Paracord Chair: Simple, Comfortable, Adjustable & Collapsable

This project is really simple, as it involves two intersecting wooden rectangles that have a seat and back made from woven paracord.

I'm going to assume that anyone attempting this project has basic woodworking skills and is familiar with power tools, so this won't be a woodshop class. :o) 

I will be presenting a flexible idea that can be modified rather than absolute plans... please feel free to experiment and play... but don't get locked into a rigid perspective that there's only one way to do it. :o)

The pictures are pretty much self-explanatory, with last pic showing the two frames nested together.

Step 1 Things you will need...

For this project you will need:

Materials:

150'  (minimum) paracord

48" heavy 1" nylon webbing (from REI)

36" of shock-cord (from REI)

1 pc) 3/4" thick oak (or other hardwood) board at least 6" wide x 60" long

30) 2.5" to 3" deck screws

12) 5/8" pan head screws

4) 3/4" dia. screw-on rubber feet with 1" mounting screws

stain & poly to taste

Tools:

miter saw

table saw

drill motor

pencil type soldering iron

2) 24" bar clamps

wood glue

1/8" & 1/4" drill bits

countersinking bit

#2 Phillips screwdriver

100 grit sandpaper

2" paint brush

rags

Nice but not necessary:

Table mounted Router with 3/8" round nose bit & 1/4" & 1/2" round over bits

Drill press

Floor standing Belt sander/disc sander

Comments

[cchubb]

I used to have an antique pack frame that was just like this. It had two nesting frames that were "caned" with lightweight cord and had a belt and two shoulder straps on the back. A large duffel strapped to it. When you were hiking the two frames fit together and the duffel strapped on. When you got where you were going the duffel came off, the frame extended and you had a seat by the fire. It was made some time in the '20s.

[aadball504]

Very nice! you do good work I will have to give it a try !

[hassi]

Here's a little something over which to digest regarding the hardness of various woods...See the second page...http://www.mimi.com/mra/green/janka.pdf

[fin saunders]

As a reformed cabinetmaker,

Ebony - As hard and heavy as nails.  Expensive, potentially brittle.  Highly irritating to the lungs as a dust.  And the longer the board is, the more expensive it is per board foot.  Carbide bits are required to cut it without the constant resharpening of your tools.  $125.00/board foot isn't unreasonable.  That's $312.50 for the wood, IF you can find a stick of it 41" long.

Mahogany - An excellent choice, actually.  The best high end chairs, Chippendales, etc. are made of mahogany.  Light and strong.  It's softer than oak, so adding a thin layer of maple, oak, etc at the leverage points should be considered to prevent crushing the grain.

Very nice item to build.  Light and lovely.

Thanks for the Instructable,

Ned

[councelor.dnb]

 Fin Saunders, thanks for those important comments. I worked with Ipe last year on a small project, and the first dramatic thing I noticed, was blade deterioration on every tool I used with the wood. It was incredible how quickly tool blades dulled. I too found the dust, even when well controlled, to be problematic. My conclusion was that I didn't enjoy working with Ipe ( just as an exotic example); it kinda took all the fun out of the project.

For a project like this, I personally would go with Maple, because I'm about 250lbs dry. Oak is an excellent choice as well, I just personally enjoy working with clear Maple, that stuff is hard as woodpecker lips for sure.

[councelor.dnb]

 Very nice. I like the cord in lieu of caning; much stronger, and weight still kept to a minimum. I did some canoe seats up last year in a similar fashion. Thanks for sharing your project, that particular style of chair is awesome for canoeists as a campfire chair. Nicely done.

[micher54]

 Beautiful chair!  I rented one similar to this but made entirely of wood at an outdoor concert in Saratoga Springs, NY many years ago and often wished I had a pattern.  Thanks for figuring it out!  Can't wait to get my supplies together and make one.

[rainy1]

very good idea

greetz from germany
http://www.dj-service-bayern.de

[Foaly7]

I have two questions. First, I didn't notice if it folds, or is just two separate frames nested together, and how would you make it fold? Also, would ebony wood work for the frames, or is it too soft?

[IAMSatisfied]

It's two independent frames, the seat frame and back frame... the seat frame cantilevers between two seat supports (they're mounted on the back frame) and the seat frame slides easily when there is no weight on it.

While I have no personal experience with ebony, from what I've heard and read about it (it's so dense that it sinks in water), I think it would be a fine choice. Mahogany, however, would be way too soft.

[Foaly7]

Thank you, I'll remember that.

[Verga]

Very nice, well writen and clear,  Pictures are clear and close enough to see detail, You need to do more of these. Marking a a favorite 

[IAMSatisfied]

Thank you, Verga... I'll see what I can come up with.  :o)

[mycroftxxx]

 I really like the design.  It has a simple elegance.  Though it's a different aesthetic than what you show here, have you considered attempting to cane a milk crate with paracord?

[IAMSatisfied]

Thanks for the kudos. As for caning a milk crate, the idea had not crossed my mind... I have several of them, but it seems the highest calling they realize in my presence is that of stowing and toting my tools and consumables, the standardized size being great for orderliness.

[unclepaul]

What are the straps for? I don't quite understand.

[IAMSatisfied]

Thanks, Paul, for bringing the need for clarification to my attention... I've updated step #3 and hope it answers your question.

[CaseyCase]

 Oooo! That looks nice!

[IAMSatisfied]

Thank you, Casey, for the kind words.