Step 5: Attach the Battens

attaching the notch for the seat of a Westport chair with a drill/driver
Photo: Wendell T. Webber
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Clamp together the two boards for the seat blank. If the edges don't mate evenly, flatten them with a hand plane. Center two battens across the boards, inset several inches from the boards' ends. Drill ⅛-inch pilot holes through the battens and attach them with 1⅝-inch stainless-steel trim-head screws, as shown. Do not use glue between the boards or under the battens.
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    Tools List

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    • miter saw
      Sliding compound miter saw to crosscut the boards to length
    • adjustable clamp
      Clamps to hold the parts together during assembly
    • circular saw
      Circular saw to cut the parts to width
    • framing square
      Framing square and combination square for marking cutlines
    • jigsaw
      Jigsaw to cut notches and curves
    • drill
      Drill/driver
    • hand plane
      Hand plane to straighten board edges
    • sandpaper
      120-grit sandpaper
    • sanding block
      Sanding block
    • pencil compass
      Compass
    • torpedo level
      Torpedo level
    • 3-inch wide paint brush
      3-inch paintbrush to apply teak oil

    Shopping List

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    ½ x 10 cedar boards.
    Get four 8-foot lengths

    1 ⅝-inch stainless-steel trim-head screws

    Teak oil to finish the chair