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Reclining lounge chair
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Get comfortable on the patio or deck with this sturdy reclining lounge chair
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By Cathy Dalrymple, photos by Brenda Falvey, illustration by Len Churchill
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The pull-out beverage tray is stabilized by levelling strips
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Next, lay out the slats for the lounge surface. I used a piece of 1/2" ply as a spacer between slats to make sure the spacing was consistent. Once you're satisfied with this positioning, mark where the centre of each slat will join with the main stringers. These marks indicate where you'll plunge slots for the #10 biscuits that secure the slats. These biscuits work together with 5/8" x 5/8" support strips fastened to the inside of the stringers with screws to support the weight of people using the lounge. Add these later.
Next, drill all holes for the leg bolts and dowels. The plans show where the parts go. I used a Forstner bit for this job because it cuts such clean edges, although you could use a sharp brad-point bit instead. You can now cut the dowel that fits between the main stringers to length. Set the slats between the stringers so you can measure the required dowel length exactly.
Fasten the legs to the stringers with 5/16"-dia. x 3" connecting bolts that thread into metal inserts set into the wood. Install the threaded inserts, test-fit the legs, then set them aside.
Now it's time for glue. I used a weatherproof glue for securing the slats, beginning with those on one stringer first. Set them in place with biscuits, then use your 1/2" plywood block to check and adjust spacing. Adjust the slats so they're all square to one stringer, then let everything dry before repeating the process with the other stringer.
You'll find that this second side takes a bit of patience, since the slats you put in want to wiggle out as you work on the others. I fixed this problem with a loose pipe clamp installed across the stringers at one end of the frame. Tighten it slowly as you add slats and things should go well. It also helps to keep a scrap of wood underneath the slats, so they don't fall down if their biscuits happen to pull away from the wood.
Once all the slats are loosely in place, persuade the one-inch dowel into place between the stringers as a final assembly step. Clamp the lounge along its length when all pieces are in position, checking again for spacing and check for square before allowing the glue to dry.
The plans show the added support strip required underneath the slats along each stringer. If you've made your stringers curved, custom-cut the support strip to match this shape using the stringer template as a guide.
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