Questions?

Now you may have some questions. First and foremost you may be wondering, what the heck IS a half chair and to answer that question I would say it can be used for many things but mostly for enjoyment of sitting on the ground with some comfortable backing behind you.

I first got the idea for this incredibly weird and wacky idea because when I watch tv or play video games I often find myself sitting on the ground. However, overtime my back kept on getting incredible sore so during my STEM class I had this crazy idea to create half of a chair that would allow me to sit in it. However I was then forced to think even more creatively on my project and came up with the idea of making the half chair foldable. So now it was a half of a chair that could fold up.

So that is why you find yourself looking at this crazy instructable on how to make a half chair. I hope you enjoy this process because it did take me around 10 hours to make this thing however I had an amazing time doing it.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
This project can be incredible creative. Feel free to festoon your half chair with whatever decorations you may find or even change how you actually make the chair. IT IS UP TO YOU. Paint yours bright green or pink its your chair. If you do find a better way to make it feel free to leave a message telling me what you did. Have fun creating :)

Step 1: Materials

Tools:

Table Saw

Hammer

Screw Driver

Measuring Tape

Pencil

Plane

Angle

Sheep Shears (Or really strong scissors)

Staple Gun

Wood:

Maple Wood: Plank (3 by 1 inches)

Poplar: Plank (3 by 1 inches)

Cedar: 2 by 4

Other:

Door Handle

Screws - 2 inches and 1 1/2 inches

Locks (1)

Hinges (6)

Canvas (For the back) (OPTIONAL)

Soft Door Mat (For the armrest) (OPTIONAL)

Step 2: Minor Tips

DRILLING:
I would suggest using a wood space drill bit that allows you to drill the screw all the way into the chair making it flush. Then take a smaller drill bit to create a tiny hole for the screw to follow.

COVERING THE SCREWS FOR AESTHETICS:
You can buy specialty wood covering that covers the screws making the wood look whole creating a better aesthetic.

ANGLES:
Use a plane to create accurate lines for measurement.

AGAIN BE CREATIVE:
Just again be creative this thing can be whatever you want it to be.

Step 3: Creating the Main Structure for the Half Chair

Overview:

This section will deal with the main structure for the half chair. What is important to note about this is that all of the you cuts and drillings have to mirror each other on both sides of the chair because minor alterations will create dramatic shifts in measurements over the course of this project.

Step 4: Cut the Base

Material: Maple Wood

Tool: Table Saw

1.) Cut a two 32 inch segments of the maple wood for the base

Step 5: Cut the Back

Material: Poplar Wood

Tool: Table Saw

1. Cut two 22 and 1/2 inch segments for the backing

2. Cut a 65 degree angle into both of the segments on the end (Refer to picture and note how the backing lies flush with the base)

Step 6: Cut the Support

Material: Cedar

Tool: Table Saw

1.) Cut two 15 inch segments

2.) Cut a 65 degree angle (Refer to picture and note how the backing lies flush with the base)

Step 7: Putting Together the Pieces

Materials: Screws

Tools: Screw Driver

1.) Measure 8 inches back (On both bases)

2.) Put both backs (22 1/2 inch pieces) with the front of the board on the 15 inch line

3.) Drill two screw in through the bottom of the base and into the backing

Step 8: Putting Together the Pieces

Materials: Screws

Tools: Screw Driver

1.) Take both the bases and put them side by side for comparison

2.) Slide in the two by four until it rests flat on the base and the backing

3.) Drill in the supports so that both of the sides of the chair are equal

Step 9: Creating the Arm Rest

Materials: Screws, Poplar, and Cedar

Tools: Table Saw and Screw Driver

1.) Cut two 7 inch tall pieces of the cedar two by four

2.) Cut two 13 inch long segment of poplar with a 65 degree cut angle on each

Repeat these steps for both sides:

3.) Drill in the two by four, centered, approximately 2 inches back from the front

4.) Drill in the arm rest with the angled cut lying flat against the backing of the chair

5.) Drill the angled cut into the backing of the chair

Step 10: Creating the Locking Mechanism

Materials: Screws, Hinges, and Lock

Tools: Table Saw and Screw Driver

1. Cut two 24 inch pieces of maple wood off of your plank

2. Split both of these pieces perfectly in half by using the table saw

Step 11: Creating the Locking Mechanism (Hinges)

Applying the Hinges: (Do this same thing for both sides)

1. Measure 20 inches back from the front

2. Screw in a hinge with one half lying flush against the board

3.) Measure 6 inches away from the other hinge

4.) Screw in a hinge with one half lying flush against the board

Step 12: Creating the Locking Mechanism (Hinges + Lock)

Connecting the pieces: (Do the same for both 24 inch segments)

1.) Take the two halves and connect them with a hinge

2.) Put the side with the hinge lying down

3.) Connect the segment to one pair of hinges

The Lock: Only with one 24 inch segment

1.) Drill in the lock over the middle of the 24 inch segment

Step 13: Creating the Crossbeam and Handle

Materials: Cedar (2 by 4) and Maple or Poplar Plank

Tools: Table Saw and Drill

1. Cut a crossbeam that fits snugly between the two two main cedar supports struts

-May vary in size because of small measurement misjudgments

2. Cut two 3 inch segments of planking

3.) Drill those segments to the bottom of the main support struts fitting snugly against the base

4.) Attach handle to the middle of the crossbeam

NOTES:
This removes and its placed underneath the armrest for easier carrying

Step 14: Take a Breather

Take a Break:
YOU ARE BASICALLY DONE! Just some small aesthetics and kind of important stuff :)

Step 15: Cutting the Cloth Backing

Materials: Cloth

Tools: Sheep Scissors and Staple Gun

1. Cut a strip of cloth however wide you want that can wrap partially around both sides of the supports

2. Staple the cloth into the chair and then hammer staples all the way into the wood

Step 16: Cutting the Rug Armrest

Materials: Rug

Tools: Stable Gun and Shears

Note: This is mainly for aesthetics. If you don't want rug on the armrest you don't have to or you can choose some other incredible soft and comfortable material to rest your arms on :) because of the creativity that you can have, this section is really up to you because this is your half chair. However, below will be instruction for what I did with my chair.

1.) Cut a segment of the rug that will wrap around the outsides of the arm rest using the shears

2.) Fold the sides of the rug over and staple them into the bottom of the armrest

3.) Take the remainder of the rug and fold over the front of the arm rest creating a place for your hands to grip the chair