Two Recycled Chairs Make a Double Chair Bench
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I will show you how to make a double chair bench with repurposed chairs. Or maybe how NOT to make a double chair bench.
Have you ever had a repurposed furniture project fail? I do. I never really have a plan when I jump into a project. Because I always wing it. Most of the time, that works out okay, sometimes not so much. This recycled chair bench would be one of those projects.
Vintage Chairs Without Seats
I picked up these two chairs at Tickled Pink a few months ago.
It didn’t bother me that they were missing their seats.
See more Chair Projects & Benches HERE.
The Design Stage of a Chair Bench
I decided to make a double chair bench out of the chairs. Then, I wished I had a back and realized I could use this sign that hadn’t sold yet.
Dismantling Recycled Chairs For a New Project
I needed to dismantle the front rungs of the chairs. The Dremel Multi-Max ]does a great “flush” cut.
I also had to use a hammer and a small pry bar because the back of the chair had several nails in it.
These would be said nails.
More Trial And Error Designing
This image shows a dry fit of the repurposed chairs. Clamps held everything in place to see if things would work.
For this project, I used some old scrap 1x’s. Some were from a local lumber store that closed about 30 years ago.
At this point, things go wrong. (but I didn’t know it at the time)
I made a box for the top boards to rest upon.
Time to Paint
You can see that I used my Kreg Jig® K4 to make pocket holes to assemble the box. I painted the repurposed chair bench and the slats separately.
I did so because I wanted to be able to get in between the slatted boards.
After all that, I put the headboard (sign) back on and realized it was about this much too short.
Is It a Project Failure?
Major project fail! What I don’t like about this piece is
- It’s too long
- I have to figure out a new back IF I decide to move forward
- I wouldn’t say I like it black
Maybe I’ll paint the repurposed chair bench another color; I may or may not put a back on it. It may end up in a burn pile somewhere! (I don’t have one) I could put it at the curb to see if anyone wants to pick it up.
Want to hear something funny? This recycled chair bench is not my first double bench project fail. I made another one several years ago. Aren’t we supposed to learn from our mistakes?
We Should Learn From Our DIY Mistakes
This is the original project fail-double chair bench.
You can probably tell I’ve never had a bench for the end of the bed. The good news is this repurposed chair bench did sell at one of my yard sales. Oh, how I wish I had learned from my mistake.
So, please leave a comment below and tell me I am not the only one with project failures! What was your biggest or your last project failure?
gail
UPDATE: I changed up this bench for the better. I hope you love it as much as I do.
So, I purchased 3 new boards to create the back for the repurposed chairs.
I clamped the boards onto the bench and drew a line, then used my jigsaw to curve the boards to match the curve of the original chairs.
Painting And a Dark Wash
Using a light turquoise, I sprayed the double chair bench with my HomeRight Finish Max Fine Finish Sprayer.
Then I gave the chair bench a black “wash’ with some watered-down black paint.
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I’m glad I didn’t give up on this project’s failure with repurposed chairs! I think this is a very versatile piece and can be used in many different ways.
If you love this project but maybe you think it’s a little too difficult, here’s the easiest chair bench ever:
See how to make the easiest bench made from chairs.
I have to many failed project to mention, I love the bench in black. Can’t you just cut the boards shorter to to fit? I think it is gorgeous!
Carol
I really like the bench – you can send it to me if you don’t want it :). I also like the black even though I normally don’t like black furniture. The white lettering really stands out on it.
Well, if you don’t want this bench can I have it? I love it!
I have project fails all the time. Recently I wanted to sew a pattern as a new type of art (using just the pattern itself, not material), it failed miserably and I wasted so much time on it. I am unable to throw it out, but don’t want to look at it!
I don’t think that looks like a “fail” at all.
But I know how you feel. I have a really cool chair that I transformed and CANNOT GET BACK TOGETHER. It’s been sitting in the garage, mocking me, for about a year.
David
Ummm-Yes, I have many fails. I am like you, not always going in with a clear plan. I like working that way, but it also means I have some major oops.
I just had one yesterday. I am planning on sharing it today, or tomorrow, or whenever I get around to posting. Like you I have been super busy.
Those chair benches from curved backs can be tricky. When I did my last one I had a terrible time with the seat box. It was so difficult to get the correct angle of the backs once the front of the chair was removed. I had to rework that thing several times before I got it right, and the back never made it onto the bench…same problem as you’re having: despite all the measuring and cutting it still didn’t fit right! If you recall, my triple chair bench sat in the garage a full year because I got stumped at one point and set it aside. When I finally got back to it I had no problems at all! Must be I was just having a bad day way back when I started. I like the black on the bench, but then again black is my go to color. Have you considered making cut outs in the seat and using the bench as a planter? Or even turning the seat box upside down so it makes a box to hold pots. It’s really cute and I can see it on a porch filled with flowers….
The sign (back) does need to go higher like you had it in the first picture. How about adding a piece of wood to each end of the sign to get the right length again? Your kreg will do the job easily!
Not a fail, just a challenge. 😉
I never learn, that is why me and the seam ripper are such good friends when I sew, and why I always buy extra paint when paint. The first, second and even third time are usually a fail for me, but I just take it in stride, but I never learn. Maybe it is our age, we do get forgetful sometimes…well at least I do! I think it is the scale of it that is throwing you off. The curves aren’t meeting the back in the right spot. Oh well, just come back to it another day and it will come to you.
Gail–funny girl! NOT a failed project, you just need to make a “simple” revision! I’ll guide you through it if you want–but please don’t throw it on any burn piles!
Catherine
Oh gosh Gail… if you only knew!
The latest one was the door shelves I made… I really needed clamps… I really simply needed more time to work on them.
Just before I left for far northern NV to see the kids and to work on the door shelves… I have a twin sized head board bench I’ve been working on for MONTHS! I refuse to give up! I messed it up and now have to re-do. Grrr…
Do you remember the Beaded Baseball Card I was doing for my husband? Well… it’s been nearly a year and it sits in the unfinished state… I’m now feeling guilty about not working on it… but I was so disheartened it was (is) hard to go back to it.
My mother used to tell me, “A mistake is not a bad thing as long as we learn from them.” You, like me, have to do them a couple of times to actually learn anything! How soon we forget! It’s like God is slapping us along side the head… “see… you didn’t listen the first time did you?” LOL
If all of us bloggers blogged about all of our fails I think there would be a LOT of fails out there!
I’m sure you want to get back into the shop, but at the same time it’s good for you to have a break. All work and no play makes Gail a dull lady. 🙂
((hugs))
What a bummer…it was such a cute idea. I can’t even count my project “fails”…it would be too depressing. I know you though…you will get right back on the horse and make something work!
I think you might be too harsh of a critic. I like the bench very much would build a simple back to match the seat. Guess this is one of those time the old adage comes into play. “Measure twice, cut once”.
I hate it when that happens!! When you see something in your head and then the thing in front of you doesn’t look like what’s in your head. I think there might be some type of time warp thing that happens cause then it’s like my brain shorts out and it’s “to the burn pile with you!!!” Saying that like the Red Queen says “Off with his head!” in Alice in Wonderland 🙂
For the record I rather liked your bench although black isn’t my decorating color either. Obviously you want to make a bench with chair backs and you’re on your way to getting exactly what you vision. 🙂
Good luck!!