8 Shiny New Windsor Chairs

I just returned from another fun filled week of chair making bliss assisting Peter Galbert. I know, you only see 7 chairs because one guy skipped out before we shot the photo. We were in Indianapolis at Marc Adams School of Woodworking with six days and 8 great students. These guys hardly even asked questions. 

 I brought a sack back chair to Marcs to perform a painting demo for the students. The chair was going to a customer up in Michigan. I hate crating chairs so I called my friend Carl who lives in Long Beach, Indiana to drop off the finished chair. My customer picked up the chair from Carl which saved him shipping fees.

 I had to show Carl's fantastic stone work. He has completed all this by hand. Even the 700 pound steps he moved using PVC pipes. You may remember Carl at both of my barn raisings. It's so nice to have friends that are this talented. Thanks again Carl (and Mary for dinner).

More Shed Raising Pictures from Fell Merwin Photography

Fell Merwin's pictures.

Prep Work

This week I am preparing for a road trip to help Peter Galbert once again teach at Marc Adams School of Woodworking in Indianapolis. I have been taking apart sugar maple logs and turning them into blanks for legs and stretchers.

 As you can clearly see behind my lathe how high the shavings grow and this isn't even half of what I need to round up.

 The clear green maple rounds up fast and I air dry them before turning the final chair parts. I don't have much time since I go to Marcs the first week of September. These legs will egg shape a little but should still make fine chairs. I need to turn enough for 15 chairs.

Here is a quick video of the simple process of rounding blanks. When I am finished I just shovel the shavings out the window into the back of my truck.

Negative Space

The shed raising was an amazing success. Two hours of hard lifting and hammering in pegs and there she stands, hopefully for many decades or centuries. 

 I've always heard it said that when viewing windsor chairs you were really looking at negative space or just a silhouette. This really applies to a timber frame too. As much as I like looking at the frame I know that soon it will be covered and this view will only be a memory.
 This frame went together with very little fuss and pretty square. I had a good crew of friends to help.

 Forty-seven pegs.

 View from the house.

 Thanks to all who pitched in to make this happen. I'll post some photos of assembly when I get them from my photographer who documented the whole thing.

Now would be a good time to rest.

Tree Nails

The bents are finally coming together which is a good thing because I have a barn raising scheduled for this Saturday. They are going together with very little fuss. I have been waiting so long to drive in these pegs. Look close and see the little spider building a bridge between the pegs.

 I put linseed oil on the pegs before I drive them home to help them ease into the holes. The draw bore method has paid off because these joints are tight! Some of my furniture doesn't come out this nice.

 I was able to get two bents assembled before sun down. At first light the third will go together.

 The roof rafters are complete and here is the open mortise and tenon joint that will be pegged at the peak. These will be assembled and raised up top after the frame is together.

Barn Raising

Just a quick reminder of the barn raising this weekend August 17th at 2 p.m.

The Cumberland Furniture Guild is having the summer meeting here so there will be some quick guild business then the raising. Afterwards we will have pot luck and barbecue. I hope to see everyone here.

Interesting Chair Video

I saw this on Ellie Richard's blog and had to pass it on. Ellie is the artist in resident at the Appalachian Center for Craft.