Build to Made - DIY from a Dad

Build to Made - DIY from a Dad I’m a dad who builds! Fixes things. Experiments. Makes mistakes. And learns.
(3)

05/31/2026

One small homeowner annoyance after another 😅

After fixing the trash can pad, the fence started bothering me even more. Every trash day turned into me forcing this thing shut.

I only needed a few extra inches, and I REALLY didn’t want to rebuild the entire fence or dig new post holes…so I tried extending the frame using leftover wood I already had sitting around.

Not perfect. Not fancy. But honestly, I’ll take practical over perfect at this point 😂

Sometimes the best homeowner projects are just solving the tiny problems that slowly drive you insane.

05/29/2026

Several people asked for the dimensions and cut diagram, so here you go.

This chair is made from a single 2x10 and assembles without screws, bolts, or hardware.

I put the full cut diagram, measurements, and step-by-step instructions on my blog.

Have you ever built one of these before?

—

Before anyone asks 😅

This style of chair has been around for years under different names, including Viking chair, camp chair, bog chair, stargazer chair, one-board chair, and African birthing chair. Some early references include woodworking plans from Jeff's DIY Projects, Instructables builds, and even a January 1919 Popular Science article showing a "Comfortable Chair from a 12-Inch Board."

I'm not the inventor, just sharing a version with my attempt to build it.

05/28/2026

Here’s a Father’s Day idea using just one $15 2x10 board.

The wild part is that the entire Viking Chair design locks together using simple physics: no screws or hardware.

For the seat:
-Mark 12” from the bottom
-Measure in 1¾” from each edge
-Cut down toward the 12” line

For the back:
-Mark a slot around 12”–13 ¾”
-Drill starter holes
-Use a jigsaw to remove the center section

Then test fit, sand the edges, and taper the seat corners so they don’t dig into your legs.

Honestly way more comfortable than I expected. Would you actually use this?

—

Before anyone asks 😅

This style of chair has been around for years under different names, including Viking chair, camp chair, bog chair, stargazer chair, one-board chair, and African birthing chair. Some early references include woodworking plans from Jeff's DIY Projects, Instructables builds, and even a January 1919 Popular Science article showing a "Comfortable Chair from a 12-Inch Board."

I'm not the inventor, just sharing a version with my attempt to build it.

05/25/2026

This started as one of those ‘I’ll deal with it later’ homeowner problems…I originally dumped rocks and stepping stones back here years ago becuase the area got muddy. Terrible idea…and it actually made trash day worse. Tore it all out, compacted a proper base, poured concrete (with a little slope), and now the cans roll out clean every time. Weirdly satisfying. Fence still needs work though 😅

05/20/2026

Everybody roasted the back support on this chair…and honestly they had a point 😂

The original version worked, but the back flexed more than I wanted. So I repositioned the back support for 2 points of contact and added a carriage bolt. I also reinforced the legs for stability and made DIY cushions from a drop cloth + mattress topper. Might need my mom’s help for the stitching 😂.

Still WAY cheaper than most outdoor furniture setups, especially if you build a set.

Question is…would you still actually build these yourself or just buy patio chairs instead?

05/14/2026

I always wondered why outdoor chairs were so expensive…so I tried building one with just five 2x3s and about $15.

Honestly this ended up being one of the easier builds I’ve done lately 😂

Cut list is pinned below 👇

Would you build this or buy it?

05/11/2026

I assumed all 5 gallon buckets were basically the same…until I compared them side-by-side. Turns out:

-Costco is taller and NSF certified
-Home Depot has the best sealing lid
-Somehow all the lids fit each other
-Lowe’s/Home Depot are made by the same mfg

The bucket isn’t even the important part anymore, it’s really about the lid and whether you need food-safe storage.

Hope this saves somebody a return trip.

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Houston, TX

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