Assembling and Finishing Farmhouse Dining Chairs
Step-by-step guide made from Indy Farm Life's YouTube video.
This project involves assembling and finishing a set of pre-made, unfinished Parawood dining chairs to match a custom farmhouse table. The process includes assembling the chair frames, then priming and painting the frames white, and staining the seats to match an existing piece of furniture.
- Difficulty: intermediate
Must know before you build
- Always use Titebond III wood glue on all dowel joints and cross braces for lasting stability.
- Cut the 90-degree bend off the included Allen key to use it as a drill bit for faster assembly.
- Use a paint sprayer for primer and latex paint to achieve a smooth, professional finish on frames.
- Apply 3-4 coats of water-based Polycrylic to stained seats for durable, long-lasting protection.
Tools
- Cordless Drill/Driver (DeWalt, 20V MAX)
- Allen Key (Hex key)
- Screwdriver (Manual)
- Paint Sprayer (optional)
Materials
- Dining Chair Kit (6, Parawood, International Concepts)
- Wood Glue (Titebond, Titebond III)
- Primer (Spray primer)
- Paint (Latex paint, White)
- Wood Stain (Penetrating Stain, Minwax, Special Walnut 224)
- Top Coat (Water-Based, Minwax, Polycrylic)
- Felt Pads
Step by step
Step 1: Assemble the Main Frame
The back legs and backrest assembly is attached to the seat frame using the provided machine screws and the modified Allen key bit.
- Position the Frame. Position the pre-assembled back of the chair and the seat frame, using a trash can (or another stable element) as a makeshift stand to hold the pieces at a comfortable working height.
- Tip: To save a ton of time, cut the short end off the provided Allen key and chuck the long end into your drill to use it as a power driver bit.
- Attach Back to Seat Frame. The seat frame is attached to the back assembly by inserting and tightening the four machine screws with an Allen key (or a drill and the custom Allen key bit mentioned in the tip).
Step 2: Attach Front Legs and Cross Braces
The front legs are bolted to the seat frame, and then the cross braces are installed between the legs using wood glue and wood screws for extra rigidity.
- Attach Front Legs. The two front legs are attached to the front corners of the seat frame using machine screws.
- Install Side Cross Braces. Wood glue is applied to the ends of the side cross braces, which are then inserted between the front and back legs and secured with wood screws.
- Install Front and Back Cross Braces. The front and back cross braces are installed in the same manner, with wood glue applied to the joints before they are screwed into place.
- Common mistake: Skipping wood glue on the cross braces can lead to the chair loosening and becoming wobbly over time.
Step 3: Attach the Arms
For the armed chairs, the armrests are attached to the frame using a combination of dowels, machine screws, and wood glue.
- Attach Arm to Backrest. The back of the armrest is attached to the chair's back leg. A dowel helps with alignment, and a wood screw secures it in place. Add wood glue for extra strength.
- Attach Arm to Front Leg. The front of the armrest is secured to the front leg using two machine screws. Additionally, apply glue to the dowel joint on the top of the front leg.
Step 4: Finishing Process Overview
While the painting process isn't demonstrated live, watch the video for an explanation of how to prime and paint the frames and stain the seats. Remember to test your stain on the underside of a seat first.
- Finishing Process Overview. While the painting process isn't demonstrated live, watch the video for an explanation of how to prime and paint the frames and stain the seats. Remember to test your stain on the underside of a seat first.
- Tip: Different wood species accept stain differently. Always test your stain on a scrap piece or the underside of your project to ensure the color is what you expect.