How to Repair a Plastic Chair

In Memory of Grandpa

My Grandpa Devar was an amazing guy.  At the age of ninety he would go out to his carport every day in 100+ degree weather and tie quilts to donate to the LDS humanitarian center.  A product of the depression and WWII, if he wanted something, he made it; If something broke, he fixed it.

Grandpa died in January, and when we visited Grandma Maxine to comfort her, we noticed in the driveway some plastic chairs that had broken and Grandpa had repaired them with bolts, baling wire, and even metal plates.  All the repairs were made from spare parts he had saved through the years. Grandpa had found the broken chairs in the back alley, brought them home, and repaired them.  He firmly believed in the old adage, "Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without."

Here is one chair that my grandpa found in the alley and  fixed.  I have seen others  in years past with baling wire between the legs, holding them in place along with the metal plate like this one.  Amazing!

This summer I just happened to have some broken plastic chairs of my own hanging around.  In the past, when our plastic Adirondack chairs have broken, I've hauled them up to the junk heap, but this time, inspired by Grandpa, I decided to repair them.  Instead of bolts and bailing wire, I used a drill and zip ties, but the idea is the same and I hope it inspires you to follow the example of Grandpa.