Making Adirondack Chairs From HDPE

Made some modern style Adirondack chairs from HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)
This stuff was not cheap. I made some prototypes first from Osb and MDF. Once I had the the final design down I went ahead and made it from HDPE.
.SVG File available here. tinyurl.com/99pct34j
You can use this .svg file to make your own chairs using a Cnc router or you can take it to you local print shop and have them made into templates.

[@joebrown1382]

Good looking chair Wes. I like all the jigs for assembly, very cool.

[@WesHamstra]

Thanks joe! Jigs help a lot with assembly.

[@daveerickson5313]

Impressive engineering indeed

[@WesHamstra]

Thanks!

[@maurolimaok]

They're very nice!

[@Handcraftedrock]

I always wanted to make a camper box out of HDPE because of it's strength. For experiment, I made an outside rack from steel tubing and bolted HDPE panels to it. In the first winter we got temperature drop to -30C. All the bolts got ripped off the panels. That is how I learned about extreme thermal expansion of HDPE.

[@dougLinker]

That’s a good looking chair Wesley!

[@WesHamstra]

Thanks Doug!

[@adamjohnzon]

Incredible

[@christofix]

Nice chair, Wes! It was fun watching this process. You have put a lot of work into making these jigs, but when you want to start producing these chairs in mass as you have said, you will have a lot of benefits from these jigs. Keep building stuff buddy! Greetings, Christophe.

[@WesHamstra]

Thank you! It is surprising how much time these jigs cut back.

[@joshhamstra4642]

looks good

[@WesHamstra]

Thanks Josh!

[@Rhysnga]

Great Engineering right there. Now flat pack it and watch the money roll in❤🤑👍

[@WesHamstra]

Yes. I have plans for that.

[@amberjones14]

I would love a tutorial on how you created the design for the CNC router!

[@mshopey32]

There are hdpe Adirondack chairs on Amazon. Can I attach 2 x 4s to the legs to make the chairs taller? Trying to make them counter height

[@onlinekicker]

HDPE is very stable, have you considered drill/tapping directly to save the effort of threaded inserts? You may also be able to save time by programming a predrill path for some of the screw holes.

[@WesHamstra]

I have not thought of tapping it instead of a threaded insert. That is something I will look into trying. The cnc pre drills and counter sinks most of the holes. It can’t do the ones for the. Back support pieces as they are drilled in the side of the material.

[@mikejackson2888]

Where do you get the material? Looks good

[@WesHamstra]

There is a manufacture of that is 1 1/2 hrs from you. I don’t think any big box stores sell it.

[@acerjuglans383]

It's over $500 for a sheet of 3/4" HDPE where I live. That means each chair has $250 worth of main parts, plus stainless steel screws aren't inexpensive either. How much do you think people will pay for a chair? Serious question.

[@WesHamstra]

I get the sheets for $280. I have about $12 in hardware per chair. I can get two chairs per sheet. I have been selling them for $375 per chair

[@dailiermoreno3107]

What will be the final price for this chair? Thank you for the video.

[@vincebaker3384]

where did you buy the hdpe?

[@WesHamstra]

I have a manufacture of it that is close by my house. It’s very expensive. It cost me $300 cad for one sheet.

[@getcadged]

How thick was the HDPE?

[@WesHamstra]

3/4”

[@matthewfarrell34]

What if I don't have a CNC machine?

[@WesHamstra]

You can purchase my svg file and have it printed. Make templates and use a jigsaw and a router to cut them out

[@northerneyal]

Wow 😮 will contact you

[@davidmcgrath6507]

Wood working eh?

[@WesHamstra]

Plastic working…

[@angrydragonkungfu9164]

Wes isn't telling anyone the company's name where he got the HDPE from. Lol, why the secret?

[@WesHamstra]

Libby manufacturing.