Building an Outdoor Patio Glider Inexpensively

by DoItYourself Staff

what you'll need

Wood ranging in the thickness of 3/8 to 1-3/4 in. In you are unable to find wood in the specified thickness, you may buy rough lumber and use a jointer and thickness planner.
A band saw for re-sawing thick pieces
A table saw to cut tenons (a wooden projection for insertion into a corresponding cavity)
A plunge router, drill press and chisel to work on mortises (a hole in the framework to receive the tenons)
Varnish to protect and prevent fading

Patios let you enjoy the outdoors, spending cool evenings with your family or enjoying a barbecue on a warm summer's day. A great addition to your patio is an outdoor patio gilder. A cheaper alternative to purchasing an outdoor patio glider is to build one yourself.

Building Seat Supports

It's always best to begin by laying out shapes of the back stiles and seat supports by using templates. Cut the joints at the end when the pieces are still square. Using a table saw make half lap joints with consistent cuts. Cut the tenons short by clamping the scrap stock to the fence. Cut the layout lines with a band saw for finishing the shapes of the seat supports and back stiles. By installing an edge guide on the plunge router, route the back rail mortises in the back stiles. Use the chisel to square the mortise. Spread glue on the half lap joints and clamp together the seat support and back stile. Let the glue stick overnight and start work on the seat rail mortises. Cut the seat and back rails to size and shape the tenons. Shape the mortises for the seat support using the drill press and chisel.

Building the Back Assembly

Mark the slat mortise location in the back rails and square their ends with a chisel. Cut the slats to size and inset in the bottom back rail. Then fit the top rail over the slats. Join and clamp the back stile mortises and back rail tenons with glue. Then add the seat rail. Once the glue has set, join the other back stile/ seat support to the assembly.

Completing the Seat

Glue together seat support mortise and tenon joints. Lay out seat spacing on the end seat support. Cut spacers to temporarily position the slats while you place the screws. Cut joints for the bench sides and position the seat on it. Secure it with screws. Using a jigsaw cut the arms and install it with screws

Building a Base

Cut the mortise and tenon joints as done earlier, saw the curved profiles and assemble the base. Install the glider brackets by boring 1/4 in.bolt holes. Then place the bench over the base with 3/4in spacers under the bench legs and bolt the brackets to the bench.

You are now ready to swing on your outdoor patio glider and enjoy it with your loved ones.