Cardboard Chair

Intro: 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).

STEP 2: Cut the Pieces

The pieces should look like the template.  It is best to rotate the cuts--meaning the "grain" of the cardboard should be alternated with every other piece (corrugation "up" on piece number one, "right" on piece number two, "up" on number three, "right" on four, etc.).  If you don't have lots of giant pieces of cardboard, you can use smaller scraps; just be sure to overlap the cuts on adjacent pieces (as indicated in the "a" "b" "c" photo above.

STEP 3: Glue

Glue the pieces together--you'll need a lot of glue.

STEP 4: Finished Chair

I've had two of these around for over four years--keep them dry (like any fine furniture) and they will serve you well.

Comments

[roboboy__]

I have no idea where you got all this cardboard...

[NancyA14]

can you use foam core? which is stronger?

[MikeTheMaker]

I would think foam core is stronger--but it really depends on the specific cardboard and specific foam core. Here's an article that shows one type of foam core being much stronger than another brand of foam core. . .

http://flitetest.com/articles/comparing-foam-board

[ARJOON]

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

[bjames4]

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

[AnesS3]

THX!!! haha

[ARJOON]

thank you

[WilberC2]

how many sheets of cardboard does it take?

[MikeTheMaker]

It takes 76 cut pieces--so it depends on how big your original piece of cardboard is.

[ironbord]

I'm working on one but as a rocking chair, I'll update when I have the finished product but for now here are my drawings :)

[Mr_Altitude]

How long did it take you to finish this?

[MikeTheMaker]

It took about two weeks--a little each evening after work.

[sbrown9578]

I love the wide posterior comment. LOL

[lkuziez9680]

what glue do you recommend we use?

[MikeTheMaker]

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

[MikeTheMaker]

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