Highback Chair


Bmac

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This is a simple and fun chair to build. I started building these 2 years ago and always seem to have one at some stage of building in my shop. This will be my 8th highback and I also did one with arms, so 9 in total. They are addicting to build and look great around my dining room table. The design came from an older book that is a favorite of mine, "Building Fine Furniture With Solid Wood", by Ken Sadler. Reading this book is like listening to your grandfather where you knew whatever he is saying it is wise to pay attention and listen. The build requires basic tools and a good lathe. Even though lathe work is not my favorite, I enjoy turning the spindles and legs for this project because I love the outcome. It seems each chair I make I'm getting a more refined result. This isn't a true build journal, but I did start taking a few photos as I was in the middle of the build. This chair is done in cherry.

Seat legged up, seat already shaped, holes already drilled for the spindles.

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The backrest is laminated;

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Spindles are turned and measure from 23" to 25.5", long spindles like this on a lathe are challenging and a spindle rest is mandatory. Some of the spindles are darker because I seem to do a few and then set the project aside, getting back to the lathe when time allows. With time they will all darken and look fine.

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Legs go all the way through the seat and are wedged. Seat is about 1.75" thick.

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Spindles fitted, ready for backrest;

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Back rest and spindles glued up.

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The chair with a rubbed oil/poly finish;

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This chair will soon join the others in my dining room, this will be it's new home;

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These chairs are what inspired me to tackle the other chairs I've made, but I still love making these. I have two other seats and backrests sitting in my shop waiting for me to start turning more legs and spindles. I may run out of room in my dining room and if I do I think I'll start giving them out to my relatives!

Thanks for looking.

 

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38 minutes ago, pkinneb said:

Very nice Bmac!! On the armed chairs how are the arms formed? Bent lam? Steam bent?

The arms are bent lam and it's a tough bend. In my mind you really need air dried for this bend and I'm ok with a little higher moisture % for this. Here's a better photo of that chair:

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This chair was not in Sadler's book, I did a variation of his highback. I also tried this design as a rocking chair, not nearly as nice as the Maloof Rocker, but not bad for my first rocking chair.

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Highback 13.JPG

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