Made of lightweight cedar, these beach chairs fold for easy transport
By Rick Campbell, photos by Roger Yip, illustration by Len Churchill
Cut slat rabbets on your tablesaw with a dado blade. Clamp a stop strip to your saw fence to control rabbet widths.
Almost Beach Time Unfold the chair and test it while you consider your finishing options. Cedar stands up well to wet conditions with no finish at all. It will weather to a light grey over time, and some cracking may occur. I chose to wipe on a couple of coats of Circa 1850 Tung'n Teak oil. This is my favourite finish for outdoor projects because it has provided good protection over the years and it is easy to apply. I will give the chairs a fresh coat at the beginning of each season to keep the wood looking great.
Before you put these chairs in the trunk of your car and head on down to the beach, be sure to label the routing templates and put them in a safe place. Trust me, once you're spotted in public with these chairs, you'll need to get your hands on the patterns again.
