ragatz Posted July 21, 2022 Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 You probably won't hear anything from the OP. This thread is from 2011, and the OP hasn't been here since then. But hang around - somebody else might have some useful input. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 I'll toss out an opinion. As most of the joinery in a chair is 'structural', and many of them are cross-grain, I think a good stainless steel screw is a safer option for outdoor use. Exposed to outdoor humidity swings, the wood will swell and shrink more than indoors. Screws, installed properly, should tolerate that movement better than glued joints. They may loosen over time, but can be tightened again. A solid glue joint is more likely to suffer catastrophic failure, IMO. Regional weather differences mean YMMV. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 I agree with @wtnhighlander. And if you don’t care to see the screw heads, recess them and cover them with long grain plugs instead of dowels. I built two Adirondack chairs about 5 years ago that have been outside and have no problem. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyJack Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 Screws, etc should be use. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlyoak Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 In my world outdoor benches or furniture are exposed stainless screws and usually made of western red cedar. And the bottom of the legs have a small piece of high density plastic counter sunk screwed to the bottom. If on masonry the legs will not rot. I live in south Florida, a corrosive environment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyJack Posted July 23, 2022 Report Share Posted July 23, 2022 You will find red cedar in small amounts in exterior chairs. I'm using Sapele. You won't do find much used with it either. If I didn't have the Sapele, I'd went for IPE. The chair I got the sample from came from my wife's grand mothers house. Its at least 15 years old and is treated. Other than a few repairs and a paint job that wont hold up, it survives. Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Even a plastic chair requires cleaning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post curlyoak Posted July 23, 2022 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 23, 2022 I can get you a train load of sapale. Above is my front door. A better look at the glass work... My next project will be sapale. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyJack Posted July 23, 2022 Report Share Posted July 23, 2022 Ve got enough free Sapele left from commercial jobs to make 6 chairs. I think I have 5 boards 6"-8"×14'... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 23, 2022 Report Share Posted July 23, 2022 I wish someone near me sold sapele. That door is gorgeous, as are many sapele projects I've seen here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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