It can be very rewarding to create a piece of outdoor furniture from scratch. Building your own personal Adirondack glider is not the easiest, but it is definitely a rewarding process. Since the 1900s, the Adirondack design has maintained its reputation as a prominent member in the world of outdoor furniture. Whether you are pretty savvy in furniture building or you just want to make a custom Adirondack glider, there are certain resources and procedures you will need to consider.
Choosing the wood is one of the reasons for building it yourself, as you can cater to your own preference in color, style, and grain. Adirondack gliders are most commonly built with cedar, cypress, redwood, or alder and there are certain characteristics of each material to consider. An Adirondack glider made with cedar wood is a good choice because of its durability and natural resistance to decay and various insects and cedar wood also stays cool in the summer heat. Cypress is similar to cedar with its ability to resist decay because of its natural oils and they both can tough it out in harsh weather conditions. Cedar and cypress are also two of the easiest woods to manipulate and cut. Redwood is another choice to consider. It is also known for its durability and is popular because of its natural colors and its resistance to shrinking or warping due to excessive sunlight or rain. Alder is the third most popular wood used on outdoor furniture and has the ability to absorb any stain applied with ease and is also easy to work with.
Circular Sander
Regardless of the wood chosen, specific sizes of the wood must be cut to the appropriate length depending on what size Adirondack glider you are looking to build. Whether the Adirondack glider is for your own personal use or for the use of family or company, they can be built in a chair style to occupy a single individual or a loveseat style to occupy more.
A design plan is the first thing you should purchase before taking on the challenge of building an Adirondack glider. These design plans can be purchased online or in hardware stores for an affordable price and in whatever style or size you are looking for. A tape measure, a pencil and some free time are small, but very important, details to remember when getting started.
Some tools will be absolutely necessary to create an Adirondack glider. Some of these tools include a table saw, a circular saw, a band saw, a drill, a set of wrenches, and a sander, wood glue and deck screws.
A set of gliders with ball bearings on either end along with screws, nuts, washers, and bolts will be absolutely necessary for the base of the Adirondack glider. These can often be purchased as a set for a cheap price and might even come with your design plans.
Finishing products should also be purchased and applied to the Adirondack glider after the building process is completed to keep your new creation looking fresh and vibrant. Sealants, stains, or varnishes should be applied to avoid damage caused by weather and you may also choose to paint your finished product to match your existing outdoor furniture.
Building your own Adirondack glider can be a rewarding process with a comfortable end result.