NotchLoading plan…
Loading plan…
This is the classic two-piece beach chair: the seat frame slides through the back frame, the two lean against each other, and your own weight locks the joint. No hinges, no bolts, nothing to rust shut. Pull the seat out and the two flat pieces stack in a trunk or hang on a garage wall.
The materials are as cheap as woodworking gets — one 6-foot cedar fence picket does all the visible slats, and the frame is furring strips. The plan comes in two weights: a 2x2 frame that's sturdier and takes screws without complaint, and a 1x2 frame that's noticeably lighter to carry across sand but must be pre-drilled everywhere, because a screw driven straight into dry 1x2 furring will split it more often than not.
The one dimension that decides whether this chair works is the fit between the seat frame and the back frame. Too tight and it jams when the wood swells at the beach; too loose and the chair racks side to side. Build the back first, then fit the seat to it with about 1/8" of play per side — fit, not measure, because your fence picket widths will vary.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72"Not dog-eared. All ten slats come out of this one picket — sand it with coarse paper before cutting. | 1 each |
| 2x2 furring strip, 8 ftThe stronger-version frame. For the lightweight version substitute ~12 linear feet of 1x2 and shorter screws. | 2 each |
| 1x3 furring stripBack frame supports — 30" total, scrap works. | 3 linear ft |
| Exterior screws, #8 x 1-3/4", self-tapping, star driveUse 1-1/4" if building the 1x2 lightweight version. | 30 each |
| Wood glueExterior-rated — this lives outside and gets wet. | 4 oz |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Decking slatsCedar fence picketPickets are nominally 5/8" thick — some run 1/2". Three slats go on the back frame, two on the seat. | 5 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 14 1/4" |
| Back frame legs2x2 furring | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 30" |
| Back frame supports1x3 furring | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 14 1/4" |
| Seat frame legs2x2 furring | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 26" |
| Seat frame support2x2 furring11" long if you build the 1x2 lightweight version — the thinner legs change the inside width. | 1 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 8" |
Buy 4 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
1 board
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 →
Lay the two 30" back legs on a flat surface, mark the bottom support location, and attach the first slat and supports with glue and ONE screw per corner.
Work fast here — the single screws are pivots for squaring in the next step, and you want to be done adjusting before the glue tacks up.
Measure both diagonals of the back frame. If one is longer, push those two corners toward each other and re-measure until the diagonals match — that's what square means, no protractor required.
Then add the remaining screws. If you're building the 1x2 lightweight version, pre-drill every one of them; a split leg at this stage means starting over.
Screw the remaining back slats to the frame, keeping the gaps even. Even gaps are the difference between 'handmade' and 'homemade' on a piece this simple.
Flip the assembly and attach the 1x3 back support across the rear face. This closes out the back frame — the slot the seat slides through now exists.
Slide the two 26" seat legs through the back frame opening. This is a FIT step, not a measure step: you want roughly 1/8" of play beside each leg. Too snug? Rotate the 2x2s a quarter turn (they're rarely perfectly square), or round the corners and sand until they slide.
Remember cedar swells when damp — a fit that's snug in the garage is stuck at the beach.
With the seat legs still sitting in the back frame at their working angle, lay the remaining fence picket slats on them, adjust the positions, and screw them down. Fitting the slats in-place like this guarantees the assembled chair's geometry — building the seat flat on a bench does not.
Pull the seat frame out and screw the short support between the legs on the inside — 8" for the 2x2 build, 11" for the 1x2 build.
Reassemble and sit down, gently the first time. The joint tightens under load; if anything creaks, find it now on the driveway rather than later on the sand.
No reviews yet
Sign in to review this plan or share your build.
No reviews yet. Be the first to build this.