How To Add A Handle To A Camping Chair
I found some ADORABLE camping chairs at K-mart. They match my camper perfectly, so I had to have them, but I HATE the stupid bags to hold and carry them.
So I added a clasp to keep the chair closed and a handle to carry it. If you want to do the same for your chairs, here are the directions.
Supplies
- Approximately four feet of 1 inch canvas webbing (it will change depending on the size of your chair)
- Two small rivets or eyelets
- One small screw
- One parachute buckle in 1 inch or 3/4 inch size
Tools
- Scissors
- Lighter
- Hole Punch
- Rivet Crimper
- Pliers
- Screwdriver
- Drill
Directions
Cut the webbing into two pieces. The small piece is about 18″ long (longer if your chair is fatter) and the second piece should be about 35″ long (longer if your chair is taller).
Singe each end of the webbing with the lighter to prevent fraying.
Insert the small piece into one end of the parachute buckle and leave about an inch overlap.
With the hole punch, punch a hole through both pieces so the rivets will fit through.
Put the rivets through the holes (I used these red eyelets because that’s all I had handy).
Crimp them with the rivet crimper.
If you need to, use the pliers to help you remove the stupid rivet from the crimper. Or… maybe that’s just a problem with mine… Your rivet (or eyelet) should look like this from the front.
And this from the back.
Repeat the process on the other side of the parachute buckle, creating a circle. This is your chair clasp.
If you prefer, you can sew the webbing onto the parachute buckle. Whichever method is easier for you.
We attach the clasp and handle to one of the screws on the upper part of your chair.
Remove that screw and screw it into the middle of the clasp and one end of the long piece of webbing, which will be your handle. I’ve found that this configuration works best with the handle heading upward and behind the clasp.
Reattach the screw to the chair where it was previously.
Test your clasp by closing up your chair and cinching it. Now your chair will stay closed, without the bag!
To finish the handle, drill a hole in the bottom of the same leg where the clasp is attached. Make sure the hole is ever so slightly smaller than the small screw.
Screw the bottom of the handle onto the chair with your small screw.
Now, your chair is easily carried without having to try to cram it into that awkward bag!
The clasp and handle just hang harmlessly when the chair is being used.
Now, all you need to do is decide what you’re going to do with those useless chair bags!
Update 04-24-15
Here’s a project that you can do with those useless chair bags:
