A Change of Pace
So far most of my posts have centered around informing my clients on some of the processes of my furniture design. I will be in the coming future focusing on sharing information more related to those...
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A Bit Of A Stretch
Recently I have been challenged to create a chair design of mine in walnut. Since most of my chairs rely on technics that exploit the characteristics of the wood itself to make them then changing the...
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A Bit Of A Stretch : Part 2
So if you liked the video in my previous post on how I bent a 1-1/4" thick piece of walnut then you probably want to know what the bend looks like afterward. After all that is the real test, not just...
View ArticleA Bit Of A Stretch : Part 3
So lets talk about preparing a bend for wood movement. This is critical to understand what occurs when wood bends to plan for a successful outcome.Michael Thonet observed during the early 19th century...
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A Bit of A Stretch: Part 4
I think this will round out the topic of steam bending thick kiln dried walnut stock. On that note of the stock being kiln dried. I should say that I don't have a moisture meter and thus I can't say...
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Comb Back Windsor Arm Chair
About a year ago I had a nice opportunity to come and work in the shop of Curtis Buchanan a windsor chairmaker in Jonesborough, TN. We spent two weeks, including weekends, pouring over the construction...
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Volute Carving - Behind the Scenes
Well I don't know if that is the best title but here is a peak behind the camera of what the tools look like up close. Sometimes the hardest part seems like just figuring out what tools to do the work...
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Since we are on the subject of volute carving I thought I would share this little snippet from a video with Mack Headley on The Woodwright's Shop that discusses classical carving in the 2008-2009...
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Turning Kiln Dried Hard Maple - Solution
If you are like me, one of the biggest challenges to making some windsor styles is acquiring the right materials, such as hard maple. Heck even in lots of places that you can get all the other woods...
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Gramercy 12" Bow Saw - Review
Recently I was contemplating how to integrate more and more hand tools into my work. I like the pace and control that they impart to my work. I really don't need to rush anyhow seeing as I am not a...
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Drilling - A View From The Top
When it comes to working in the shop, I am not a die hard fan of any one method for every application. For example, it is easy enough to do all my drilling for a seat with just a battery powered hand...
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Drilling Angles - Without A Calculator
In chair making there are all kinds of angles to deal with. I never just use one method for every task. It would be great if I could but considering the pieces I want to make it just requires a variety...
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A Fresh Take...
I have had this want to make a variation on the continuous arm settee. That settee design has such an appealing draw but I have always felt that just widening the seat and bow really didn't do it full...
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How to Weave A Danish Paper Cord Seat - Series
So I have been wanting to post a series on how to weave a Hans Wegner style Danish paper cord seat for a few years. I finally have gotten around to it. I just finished up a set of 6 chairs that are the...
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The Results of The Texas Furniture Makers Show 2012
Here are the results. I am sheepishly posting these. I guess I should share since it was a pleasure to be a part of the Texas Furniture Makers Show at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center. It was a...
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Custom Sized Lathe Bed Tool Rest
Learning to turn chair parts, especially the baluster turnings of windsor chairs, is a huge challenge to the beginning chairmaker. I clearly recall this process. Maybe you do too or maybe you are just...
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Mouldings In Practice By Matthew Bickford - Book Review
I am happy to share this new book on the subject of moulding planes. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Considering how I have not found another book that covers this subject, it is the...
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Danish Soap Finish
One of the most mysterious things about Danish modern furniture to me when I started making it was this strange soap finish that is talked about so often. I wondered, "What is this all about"?Well, the...
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Good is the Answer
Do you ever have one of those mornings where you just look out and wonder... "What am I going to do today"? I am pondering that question. Somehow it seems to lead to my asking "What will this coming...
View ArticleMoulding Planes - Where to Start
If you are going to put to use those garage sale finds the place to start is with a solid working rabbet plane. These will be used more than any other plane in your box. You will use them to do all...
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