Mike Hamer of The Home Depot appeared on the FOX 4 Morning Show Sunday to show how to make a special gift for dad for Father’s Day — an Adirondack chair.
Adirondack chairs are a stylish addition to your patio or back yard, and a gift dad is sure to enjoy. Celebrate Father’s Day with quality time for dads and kids by making an easy project that can be completed in an afternoon for less than $75.
One project idea is personalizing The Home Depot’s Adirondack chair kit. Not only will dads and kids have fun making it together, it’ll be enjoyed for years to come.
Chairs have four main parts – a back rest, seat, arms and legs – and the kit comes with each part pre-assembled and two additional bracket pieces used to connect the dots (six total). You will need several types of screwdrivers, so an all-in-one kit like the Husky 8-in-1 Phillips and Slotted Screwdriver Set for $5.97 is perfect for the job. If you would like to limit the elbow grease needed for assembly, the Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ Lithium Ion Drill for $79 provides the torque you need for every step of the process.
Assembling the chair is an easy, four-step progression.
- Step 1 — Connect the front chair legs with the cross beams provided, and screw into place. Secure the nut firmly onto the bolt without over tightening.
- Step 2 — Utilizing the same tools and tightening techniques as step one, secure the seat to the two legs. Make sure the cross beam from step one is facing away from the slope of the seat. Ensuring the chair’s orientation is correct before securing the nut and bolt will prevent time-consuming corrections later.
- Step 3 –Before attaching the backrest and seat, prepare the existing framework by securing the brackets to the seat. Once again apply the same tools and tightening techniques to add the backrest and secure it into place.
- Step 4 — Finally, assemble the arms before securing them into place. With nuts and bolts, attach the arms to the back rest and the front legs. Once complete, recheck all the nuts and bolts to ensure they are securely tightened.
Now that your seat is assembled, it’s time for you and dad to add a personal touch. The chair is unfinished, so personalize it with a colorful paint or stain and weatherproof it. Before you do, make sure to cover your project area with Husky Polyethylene Sheeting, $9.98, to make clean-up easier by catching any paint or stain drips. Prep the chair by sanding with 150-grit sandpaper to smooth any rough areas, and then wipe the chair down with a soft cloth to remove dust.
When selecting a stain for the chair, you want to choose a one that resists UV damage and is waterproof, protecting against a wide range of climatic conditions. The Behr Semi-Transparent Weatherproofing Wood Stain offers those benefits and is available in over 100 tints to give you the exact look you want – from driftwood to pewter. To apply, use a brush designed for stain, like the Linzer 5 in. Flat Stain Block Brush, $9.97. The Workforce 4 Pack Staining Pads, $3.98, are also an ideal option to make sure that you are applying a very thin layer of stain.
If you prefer the look of paint, the Linzer 8-piece Roller Tray Set, $9.97, is a great all-in-one set for this project, providing everything you need for a smooth, even coat, such as small and large rollers and a paint tray. With paint, the chair can match your house or introduce a pop of color. The last step is to accessorize with cushions and pillows. With the project work done, sit back and enjoy!
If you want to surprise your dad or husband with a second chair after all his hard work on Father’s Day, The Home Depot is hosting a Do-It-Herself Workshop inspired by Pinterest on Thursday, June 20 to demonstrate building a chair from scratch.
