Build a Tradesman Chair

A World Market Inspired Chair to Build

I’m still on a chair-building kick and I think it is really cool to have several chairs each with a different back. What can  I say… that’s how I roll! Anyway, the free plans to build a Tradesman chair, inspired by World Market, would look great as an accent piece, at the dining room table, or on the porch to relax in the warmer weather!

Materials:

• 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws
• 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws
• 1-1/4″ brad nails
• Edge banding for the plywood back and seat, optional
• Finishing supplies

Lumber:

• 2 – 2×2 at 8′ (or 1 – 2×4 ripped in half)
• 1 – 1×3 at 6′
• 1 – 2′ x 4′ sheet of 3/4″ plywood

Cut List:

• 2 – 2×2 at 21-7/8″ – Upper Back Legs
• 2 – 2×2 at 18″ – Lower Back Legs
• 2 – 2×2 at 17-1/4″ – Front Legs
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 12-1/4″ x 15″ – back
• 2 – 1×3 at 15″ – Front & Back Stretchers
• 2 – 1×3 at 17″ – Side Stretchers
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 18″ x 20″ – Seat

Step One

Cut the pieces for the back legs. Cut the tapers as shown using a jigsaw or a tapering jig on the table saw. Cut a 5 degree bevel in the bottom of the upper back leg. Drill pocket holes in the top edge of the lower back leg. Secure the legs together using glue and 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws. The tapers should face toward the front of the chair.

Step Two

Cut the pieces for the back and the back stretcher. Drill pocket holes in each of the shorter ends of each piece. If using edge banding, apply it to the top and bottom of the back before assembly. Secure to the legs as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. The front face of the back will be flush with the front face of the upper legs. The outside face of the stretcher will be set back 1/4″ from the outside face of the lower back legs.

Step Three

Cut the pieces for the front legs and the front stretcher. Cut the taper in the front legs as shown using a jigsaw or a tapering jig on the table saw. Drill pocket holes in each end of the stretcher. The stretcher will be located so that the front face is 1/4″ back from the front edge of the legs. Secure with glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Four

Cut the pieces for the side stretchers and drill pocket holes in each end. The stretchers are located so that the outside face is 1/4″ back from the outside face of the legs. Secure with glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Five

Cut the piece for the seat. Cut the notches with a jigsaw. If using edge banding, apply it before attaching the seat to the frame. Secure the seat using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails.

Finish as desired!

It would be really cool to build several chairs using the DIY wood chair plans and paint each of them a different color or just build a few chair frames and create a bench with one solid piece across as the seat!

Have questions about the plans to build a Tradesman chair? Leave a comment below!