Adirondack Chair - Barrel Staves - design changes

Hey Todd
very creative well done. I’m in another wine country Oregon

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com

Wow, looks great!

(Still chuckling here) that chair is to cool!

The wife says, “That chair is really neat”.

-- Still clinging to my guns and religion.

Very Nice

-- Jim, Kentucky

Todd,

Nice looking chair. I’ve been playing with the barrels too, but got side tracked building a 900 sqft deck around the pool… What I have done so far is try to find a good method of attaching two staves without being able to pull them a part with a good tug… I think what I like the best is glued oak dowels…

Thanks for the post – good work.

Ben

-- Cov, Loomis, CA, http://www.covingtonwoodworks.com

Very creative! And you could put this on the end of the dock while you’re fishing and put your fishing pole in the hole between your legs. As long as you don’t rock a lot.

Impressive!

-- Behind the Bark is a lot of Heartwood----Charles, Centennial, CO

Hi Todd,
What a cool chair! I’ve never seen anything like it. Do you get the recycled barrels for a low price or something?
Vicki

Todd,

Also wondering did you build a jig to get such a nice looking rip down the stave?

-- Cov, Loomis, CA, http://www.covingtonwoodworks.com

Thanks for all the great feedback. I really like the new chair from the shorter barrel. You would not believe how comfortable these chairs are with the curved back, slanted seat, and elevated arms. You really don’t want to get out, lol.

I just wish the staves were wider and flatter so that I could set my wine glass or beer on the arm without the worry that it might topple off. It sits OK, but I have to watch it. I actually make wine glass holders that can be stuck in the ground next to your chair. I copied one I saw in a magazine. It is made from metal rod that is a few feet long. You bend a loop in one end that looks similar to a question mark (?) only a little more closed on the circular portion. Then bend it at 90 degrees so the circular part is at a 90 degree angle to the ground. The stem of the wine glasses slips into the open part of the circle. I would post it as a project, but it is not wood working.

Anyhow, sorry I got sidetracked there…....

I get the barrels cheap, some for free from a few sources or I can always get them for $10 or less. It is nice to work out a new project and not worry about expensive materials. If I make a mistake, I cut it up and use it in the BBQ grill. The wine soaked oak gives a great flavor.

I don’t get too involved on the joinery. I actually use deck screws for most of the fasteners and no glue. There are no tight fitting joints where glue would do much good due to the curves in the staves, end to end and side to side. Where the main front piece joins the two front legs (joining wide surface to wide surface), I use carriage bolts. Other screws that show are typically #12 screws, unless I countersink them and cover with wood putty. I have been thinking about doing a countersink with wood plugs, but I have not got that fancy yet. I try to hide as many screw heads as possible, attaching the seat pieces and main leg brace from below. I find the deck screws work best; they are strong and easier to work with. Other wood screws need more precise pre-drilling and tent to strip out or snap off, such a pain.

I don’t have to rip any of the staves in this project. The staves in a barrel vary in width and I have been able to adapt the design to use the staves provided. I wish I had a good jig to rip staves, I could use it when making the trivet and cork board frames. The curves of the barrel stave make it very difficult to cut them to a uniform width. Not only do the staves curve from end to end and side to side, the sides have a beveled cut to them.

I have been toying with the idea of a rocking chair. A barrel stave should make an ideal rocker. Maybe, as soon as I finish the other 5 or 6 chairs my wife wants me to make, lol.

Thanks for all the interest and great feedback.

-- Todd @ winecountrywhimsy Sonoma County, CA

Great idea making these chairs from barrels! The chair looks good, who puts down their beer?

-- If at first you don't succeed...Don't try skydiving

Todd, I think your chair is great (and whimsical), but I have to say that I think it is a little unfair that you are getting these bent pieces of wood almost free while others are hard at work doing their own bending. I also presume you are getting free wine tasting while your out buying those barrels. Dang, some people have all the luck! Hope I didn’t spoil your day. Keep em coming.

-- Mike, American in Norway

I guess you could say the wood and I both get bent.

-- Todd @ winecountrywhimsy Sonoma County, CA

looks great todd!!

Why not build the wine holder right into the arm rest…a small notch that the stem of a wine glass could slide into>???

of course a cool matching side table would go great…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

That chair is great, love the idea.

Ryan

-- -Ryan

Fantastic chair! Very creative!

-- Frank, Mississippi, http://www.stoutwoodworks.com

Thanks for the comment on my water ski chair. Your chair is AWESOME! I love the coloring on the wood. Man…very nice!! I love the combination of form and function! Nice job.
Joe

-- Joe-Carver, MN