Rubber Hose Chair

Step 3 Finishing

Since I used construction-grade plywood, the material was quite rough, with sharp edges. Also, the cuts, done freehand with a circular saw, were not as straight as they could be.

To clean up the edges, even out the appearance of straightness, and make the chair smoother to the touch, run a roundover bit in a router all the way around each piece, then sand thoroughly, first with 100 grit, then 120. You could also use a chamfer; I would just recommend that any edge treatment be on the heavier side, say 1/4"-1/2", to make the chair inviting to the touch.

Assemble with the threaded rods. use a ratchet and wrench to tighten the threaded rods and rigidify the chair.

Apply 2-3 coats of polyurethane or similar with a soft rag. Sand with 220 or 320 grit between coats. Do not worry about getting in all the hose holes, as they will be hidden from view. Once the finish is dry and hard, buff in a coat of furniture wax for maximum smoothness.

The last picture shows the total waste from the project; eight small scraps of wood and a small pile of sawdust.