My first Blog – Morris Chairs
This project started when a friend was building a new home for his family. He asked if I would hire build them a dining room table and chairs, (http://lumberjocks.com/projects/562). Having never attempted such a project I was all game. He had seen some fumed oak projects that I had done in the past and wanted fumed quarter sawn white oak. I told him to pony up for 500 bf of 8/4 and sit back for about two years til I got done. When I had finished the table and chairs (nine months later), I gave it to them as a house warming gift. When I ordered the lumber I had expected to butcher out the sapwood, but they liked the look so after the table and chairs, I had lotsa lumber left over. His house is based on a craftsman theme, so I suggested that I build them a matching set of Morris chairs, (and I still have enough lumber left over after this project to make them a mantel).
I decided on a modified Woodsmith design with traditional through mortise & tenon joinery. I wanted quartersawn on all four faces of the leg so I used a Stickley trick and used a locking miter joint.
My next issue was the through tenon on the arms – “the button” – I tried to cut them accurately, but they just ended up to sloppy. I used a modified Woodsmith trick to cut the buttons and then glue them to the top of the arm – a dirty trick for the purist, but whatcha gonna do – I was committed at this point. The way I cut the buttons, they appear as the tightest possible through tenon. I took the time to glue up quartersawn stock and cut the buttons (I admit this was just to fool the craftsman who looks at the piece, civilians would never notice a qrtrsawm button).
Cut & organize the parts
Glue up & Fit
The final inspection and product (after much sanding), the couple picked out a brown fake leather and I had the upholstery done. 
Then I took a moment to sit and gloat with Cronk (this is about 100 hours into the project).
Into the 33% ammonia fume tent for 30 hours 
Two coats of sealer, two coats of poly and a final waxing and buffing and I BE DONE! Ready for delivery! The colors came out especially rich Carmel color that will match their hardwood floors well. I’ll post this as a project once I can take some good photography in their home. This was a GREAT Project. I want to build a couple more and plan on incorporating some ideas from Mark DeCou (square pegs would fit the style much better – and some carving as soon as my fingers heal ;)
-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe
13 comments so far
Red Headed Merganser
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751 posts in 660 days
posted 586 days ago
Oomph…
You’re my idol, Schroeder. Not sure I’d ever want to build the Morris chair, being a smaller project woodworker, but… I strive for your level of craftsmanship in the Craftsman style.
Thanks for the motivational story and imagery!
Oh, and welcome to the world of blogging! You entered with a splash!
-- Ethan, http://www.merganserwoodworks.com, http://greystonegreen.blogspot.com/
Dusty
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783 posts in 642 days
posted 585 days ago
Awesome Job.
My hats off to you.
-- Dusty
Bill
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2512 posts in 647 days
posted 585 days ago
Very nice! One of the classic designs that does not go out of style.
I love the picture trail from beginning to end. Something I need to do with my work.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
schroeder
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476 posts in 612 days
posted 585 days ago
Thanks! I like this “Blogging” thing – maybe it will help someone else who wants to try this type of project – I know DeCou’s helped me on these chairs-
I just took them up to the family I made them for- he liked them fine and was very appreciative, but really it takes a “Lumberjock” to know how much work a project like this – and of course, – FUN!
-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe
dennis mitchell
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2945 posts in 801 days
posted 585 days ago
They look great to nap in! Good start in the blogging world.
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
Karson
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12910 posts in 887 days
posted 585 days ago
Very nice workmanship. Do they wish that they had used real leather now.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
schroeder
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476 posts in 612 days
posted 585 days ago
Thanks Dennis!, I’m likeing this, seems like fun (I just recently found the “blogs” on Lumberjocks). It’s good to read others on see their take on projects
Karson, nope, they have two young boys and their plan is to re-do after they have grown and left the house – they’re great kids, but it seems like a wise plan to me (if ya know what ah mean!)
-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe
scottb
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2944 posts in 813 days
posted 585 days ago
Great chairs, Love the look, and finish. With Kudo’s from Dusty to boot!
Great blog entry too… looking forward to many more.
A chair like this is my ultimate “someday” project.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
schroeder
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476 posts in 612 days
posted 585 days ago
Thanks Scott (…and your right, that does mean a lot to me coming from Dusty). It’s funny you say that about chairs – I was just talking today about the dining room chairs I built for this same family. I spent two solid months on the first proto-type and literally burned up the first six, (something about the compound angles and shoulder on the tenons I just couldn’t grasp – (though we did have lotsa kindling this winter), But if anyone can make the time, it is a GREAT experience to build a chair! I should have asked more people more questions but, I muddled through it somehow and now, really recommend it to others.
Maybe I will blog about that, I guess I do still have some frustrations I can share!
-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe
Obi
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2152 posts in 723 days
posted 585 days ago
I just built legs like that for a Hickory Coffee Table. 45 degree on all the 4/4 Hickory with a piece of Oak in the middle to make it solid. And here I thought I was doing something new.
-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/
Karson
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12910 posts in 887 days
posted 585 days ago
You were Obi. He used White Oak on White Oak.
You used Hickory on Oak.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
tooljunky
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34 posts in 597 days
posted 585 days ago
Nice chairs, looks like you put your heart in them. I have always wanted to build one of them also, it is in line with the 1000 other project that I want to do.
-- vlee2@ford.com
Obi
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2152 posts in 723 days
posted 585 days ago
The chairs are exceptionally nice.
-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/