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The whole reclining mechanism comes down to one small part: a 3/4" dowel riding in pipe straps at the end of the back's incline supports, positioned so it folds up flush with the last back slat when the chair lies flat. There's no adjustable ratchet or notched bracket here — the dowel simply catches against the seat's last slat at whatever angle you rest the back at, which is why the incline supports need their dowel mounted at the very end, not partway down.
The back-to-seat hinge is deliberately positioned in the gap between the last back slat and the last seat slat rather than centered on either board, so the hinge pin doesn't bind as the back swings through its full range. Three hinges spread across the back stringers is enough for a lounger — this isn't a hinge doing structural work, just a pivot, since the incline support and dowel carry the actual load of a reclined back.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Pine, 2x2, 8 ft | 1 each |
| Pine, 1x2, 8 ft | 10 each |
| Pine, 1x4, 8 ft | 5 each |
| Wood screws, 2" | 1 box |
| Wood screws, 1-1/4" | 1 box |
| Hinges | 5 each |
| Hardwood dowel, 3/4", 24" | 1 each |
| Pipe straps, 3/4" | 4 each |
| Wood glue | 4 oz |
| Wood filler | 1 can |
| Outdoor finish | 1 can |
| Outdoor foam, 24" wide, 48" and 30" lengthsTwo pieces for the seat and back cushions. | 1 set |
| Outdoor fabric, for cushions | 2.5 yard |
Overall cost: $$$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Side stringersPine 1x2Notched for the base support, inside legs, and back hinge line. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 73 1/4" |
| Base supportPine 2x2 | 1 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 22 1/2" |
| SidesPine 1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 81 3/4" |
| Inside leg piecePine 1x4Cut to a taper to match the outer leg. | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 14" |
| Front and backPine 1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 24" |
| StretchersPine 2x2 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 22 1/2" |
| Outer legPine 1x4Tapered to match the inside leg piece. | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 12 1/2" |
| Fronts and backs of legsPine 1x2 | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 12 1/2" |
| Main slatsPine 1x2Spaced about 1-1/2" apart. | 24 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 24" |
| Support slatsPine 1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 24" |
| Back stringersPine 1x2 | 3 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 30 1/2" |
| Back incline supportPine 1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 16 1/2" |
| Back incline catchHardwood dowel, 3/4" | 1 | 3/4" × 3/4" × 24" |
Buy 18 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
5 boards
Notch out the side stringers as shown in the plan — you can add extra notches beyond the plan's if you want more customization.
Fasten the base support between the side stringers with glue and 2" screws.
Fasten the sides to the side stringers, keeping the bottom edges flush, with glue and 1-1/4" screws. The front and back ends of the stringers will sit about 4-1/4" proud of the sides.
Cut the inside leg pieces to a taper, then fasten them to the sides with glue and 1-1/4" screws.
Fasten the stretchers to the inner legs with 2" screws and glue.
Cut the taper on the outer leg pieces to match the inner legs, then fasten outer to inner with 1-1/4" nails through the insides. Fasten the front (or back, on the back legs) pieces to both the inner and outer leg pieces.
Starting with the front 1x4 piece and the last slat that lands on the base support, fasten the main slats to the stringers with 2" screws and glue, spacing them about 1-1/2" apart.
Build the back frame, keeping the top and bottom edges flush with the back stringers — the slats will sit about 1" proud of the stringers. Fasten through the back stringers into the backs of the slats with 1-1/4" screws to keep the screw heads hidden.
Lay the back in the lounger and attach its last slat to the lounger's last slat with three hinges, all positioned over the back stringers. Lay each hinge flat on top of the slats so the pin rests in the gap between the two slats.
Attach the dowel to the incline supports using the pipe straps, positioning it at the very end of the supports so it folds up flush with the top when the lounger lies flat. Hinge the incline supports to the 1x4 back slat.
Fold the back down flat and confirm the dowel rests just above the last seat slat — this is what lets the back lie flat and still catch at a reclined angle.
Fill screw holes with wood filler, sand every surface, and apply an outdoor-rated finish. Cut the foam to fit the seat and back and cover with fabric to make the two cushions.
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11 boards
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →