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I wanted my entry to be as far away as possible from the straight lines and right angles of the 2×4 I was starting from. After much thought I came up with the idea of a Windsor style chair.

Although I have done the occasional chair, this was still very much a challenge for me as no-one in their right mind would start to make such a chair with an 8 foot length of 2" x 4" pine! Scaling a chair to fit the material available was the first challenge. The chair has ended up at 32" tall and the 12" x 16" seat is 12" off the floor, so it's ideally suited to an older child (or small adult).

PhotobucketA different view

Photobucket
Leg wedge detail

I've tried to give it the general style of the early Welsh Stick Chair, some of which had octagonal section legs. So, rather than the more commonplace turnings, I've gone for that approach. The two front arm-support sticks are also octagonal, formed with draw knife and spokeshave. The sticks were also shaped using plane, spokeshave and scraper, and I think the slight unevenness adds to the appeal. I did, however, turn the tenons for the legs on the lathe.

For speed, I have finished the chair with a water-based varnish, rubbed down between coats. Briwax will follow.

I have posted some photographs and further details of the chair's construction here

Gallery

Comments

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13 Posts
Well done Stewart, an excelllent piece of work from a 4 by 2, I guess there cant be much waste wood left!

good luck
 

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429 Posts
Hello Colin. Here's a wee photograph of the remaining scraps. Not a lot as you say.

Photobucket Thanks for your comments.
 

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624 Posts
Amazing! Excellent Entry! Well Done!
 

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I'm speechless.
 

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690 Posts
Outstanding work, Stewart! Wish I could go to Yorkshire and do an apprenticeship. You are good!
 

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I love this chair. It is an impressive piece of work.
 

· In Loving Memory
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Great work! Fantastic little chair.
 

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118 Posts
I'll say it again, fantastic work, and very inspirational.

Fantastic work!
 

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250 Posts
Over the top Stewart! A real work of Art.Thanks for sharing the entire process with us.
 

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the chair is magnificent and the setting in which it sits sets it off beautifully.
Personally, I think this will be a family treasure - especially with its amazing story that it carries already.
You are a wizard!!!

Nice 2×4
 

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262 Posts
Very nice project. Don't think I would tackle one like this.
 

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Stewart: Congratulations on finishing. A masterpiece of engineering and construction.

A great job.
 

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Awesome! Stewart, what would you estimate the time it took to build this after you passed the initial feasibility planning?
 

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wow, ok I have been looking, but I haven't seen the contest time extension request form. I think I will need 3, maybe 4 more months. What a wonderful chair, excellent work. I'm excited to see all the other entries.
 

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Thank you very much gentlejocks for all your comments.

Tomfran - Surfside Beach sounds much more attractive to run that apprenticeship that the North Sea coast!

Debbie - I normally like to photograph in the open air, but today it's hardly been daylight so Mrs YS suggested the setting. When I read to her your: "the setting in which it sits sets it off beautifully" she was delighted. Our problem will be in finding somewhere to put the chair. We already have more chairs than a doctor's waiting room!

JohnJoiner - It took in the region of 25 hours.
 

· In Loving Memory
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Now are you going to start on your box?
 

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Gary - I'll be out there as soon as the cock crows making the first cut. (The first cut is the deepest I believe) Well, maybe 09.30 after tuning in to Lumberjocks.
 

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I think to make it more challenging, you should construct your box entry with all the pieces in the leftover picture above. That would be interesting for sure.
 

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At first glance my wife said "That can't be a single 2×4. We thought is looked like a full size chair. Then I started reading and saw you scaled it down.

Great job. Are you giving away the plans? I am just now getting into some char making and I love that form.

Keep up the good work.

Rob Hix
 
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