| Project by FJDIII | posted 426 days ago | 860 views | 0 times favorited | 8 comments |  |
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Hello All,
As promised I am posting my first Windsor chair completed by myself at home with only my notes and pictures from my class. This chair is a bit more difficult than the Sack Back Windsor. The legs front to back have to be coplaner or the rocker would creep to the side. The spindles must be fitted tightly to the bow so that the crest is supported correctly. The mistakes that I made on my first rocker were easily preventable because I knew what to look for and how to adjust.
The small spokeshave from Dave’s Shaves came in the handiest while finishing up this chair. Fitting the spindles is difficult with the medium sized spokeshave because it hits the spindle next to the one you are shaping. With the smaller spokeshave you can move the spindle you are working on and easily shape it with the handle of the shave in one hand. It also came in handy shaping the tight curves of the crest.
Legs and arm stumps bought already turned. Leg bridle joints cut with dozuki and coping saw. Seat from 2” white pine boards glued together shaped using adze,scorp, compass plane,travisher, and spoke shave. Arm from rived red oak billet planed , steam bent, and maple blocks glued on ends then bandsawn to shape. Bow from rived red oak billet shaped with drawknife, forkstaff plane and steam bent. Spindles from rived red oak billets shaped using drawknife, spokeshave and small forkstaff plane. Crest from rived red oak slab brought down to size with a Lie Nielsen scrub plane, smoothed with a Lie Nielsen 5 1/2, bandsawn and shaped with a drawknife and spokeshave.
I will use a water based dye as a base coat, 2 coats of milk paint, and linseed oil to finish it off.
The closest thing to a nail on this chair is the oak pins used to hold the crest on the spindles and the rockers in the bridle joints.
-- Fred.... Poconos, PA ---- Chairwright in the making ----
8 comments so far
WhattheChuck
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83 posts in 456 days
posted 426 days ago
Hi Fred,
That is one beautiful chair. You are THE MAN. You are on your way—I’m carving a Boston side chair seat at home right now.
I especially like those turned legs. Those just look great.
Best,
Chuck
-- Chuck, Pullman, WA
FJDIII
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168 posts in 706 days
posted 426 days ago
Hey Chuck,
There’s just something about a great pair of legs! Great to hear you are working on more chairs can’t wait to see the post. How’d you make out with the Philly in the fair entry?
-- Fred.... Poconos, PA ---- Chairwright in the making ----
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7037 posts in 1195 days
posted 425 days ago
Beautiful creation, & well done.
I think making a Windsor chair was one of my proudest, & satisfying accomplishments.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
GaryK
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9533 posts in 884 days
posted 425 days ago
Great looking chair. I’ve always wanted to make a chair.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
WhattheChuck
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83 posts in 456 days
posted 425 days ago
Hey Fred,
You wouldn’t believe it. I came in 3rd after a modest coffee table with a drawer, a couple of cedar shingle birdhouses, and a very poorly carved walking stick. My pix are on the cell phone. You really wouldn’t believe it.
I went up to the woman in charge of the entire exhibit. Her friend was sitting next to her. I asked if I could see the judges’ comments. The friend said ‘you were the one that made that hand-made Windsor? Did you win?’ When I told her what happened, she was clearly embarrassed. The woman in charge of the exhibit said ‘well, don’t get discouraged..’ I said, ‘Discouragement is not what I had in mind!’
There was a time when the county fair might have been a good venue for exhibiting craft work, and gaining a larger audience. Those days are past.
I really think that those idiots thought I bought the chair at Pottery Barn and painted it.
On another note, when I get done with my Boston Side Chair, if you want, I’ll send you my plans. Let’s see how it turns out! Those plans are a bear to come up with. I’m making the one in John Kassay’s book—the one with the braces. I’m also making it 10% bigger on the seat, so wish me luck…
Chuck
-- Chuck, Pullman, WA
kenn
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218 posts in 616 days
posted 422 days ago
Nice job, Fred. I think the rocker is one of the most fun chairs to make with the challenge of getting those back legs right on. Keep on chairmaking.
-- Every cloud has a silver lining
FJDIII
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168 posts in 706 days
posted 422 days ago
Thanks Sir Ken! Congratulations!
-- Fred.... Poconos, PA ---- Chairwright in the making ----
janice
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299 posts in 321 days
posted 51 days ago
All of your chairs look great. I think you found something new for after retirement.
-- Janice