Comb Back Windsor Chair

Great looking chair Kevin. Looks like it would be comfortable. How did you do the spindles without a power tool? Do you have one of the string lathes? Also, why no sandpaper? Don’t mean to sound picky – I’m just curious about your thought process on finishing the chair. It is beautiful and appears well made (sturdy). Thanks for sharing it with us.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

I’m curious as well….
wow.. you did incredible job!

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Ditto! Real nice chair.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

Beautiful chair, I’d love to make one like it. mike

-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -

I love the ends on the arm rests! I would like to try somthing similar. Thanks for sharing this!! So much history and design to draw from, congratulations. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I will reach a point in a project where I think it’s going to work, were I realize that I am really going to pull this off. For me I get alittle nervous and start thinking don’t screw this up. Takes courage to push on, wonderful, simply wonderful.
take care,
harold

-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.

Cajunpen and MsDebbeiP—i make the spindles, crest and arms from an oak log that I quarter by using a wedge and a froe driving it down the end of the log and splitting the log along its grain. Splitting the log along its grain is why the chair is so strong. Then take the froe and axe and rive off small pieces along its grain approximately 1”x 1” or so. Then take the odd shaped straight grained pieces and cut with a hand saw to the required length and use a draw knife and spoke shave to get spindles to the shape and dimensions you need. Dry the green oak pieces on a heater. Yes, they will distort slightly. After say three days or so on the heater you will be reday for them (in that time you carved and drilled your seat, turned the legs, arm posts and stretchers, assembled the under carriage, got your arm assembled, carved and drilled). You will now take the spindles and bring them to the dimensions and shape that you need again by using a spokeshave and card scrapers. I know it sounds archaic but I just love building these chairs and like I said No power tools. It takes four to five days to make a chair and at the end of the week there is absolutely NO DUST! Just shavings and chips …. which sweep up. A nice change from the usual saw dust I make from using power tools.

-- Kevin -- (http://www.furniturebykevin.com)

the more I learn the more I’m drawn to the shavings rather than dust!!!
I’d love to spend a week with you to learn these techniques!

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Delightful design and great achievement. I love it.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

Looks great Kevin. Looking forward to seeing it in ‘real life’ tomorrow. Amazing work with no power tools, a true testament to traditional woodworking!

-- Farles from Niagara - Woodworking, like life, is a journey...enjoy the ride!