Alright, let me tell you about my Michigan folding chair project. I’ve been wanting a good, sturdy folding chair for ages, something I could take camping, or just pull out when we have extra guests. I saw a design online for a Michigan folding chair, and I thought, “Hey, I can totally build that!”
So, first things first, I grabbed some lumber. I went with some good old pine, nothing fancy. I think I picked up a couple of 1x4s and a 1×2. Then I spent a good hour in my garage digging through my toolbox to find the right tools – saw, drill, sandpaper, measuring tape, the whole shebang.
Next up, the cutting. I followed the plans I found as closely as I could. Honestly, the measuring and cutting was the most stressful part. I’m not the most precise guy, so I tried my best to get everything square and even. I definitely messed up a couple of cuts, but hey, that’s what sandpaper is for, right?
After all the pieces were cut, it was time to start assembling. I used wood glue and screws to put the frame together. I made sure everything was nice and tight. This is where the drill really came in handy. Drilled pilot holes to prevent the wood from splitting. Learned that lesson the hard way a few projects ago!
Now for the folding mechanism. This was the trickiest bit. It involved some careful drilling and placement of the hinges. I had to double-check the plans a bunch of times to make sure I was doing it right. I ended up having to adjust the position of the hinges a few times to get the chair to fold smoothly. Man, that was a pain.
Once the chair was all assembled, I gave it a good sanding. Rounded off all the sharp edges to make it more comfortable to sit on. Then I applied a couple of coats of varnish to protect the wood and give it a nice finish. I probably should have used stain first, but I kind of liked the natural look of the pine.
Finally, after a couple of days of drying, it was done! I tried it out and it held my weight, so that was a good sign. It wasn’t perfect, I could see some imperfections here and there. But hey, I built it myself! I’m pretty proud of my Michigan folding chair. It’s sturdy, it folds up nicely, and it’s way better than those cheap plastic ones you get at the store.
Learned a ton during this project. Here are some takeaways:
- Take your time measuring and cutting. Seriously, precision is key.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I watched a bunch of YouTube videos to figure out the folding mechanism.
- Mistakes happen. Just learn from them and move on.
Overall, building the Michigan folding chair was a fun and rewarding experience. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a simple woodworking project.
