2021-2022 | 40 hours | $20 | Sewing, Woodworking, Finishing
Whether fueled by my inclination to 'direct' things or simply because of its great design, I have always loved director's chairs. I love things that take on many forms and are able to transform. Ordinary chairs don't DO anything, but foldable chairs are not only functional, but efficient, and the director's chair seemed the simplest of them all. However, it was nothing but simple when I tried to create one from scrap wood, old jeans, and an original design. Unfortunately I did not take pictures whilst building so only the final product is displayed here.
Features
Crossbar (rope) connecting backrest to seat prevents extended range of motion (> right angle) of backrest rods.
A plastic rod encased in denim is pinched by the two halves of wood at left and right edges of seat. This distributes weight evenly across the wood when sitting instead of pulling on the screws which will eventually cause the denim to rip.
Pine is used for the 2x2s that make up the majority of the top half of the chair. The cylindrical rods are oak.
The denim seat is technically removable and interchangeable. When the two screws on either side are removed, the two halves will separate and the fabric can be removed. Ideally the screws wouldn't be there, but I added them for extra security after realizing I wouldn't often be interchanging the seat. In hindsight, I would have screwed from the underside so that they would be invisible, as they do look slightly unsightly.
Features
The wood used in the bottom half of the chair is oak.
The cylindrical rods running from the front to the back of the legs of the chair provide stability and distribute pressure more evenly. I drilled holes in the legs just smaller than the diameter of the rods, lined both sides with wood glue, then hammered the rods in for a secure fit.
The bolts used in the axes are secured with washers and lock nuts. I pre-drilled and threaded the oak in order to screw in the bolts easily. They are fastened a little loosely than standard, as I wanted to leave room for the screws to rotate in their threads as the axes were rotated; i.e, as the chair opened and closed.
As an advocate for both using denim anywhere I can and not letting things go to waste, I gathered some jeans that my family members and I hadn't worn in years and weren't likely to wear for years in the foreseeable future and cut and sewed them into a patchwork pattern. I double-layered them because even though denim is one of the strongest common fabrics, and I only weigh 115lb, I have to be prepared for whoever will sit in my chair. Sorry, I meant, repetitive strain can cause wear to any material over time.
Both the front and back edges of the seat are reinforced with more denim hidden between the layers, stretched slightly more taut, in order to further withstand strain and to maintain the shape of the fabric. Saggy fabric is rarely a good thing.
