2X4 Morris Chair

Nice chair Jim. Would not mind seeing the other version too. Great of example of using easily obtained wood to make a superior piece. I always liked the Morris chair and yours is a fine take on it.

-- Ron, Kutztown, PA "The reward is in the journey."

Fine looking chair Jim. Using construction grade fir is not a bad choice structurally and is a little different too. We don’t have to be slaves to traditional choices.

-- Mike, American in Norway

Looks good. I’ve been toying with the idea of building a morris chair but the cost in oak was causing me to grimace. I like this though. What is “ambrosia maple” ? Don’t believe I’ve heard of it. Anyone else know it by another name?

-- Don't rollerskate in a buffalo herd

Howie, Ambrosia Maple is also know as “wormy maple”. It gets its name from the “Ambrosia” worm that likes to burrow into maple which leaves a tiny pin hole in the wood and creates a unique mineral streak in the light colored maple. The curved chest you see in my picture was made with “Ambrosia Maple”. I love making band saw boxes with it….......lots of character!

-- John @ http://www.thehuffordfurnituregroup.com

Jim, That was a very ambitious project for your first piece of furniture. I think it turned out great and I agree with stefang…...we don’t have to be slaves to traditional choices. Most furniture that is built with 2×4’s, look like it’s built with 2×4’s, but you gave it an all together different look. Very casual, yet with real style. Now that you’ve built a couple of them and should know your material cost pretty much to the penny, it would be interesting if you priced out the materials using Oak from your local supplier and show the difference in the material cost. This would be one project that the material cost would make a huge difference, especially if you priced it out using 8/4 or 12/4 Oak. Great job and thanks for sharing.
BTW, I’ve been following your blog and find it very interesting. I started my business on a shoe string almost 25 years ago, so it’s pretty easy for me to follow and understand where you are coming from and where you would like to go with your business. We may not agree with you on some things, but if you listen to some of the good advice you’ve been given and ignore the ones that would like to see you fail, you will do fine. Good luck and let me know if I can help in any way.

-- John @ http://www.thehuffordfurnituregroup.com

Nioce comfee looking chair Sheamus that’s Scottish for JIM LOL Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

Howie- Ambrosia maple is really nice for a rustic piece, and is often not very expensive. In fact many places sell it for less than regular hard maple.

huff- thanks for the comments, I would like to hear more from you about your experience starting your business.

ABOUT THIS CHAIR- Douglass fir can also be found (if you dig through lots of 2×4’s) with very nice, straight grain lines. In fact the last one of thses I made was done with as much of the straight grain as I could find, especially on the legs. The first chairs were done by lamanating two boards together, as in this photo. But I found that some places carry premium fir 4X4 stock with that nice straight grain, and when I used it for the legs of the last chair it really made it look nice! I’ll get some photos of that one online as soon as I get a chance.

BTW- I think I have only about $80-100 into each chair, and that was with the high quality foam. Using lots of cotton batting like a traditional seat coushion instead would knock about $20 off. So you can see how affordable this can be made. I sold one for $300 on ebay, but because of shipping costs (which the buyer also had to pay) it is more practicle to sell them locally if I can find the right place.

-- It's the best woodworking show since the invention of wood... New episodes Wednesdays at: http://www.stumpynubs.com

Jim a great looking chair. I love ambrosia maple.

The kitchen cabinets that I made in NJ had bookmatched Ambrosia maple for the panels.

A lot of resawing to get those.

-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Karson- I was surprised at how hard it was. My mortising machine could barely handle it! Better sharpen up those hollow chisels!

-- It's the best woodworking show since the invention of wood... New episodes Wednesdays at: http://www.stumpynubs.com

Great looking chair Jim. Thanks for sharing it.

-- Bill, Austin, Texas, http://woodworking-business.com

Beautiful. A Morris Chair is definatly on my list of things to make!

-- Marine, Nurse, Dad.

Just gonna have to build me one of these.

-- Don't rollerskate in a buffalo herd

Unique design and wood choices good first chair.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Very good work on the chair. If it works for you and people buy it to boot, that is a bonus. Can’t wait to see the next chair

-- Norman

Great chair Jim! We haven’t met yet, I’m a bit new around here… but I read your whole post about starting a business on a shoestring, and I would love to talk shop with you sometime – as I am in a similar boat (or cabinet)... Great chair and good work taking it one day at a time following your dreams!

-- -Angela, "Christos Anesti!"