Sun Loungers

[wizer]

Not to hog BB's thread. I'm considering chucking together a sun lounger or two. The joinery will be as simple as possible, maybe dowels or doms, but more likely screws\pocket screws. The material will be Corby Iroko

I'm thinking about designs. For obvious reasons at least one of them needs to be ergonomic (long word for me). Here's a couple that I like:

This one looks the simplest to slap together but I worry about the single pivot point (click to see a bigger version).


This one adds another pivot point but also another layer of complexity. It looks like the lower leg rest runs in a channel and maybe has specialist hardware?

This design is winning for me at the moment. It pivots at the intersection between back and legs. However, I'm not sure this is necessary. Our deck is big enough that they do not need to be stored elsewhere in winter. But if I want to cover them in winter it might be a benefit. If I do away with the hinges then there is a weakness in that joint. I'm not sure if it might be better to have the upper part fixed on the sides of a lower sides.

So what do you think? Can you come up with a better design? Spot any design flaws here?

 

[Dan-K]

I really like this one: http://www.simonwhitedesign.co.uk/product.php?id=5. But it may not be the easiest to make!

I'd think if you have a bad back you'd need to think about the shape of the back-rest quite carefully, and maybe having a lumbar curve (convex rather than concave backrest) would make it more comfortable...

 

[wizer]

yeh that's lovely Dan, but beyond me even if I was trying.

I need to get sketchup loaded and start trying stuff out.

 

[Windy*miller]

I have a teak lounger which is just about identical to your first picture. The cushion is essential but I wouldn't change a thing about the lounger itself. If you wanted any detailed info I could easily supply it.

 

[ByronBlack]

I really like the third one - seems the most simple to do, and looks the most elegant IMO

 

[Windy*miller]

The curved one looks good, but as with mine I think a cushion is essential on a wooden lounger (at least for lounging) and I'm not sure how easy it would be to get a cushion to lie along the curve.

 

[wizer]

The curved one looks good, but as with mine I think a cushion is essential on a wooden lounger (at least for lounging) and I'm not sure how easy it would be to get a cushion to lie along the curve.

This is a good point I'd not considered, cheers.

 

[woodbloke]

I like the first one, 'specially with a few cushions to go with it. Just watch out for that iroko :twisted: ...good stuff for outside though - Rob

 

[The Bear]

I'd keep it simple and go for no1

The curved one doesn't actually look comfortable. You'ld have to sit fairly upright all the time and couldn't lay on your side, not with your back anyway

Mark

 

[hivisvest72]

I built one last summer - very basic but it was my own design and is very comfortable. Just made it from cheap pine and filled in the screw holes with filler so it's not much to look at (especially compared to some of the pros on here) but now I know how to make it I can do another one with another type of wood and change/hide the fixings better.

The back lifts up and can be set to 4 different positions. The wheels at the front allow it to be easily moved around the garden to follow the sun (or the gaps between the falling volcanic ash).

The lower section is curved upwards slightly to make it more comfortable on the back of the legs, and the back has slight concave curve.

Here's a link to it (but a moderator might need to check it to make sure it's OK):

http://alanhill.co.uk/woodwork/sunlounger.html

(alanhill dot co dot uk / woodwork / sunlounger dot html)

 

[wizer]

Thanks guys I think you are all right. I'm going to go for the first design and KISS.

Alan, that's a nice one you've done. I'm going to take the same approach and build one and learn from it. Both in build and comfort terms. I'll use screws and caps to make it quick.

 

[Harbo]

I actually tried out the 3rd type at a hotel this afternoon - they are surprisingly comfortable even without cushions.

Rod

 

[wizer]

It's a hard life you lead Rod. One Hotel to the next, testing out the sun loungers as you go :lol:

I did think that the 3rd one looked comfortable without cushions. I'm just not sure how long it would be comfortable for. I don't lay down flat often when sitting in the garden. I'm normally reading or supervising the little thug

 

[Harbo]

Tom - the joys of retirement (apart from the reduction in income)

So comfortable that my son-in-law fell asleep on one - but that was after champagne, a delicious 3 course lunch and a few bottles of wine!

You can get cushions with with a "sleeve at the back" to slide over the seat backs and so retain them.

Bread and water today!

Rod

 

[Benchwayze]

Simple, straightforward design. And I think I could persuade SWIMBO to wheel me out the way when she's mowing.
:lol: :lol:

John

 

[dhm]

has anyone got a plan to make a sun lounger, I like the new yankee style lounger

 

[marcros]

You can buy all of the Norm plans here http://www.newyankee.com/index.php?id=5 ... ort=normal

Not sure which sun-lounger it was.

 

[Harbo]

This is Norms one:

Brass fittings available from Rockler.

Rod

 

[dhm]

thanks for the link to new yankee store ,however the plans cost $20 . i was hoping someone would have free plans, as a pensioner i have to watch the pennies.