Thinking of building a chair?

[danmart77]

If you have built a chair or you are considering the journey now, I have a recommendation to make to you-- get the book by Peter Gailbreth titled

Chairmaker's Notebook from the Lost Art Press.

For me, it is the best summary of tooling, technique and good insight into building a chair. If you look on the web you'll find it easily on the Lost Art Press.

Good Luck
Dan

 

[badger fan]

Thank you for the recommendation. Appreciate your work, good encouragement to us all.

 

[Wiley's Woodworks]

For everyone thinking of building a chair: In the craft of building things from wood, a chair is the most complex, dimension critical, no room for error project you can take on. Building a rocking chair triples the complexity and required greater precision. Don't even think about building any chair without plans. Galbrieth's book is an excellent starting point.

 

[Mike Davis]

For everyone thinking of building a chair: In the craft of building things from wood, a chair is the most complex, dimension critical, no room for error project you can take on. Building a rocking chair triples the complexity and required greater precision. Don't even think about building any chair without plans. Galbrieth's book is an excellent starting point.

I may just have to take that as a challenge.

 

[tri4sale]

I may just have to take that as a challenge.

I think that would be a great monthly challenge: Chair Building Without Plans (winging it till ya fall on ya butt)

 

[Mike Davis]

(winging it till ya fall on ya butt)

Or don’t

 

[Wiley's Woodworks]

I think that would be a great monthly challenge: Chair Building Without Plans (winging it till ya fall on ya butt)

This challenge would need at least 2 months. First month you're just getting through your screw ups. LOL, but you won't be after the 1st month.

 

[Wiley's Woodworks]

Or don’t

Better choice Mike

 

[Claus]

Chairmakers Notebook was the second book about making chairs that I bought, right after Schwarz’s stick chair book. Both are amazing resources.

It took me a while to figure out the first important lesson taught in these books - that you can’t build a chair by reading a book.

I realized that there were fundamental skills that I didn’t have. Making round and roundish things: with a lathe? Drawknife? Hand planes? Drilling holes: bit/brace? Hand drill? Drill press? Not to mention the whole “drill bit variety” can of worms. And carving a seat: Scorp? Inshave? Travisher? I didn’t even know what these were, let alone where to get one. And don’t forget sharpening all these new toys. (And I’ve had a shop full of traditional power tools for going on 20 years)

I still haven’t built a complete chair.

But I’ve lowered the bar considerably. I went back to some of the easier (that is skill-building) projects in Schwarz’s ADB and cranked out some of those. And I’m having a blast in my shop. Making fewer mistakes, experimenting with different methods and practicing/refining the ways that work for me. Maybe the next project will be a chair.

 

[danmart77]

As I looked around fo an alternative style(non windsor) many people encouraged my to build a ladder back chair with good intentions and no experience sitting on one. Ladder back chairs are the most uncomfortable chairs to sit in for any length of time. I found out the hard way after building a few and donating all of them. Here are some examples of chairs you build as you progress and your taste changes

 

[Chris C]

For everyone thinking of building a chair: In the craft of building things from wood, a chair is the most complex, dimension critical, no room for error project you can take on. Building a rocking chair triples the complexity and required greater precision. Don't even think about building any chair without plans. Galbrieth's book is an excellent starting point.

Second project I built was a pair of Morris chairs and foot stools for my boys. Used Walnut because I don't like rules and they were my chairs. I looked at pics and went to town ..90% hand tools. You don't need plans . Just think it out and you'll be fine.

 

[Mike Davis]

Second project I built was a pair of Morris chairs and foot stools for my boys. Used Walnut because I don't like rules and they were my chairs. I looked at pics and went to town ..90% hand tools. You don't need plans . Just think it out and you'll be fine.

That's how I have always worked.

 

[iclark]

I think that would be a great monthly challenge: Chair Building Without Plans (winging it till ya fall on ya butt)

My wife inherited her grandmother's porch rocker. It needs rehabbing. Among the skills I need to learn is caning for the seat.

Making one like it but a bit wider (DAMW) is on my bucket list.

Does using an existing chair as a "plan" count as with o without plans?

 

[yuenglingman]

Checkout Hal Taylors rocking chair university. A great program , Im building a chair right now, my 4th.
Built 3 about 8 years ago, got the itch again.
He gives great direction for building an heirloom rocker.