Started the next project: dining rooms chairs.

[tperson]

Started and made some good progress on my next project: 8 dining room chairs to match the 4 barstools from last spring. All of the front and rear legs are milled and shaped, time to start in on the stretchers and curved back pieces. The stringers will be easy, they're basic 3/4" parts...but the backs will be a real *B*...I dont have thick enough lumber, so step one will be to laminate similary-figured lumber and mill to size. Then I can use the pantorouter to cut the tenons and finally cut the curves. Since I've got 4 under my belt already, I estimate the building process to take another ~3-4 weeks...and the finishing process to take a couple of more. By then, it'll (hopefully) be warm enough to start thinking about the garden. The plan is chairs this winter and a new dining room table next winter. 

I was BS-ing with a buddy last night that our annual prairie dog (shooting) trip is a short 5 months away and I probably need to start reloading...so we'll squeeze that project in as well...and our oldest was doing his best to talk me into (and succeeding) building another rifle for the trip. Gonna be a busy winter in the wood/gun shop! First pic below is of the barstools, second pic is the front/rear legs.

[pkinneb]

Nice!!

[BillyJack]

You got more energy than me. Nice work..

[wtnhighlander]

Not sure how our forum sponsor feels about firearms discussion, but I'd love to at least see some of the wood parts!

A well made wooden rifle stock is a work of art.

[roughsawn]

If our forum sponsor has a problem with him mentioning firearms, I'll gladly leave this forum, and go somewhere else. It's time for us REAL Americans to stand up for what is right, and not be afraid of what we say when it comes to our sports, pastimes, and hobbies.

Tperson, I love the ray flecking showing on all the chair parts! Looking forward to seeing the rest of the build.

[Coop]

On 1/13/2025 at 10:27 PM, roughsawn said:

If our forum sponsor has a problem with him mentioning firearms, I'll gladly leave this forum, and go somewhere else. It's time for us REAL Americans to stand up for what is right, and not be afraid of what we say when it comes to our sports, pastimes, and hobbies.

Tperson, I love the ray flecking showing on all the chair parts! Looking forward to seeing the rest of the build.

Well said but I don’t foresee a problem.

Agree also on the ray flecks. 

[wtnhighlander]

I doubt there will be any issue, so long as we abide by the forum rules to avoid political and religious discussion. Those are intended to minimize the risk of any "flame wars" sprouting up, and keep the talk family-friendly.

[tperson]

I have strong opinions about being able to discuss "outdoor hobbies" in open forums, especially when the discussions are positive and polite. All of my 5 kids (even the 4 y/o) are passionate about this particular "outdoor hobby". It's become a Sunday afternoon family event where we work on important life skills like safety, patience, respect, attention to detail, self reliance, and problem solving...but I'll work on keeping my posts woodworking-centric.

 

Yeah, the fleck is pretty awesome on the barstools, the sawmill gave me first dibbs on a skid of lumber they pulled out of the kiln the previous day. We unloaded and inspected EVERY board in the stack (~5'W x 10'L x 4'H) and picked out only the prettiest boards. Unfortunately my most recent trip didn't provide the same opportunity...there's some fleck in each of the legs, but nothing like the barstool lumber...hoping the next trip to the sawmill for stretchers and backs will be more successful. 

On 1/13/2025 at 7:00 PM, wtnhighlander said:

A well made wooden rifle stock is a work of art.

Someday...

[Chestnut]

I love the rayfleck on the lumber those look awesome. Your lucky you have a guy that lets you pick out lumber like that. It can make it hard to sell lumber that gets heavily picked over sometimes.

@tperson I doubt it's the "outdoor hobbies" but more that they are likely to attract a lot of prohibited discussion. I enjoy reloading and was recently experimenting with sub 30-30 loads. I don't have my marlin back from the smith with threads yet, I'm crossing my fingers for today but we'll see. I also have the internal battle of which hobby to  spend my time on. I have a 2yo and a 7 mo so my time is very limited.

On 1/13/2025 at 7:00 PM, wtnhighlander said:

A well made wooden rifle stock is a work of art.

On 1/14/2025 at 9:17 AM, tperson said:

Someday...

I REALLY REALLY want to turn some of this into a stock at some point in my life. Boy oh boy do i have no idea where to start though.

[tperson]

On 1/17/2025 at 7:37 AM, Chestnut said:

...recently experimenting with sub 30-30 loads.

...with threads

Oooo, I know where that project is headed, good for you! I assume that you've already placed the order and are now waiting for approval? I've got a couple of these as well, so much fun.

On 1/17/2025 at 7:37 AM, Chestnut said:

I love the rayfleck on the lumber those look awesome. Your lucky you have a guy that lets you pick out lumber like that. It can make it hard to sell lumber that gets heavily picked over sometimes.

I love the fleck as well...unfortunately, not all sawmill trips are created equal and this luxury isn't afforded to me every time. In the words of our kids: somedays you're windshield, somedays you're the bug...but being a bug has taught me how to maximize the fleck I have, and am happy with the results. 

On 1/17/2025 at 7:37 AM, Chestnut said:

I have a 2yo and a 7 mo so my time is very limited.

I REALLY REALLY want to turn some of this into a stock at some point in my life. Boy oh boy do i have no idea where to start though.

Gotcha beat, we've got 5 aging from 4 to 16...I totally understand about limited time. Vehicle repairs, home repairs/improvements, gardening, "outdoor hobbies" previously mentioned, 4-H...it all adds up. 

I've thought very seriously about building a stock...it's just woodwork, right? What continues to postpone the project is a paradox of cost, time invested, and risk of failure. If I'm going to invest the time, I'm not going to waste the effort on a practice run...but my budget says that claro walnut (the only obvious choice) is too expensive to goof up. 

[Chestnut]

2 hours ago, tperson said:

placed the order and are now waiting for approval?

Application took 3 days, submitted Thursday afternoon had the item in hand the following Tuesday.

2 hours ago, tperson said:

claro walnut (the only obvious choice)

I disagree, I think the obvious choice is something meaningful to you. My dream stock is to have my favorite rifle wrapped in the crotch of the American elm from my backyard or use the crotch of the green ash from the front yard of my childhood home. I won't disparage if Claro walnut is personal to you.

To me claro walnut is too commonplace, i think we need to start doing something different with stocks. I'd love to see some hard maples or even some crazy cherry or something. Heck that crazy ray flecked white oak you showed above would make a beautiful stock. I love the look of white oak. The walnut above is going to be my test wood.

Sorry for the thread interruption.

[roughsawn]

Wood stocks can be made out of any stable hardwood that has special meaning to you. With a good bedding job, it should be that much more stable, and resist the urge to warp or twist...for the most part.

I planted American Black Walnut trees in 1984, with the hope then, to someday build a rifle stock out of one of them. A few years ago, I harvested 3 of them, and milled them for my personal use. Now, to just build that stock...

Hey, it's all woodworking...

[tperson]

On 1/17/2025 at 2:01 PM, roughsawn said:

Hey, it's all woodworking...

Good to see someone got my tongue-in-cheek comment!

[Liam2018]

Nice work!

[tperson]

Hard to believe it's been 4 months since I last posted a chair update! Some of the pictures below were take a while ago but never posted. 

Leg mortises: 

 

More leg mortises:

Even more leg mortises:

Finished legs: 

Mortises on the chair back (for the vertical slats):

Cutting the chair back curves: 

First chair dry-fit: