How to Build Upcycled Adirondack Chairs

Blog Cabin 2014 is all about lake life! I collected these vintage water skis from the former Cypress Gardens water park for interior decor when Grundy sent me a link to water ski chairs. We knew they would be perfect for the yard and add a fun pop of color and identity to the area.

What good is a chair if it isn't comfortable? Start by shaping the side rails. Cut (2) 3' pieces of pressure treated 2x8 and use a piece of PVC pipe to form the shape of the seat.

Using a jig saw, slowly cut out the shape.

Using a circular saw bevel the front with (2) 30 degree angles and slope the rear down to 5" at the end. Then trace that piece onto the other side rail. Cut this one the same way.

Make the front vertical legs with (2) 24" pieces of pressure treated 2x4. Fasten the side rails to the legs with (2) coated exterior screws and bevel the rear of the legs to be flat to the ground.

Cut pressure treated deck boards into (7) 18" pieces and fasten to the top of the side rails with (2) coated screws each. Rip the boards down to the appropriate width for each facet of the rails. For example, the curve portion may have boards only 2" wide to help conform to the shape.

Optionally, route the front edges of the boards for more comfort in the knee area of the chair.

Next, attach a 1 1/2" x 4" block to the vertical legs for the arms to attach to. Also mount a curved 2x4 back rail for the rear boards.

Remove any extra hardware from the skis for a flat mounting surface. I never throw away these extras so they can end up in other projects!

Cut an additional curved back rail copying the lower one but 6" longer. Then cut two 24" back boards. Use a jig saw and router or sander to shape the top similar to the skis.

Find a comfortable slope to the back. Have a friend hold the back if need be to find the perfect spot!

Install the arms and back with (2) screws at each joint.

Trim the center back board to the perfect length using a circular or chop saw. Aim for roughly 8" longer then the adjacent boards.

Install this last board with (2) screws at the bottom and top rails.

Finish by painting the raw wood with an exterior sealer. We chose a semi-transparent wood stain and then apply matte poly over the whole chair. Be sure to get the bottoms of the legs too to ensure this chair lasts a long time!