Cardboard Chair

In this instructable, I show how to make a cardboard chair. This is taken from my book, Amazing Rubber Band Cars (the chair is actually a seat in a life size rubber band powered cardboard car). If you have cardboard, glue and patience, you can make a sturdy (and good looking if you have any artistic ability) chair which will last for years.

Step 1 Template

I have provided a template, but you can make your own if you want to get creative.  Remember that you have to cut 76 of these pieces (more if you have a wide posterior).

Comments

[lkuziez9680]

what glue do you recommend we use?

[mrigsby]

I used Elmer's white glue--there's a couple of suggestions further down the comment list that you might consider.

[CamoBedding]

wow so cool.

[TheLodgeShop]

lol way cool. that is a ton of cardboard.

[CaseBoy]

shouldn't you clamp the cutouts after you glued them?

[instructimaster]

What is the most efficient way of cutting the cardboard?

Thanks

[mrigsby]

My favorite cardboard cutting tool is a set of electric scissors (Black & Decker SZ360)

[DonMcKee]

I built a chair similar to this (mine had a rounded bottom that allowed it to rock) in my junior high school shop class almost 40 years ago! Fun project, with a useful result. Thanks for bringing back the memory. ;-)

[mrigsby]

If I had known about this type of construction years ago, my first apartment after college would have had such furnishings (instead of a cable reel and a two by four table).

[sagearbor]

Question : Does the back part flex at all as you sit down in it and lean back??? I assume not, but if it doesnt wouldnt it be stable to allow a connection at the lower back region and where you have the 2 curved ends. Maybe lose some asthetic appeal but it could still look cool.

[mrigsby]

You are correct--the back part does not flex when you sit down.

It would be interesting to see some of the variations suggested to this chair :)

[jackhg]

cool chair, would there be a way to use a roll of cardboard to act as securing pins that may decrease some of the glue?

[hammer9876]

Just so you know, there are various items on the market made just like this and designed for cats to scratch on. My two cats love their cardboard scratching pad. I bet they would really, really love your cardboard chair.

[ononal]

i think, this chair uses an excessive amount of cardboard and glue to define a sitting unit and backrest. and may be having diifferent cross-section shapes for creating a curved sitting area may help breaking this flat surfaces, which are not perfect for sitting and resting.

but thank you for your instruction and design.

[rhino]

It is a chair AND a cat condo. Amazing!

[ARJOON]

i can get all these cardboard free but the glue is expensive

[bjames4]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-your-own-glue/

[ARJOON]

thank you

[JohnJY]

I like the design, I like the artist value, it's beautiful and simple, though I would personally recommend using a wheatpaste glue. (4 parts water 1 part flour 2-4 drops of Cinnamon/mint extract).

[splazem]

I have seen something similar to this, but your chair is definitely the coolest out of all of them! Job well done.

[vishalapr]

Wow cool! That's a lot of cardboard!