Introduction: Lounge From 2x4s and Scrapwood
After building a big shed for firewood,
there was a lot of left over lumber and also the need for relaxing the tired muscles!
the idea for an outdoor lounge area was born!
it took only a couple of hours from idea to chill out
- an easy project that will please your BBQ-guests as well as yourself.
I built it for 3 people but it's even more comfy alone :D
Step 1: Find and Cut Your Pieces for the Frame
Tools and materials needed:
- miter saw or hand saw
- clawhammer
- nails with 6cm and 8cm length or skrews with 6 and 8cm length
- stain or paint in desired colour
prepare from 2x4s:
10 pieces with 25cm length - that is for the legs and adds height
6 pieces with 180cm length - for the square frame and one for the back rest
3 pieces with 85cm lenght and an 45 angle on one side, for the back rest
i used half round scrap wood (thats what's left when your sawing boards in a saw mill) for the coverage of the frame, but of course any other style is possible - maybe pallets?- you can cut them later
Step 2: Nail the Leg Pieces
nail or skrew 2 pieces of the 25cm legs together, to gain a more rustic look,
- nail it diagonally for more strentgh.
screw the frame together as shown in the pictures.
- predrill the holes and use skrews that are at least double the thickness of your 2x4s
The pictures show very good how to assemble the pieces!
Step 3: Bend the Nails and Add the Legs
i show you an easy technique i learned from an old swedish carpenter.
it makes nailing in angles much easier
the nail curves and will be almost impossible to remove - a incredibly strong connection.
The pictures show it all from bending to hammering.
Do so:
slightly bend the lower end of the nail between your hammers claw.
hammer the nail in with the bend part down - you start horizontally and the nail will move up by itself with every hit.
Add all 4 legs with this technique - two nails each.
if you have: add som roll roofing pieces under every leg, but its also ok if you have some gravel under each leg - it won't rott that fast if you do so.
(of course you can use skrews for that as well! )
Step 4: Back Rest
Assemble the pieces for the back rest as shown in the picture
cover it with the half round - scrap pieces, but leave the lower part free, otherwise you can't join it properly to the frame!
now add it to your frame:
nail it in the same technique as the legs were joined, with at least 2 nails
or skrew every part with at least two long skrews
Step 5: Cover All of It!
now cover the whole thing with your half-rounds or whatever you're using :)
there're two techniques:
cut all pieces in the correct length before joining them
or
add the pieces in random lentgh and use a circular saw to cut them all at once on place
both techniques will work fine!
Step 6: Sanding, Staining and Finishing Touches
while relaxing, splinters are not very welcome - so sand the rough edges
when that job is done it's time for the stain or paint of your choice.
last but not least - cover the frame with some of the half round pieces - that adds a nice finish!
paint that ones as well...
Step 7: Relax!
meanwhile the paint dried you may have found some nice big logs as tables for refreshing drinks and a good book.
you might have also captured some sun-lounge cushions on sale - to make it even more irresistible
- but a blanket will do as well!
enjoy the last days of summer!