How To Make Cardboard Chair That Holds Weight: 3 Easy Steps

There are incredibly many ways out there that teach how to make cardboard chair that holds weight, and they are all fantastic and easy to follow. With this guide, we hope you’ll have a unique recycle-to-create-a-masterwork experience.

Perhaps you are contemplating whether to put your large boxes into a recycling bin or just stock them in storage. Luckily, recycling exists where you can transform things into basically everything more useful. If you decide to make a weight-bearing chair — that can hold an adult’s weight — out of that cardboard, follow these fantastic ways and be ready to see and use a masterpiece!

how to make cardboard chair that holds weight

 

3 Steps To Make A DIY Sturdy Cardboard Chair at Home

First off, you are required to prepare the following materials and tools:

  • Scrap boxes – You’ll want ones that are big, strong, and compacted to make a firm foundation for your chair.
  • Clean and new cardboard – You will need this extra cardboard to cap off the chair’s edges.
  • White glue
  • Superglue
  • Utility knife – This is an excellent tool for precise cutting.
  • Pencil and marker – You’ll use this for tracing and creating patterns.
  • Carpenter’s ruler – You may need this for estimating the perfect dimensions for the chair model.

Now, it’s time to make the cardboard chair.

 

Step #1. Designing and creating the template

To begin planning, lay flat the cardboard and draw your desired chair shape and size. Note that you must sketch the side profile of the chair. You’ll want to do a little study and examine the user’s comfort in choosing the perfect design.

The sketch will serve as the pattern to create every layer, so you need this to be sturdy. You can have this master template cut out from plywood or double-layered using another piece of solid cardboard.

 

Step #2. Cutting and gluing layers

Simply use the master template and the marker to create patterns on the cardboard. It’s best to maximize the cardboard spaces by fitting 3-4 profiles into a box.

Use one side of the master plan in tracing all the layers. Then, precisely cut the patterns with a utility knife. Ensure to make definite cuts for every layer.

Note: The number of cutouts or layers depends on how wide you planned your chair to be.

After cutting out probably a hundred pieces, carefully glue them together using white glue and dots of solid adhesive. While cardboards alone can easily fold and crumple, having them layered and glued together may provide you a natural furniture finish. Keep every piece aligned with each other as you glue them to avoid misalignments, especially on the sitting surface.

 

Step #3. Finishing chair

Before finally enjoying the fruit of your hard work, cap off first the ends of the chair using the clean cardboard you prepared beforehand. It will prevent the side-edges, especially the chair’s two legs, from being scratched, dented, and dulled.

Now, be amazed by the lovely, sturdy, and comfortable feeling of sitting on a chair made of mere cardboard. Place it by the window or your lounge area where you can comfortably read books or just enjoy the garden or sunset view.

 

Can I Make A Cardboard Chair Without A Glue?

Depending on the guide you choose to follow in making  a weight-bearing cardboard chair, you may not need glue or a fastener to make a sturdy stool. Well, the secret is in the cuts and folds you make.

The first step is to sketch your design by using single and double-ply cardboard. This dummy allows you to test the feasibility of the chair.

Next, after assuring that your design will work, lay out your two sheets of double-ply cardboard and pencil-draw the folding and cutting lines. The cutting lines should have a thickness that matches the frame-shaped cutout. This will allow you to easily fit the slot in the assembling step.

Afterward, fold up the lines you marked. Have someone hold a metal ruler along the drawn line to make a clean fold. Finally, assemble the pieces and carefully fold and fit them around each other.

 

How To Make The Cardboard Chair Rigid Like Wood

Before building the plan and the chair itself, there are ways to harden the cardboard to provide more stability and, indeed, safety. You have two options. The first one is a mixture of PVA glue and water, while the second one is a polyester resin coat mixed with a catalyst.

For the first option, you have to do another coat after the first one. Then, you’ll need to mix two parts of the glue and one part of water to apply the final coat.

For the second mixture, simply brush the mixture all over the cardboard surface and let it redress and dry for six to twenty-four hours.

 

Conclusion

The next time you have large boxes stuck around, you don’t have to fret over the disposal as you already know how to make cardboard chair that holds weight. Aside from helping in environmental preservation, recycling cardboard and transforming it into a functional chair can be a satisfying and fun learning experience.

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