| Project by grfrazee | posted 286 days ago | 1697 views | 23 times favorited | 9 comments |  |
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I made these chairs by mostly cloning the design of a chair my Dad has, with a couple slight variations. I made the lap joints completely lapped (they were only about half-lapped and screwed in the original) and had to modify the lower stretcher to allow the chair to fold.
They’re maple, stained with a brown water-based stain that I can’t remember the name of (Antique or Amish something I think) and finished with semi-gloss acrylic. Hardware is brass, and it was probably as much or more expensive as the wood to build the chairs. The canvas I ordered online and sewed the white border on. I still have yet to attach rivets to the canvas corners, but I should do that soon since they’re getting a little frayed. The canvas is about 56” long by 17” wide, folded over 6” on each end. I put a fluffy padded piece of fabric under the fold that goes in the seat to help protect the wood and to give a bit of cushion as well.
On this project I discovered that trying to use an impact driver on brass screws is a bad idea (they twist right off!), so now I know to pre-screw with steel screws to tap the threads. Also, I got a little aggressive on the sanding around the lap joints, so they’re not as seamless as I would like. I had to put Loktite on the brass sex-screws to keep them from unscrewing as well.
My girlfriend uses hers for reading, and I find that mine works wonderfully for sitting in front of the TV playing video games. Go figure.
I have a SketchUp model too.
-- -=Pride is not a sin=-
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9 comments so far
rdjack21
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254 posts in 1095 days
#1 posted 286 days ago
Really nice chairs they look to be really comfortable. I went ahead and downloaded the SketchUp model because well I want to make some as well.
-- --- Richard Jackson
Ken90712
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12660 posts in 1357 days
#2 posted 286 days ago
Great job, these are really nice….. Your finish looks perfect…. A+++++++
-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"
workerinwood
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2488 posts in 1235 days
#3 posted 286 days ago
Very nice, great job!!
-- Jack, Albuquerque
a1Jim
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#4 posted 286 days ago
They look great and and comfy too.
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
balidoug
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333 posts in 647 days
#5 posted 286 days ago
Great stuff. Thanks.
-- From such crooked wood as that which man is made of, nothing straight can be fashioned. Immanuel Kant
Jim Sellers
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143 posts in 503 days
#6 posted 286 days ago
Those look great. And they are super comfy. I know because I’ve built a few myself. Actually had some time and some clear yellow pine on hand and have more than a dozen (unassembled) stacked in my basement. Thought I might sell them one day but I’ll probably just give them away. I saw them at a craft show selling for $29. (probably made in china) Most people don’t know by the pics that they’re pivoting rockers.
-- J.C.Sellers
grfrazee
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217 posts in 308 days
#7 posted 286 days ago
@rdjack21 – Please let me know how they turn out. When I get back from work, I’ll edit the post with the amount of canvas needed, if you need it.
@Jim – Did the chairs you saw have nice canvas on them or the cheaper, woven nylon-type stuff? I have a friend who has one like that for a patio chair, and the quality just isn’t there. There’s no way I’d be able to sell these for $29 – the brass hardware cost more than that! I think they ended up being in the neighborhood of $60-80 per chair in materials. Granted, buying in bulk would cut that down quite a bit.
@everyone else – Thanks for the compliments!
-- -=Pride is not a sin=-
PurpLev
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7743 posts in 1816 days
#8 posted 285 days ago
these are real nice. been thinking about making something similar, this one is a nice design
-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
Jim Sellers
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143 posts in 503 days
#9 posted 269 days ago
Sorry for the late answer. Of course you couldn’t sell them for $29. That’s why I assumed they were made in China. I don’t remember what type of fabric was used but they actually even had a pillow sewn on the top. Not sure if they used nylon bushings through the holes and around the pins and bolts (as I did). I certainly wasn’t being critical. Your chairs look great. I especially like the color and white border. I would’ve put a $80 or 100 dollar value on mine. I don’t know how even the chinese could make and sell them for $29. You can’t even buy the wood for that.
-- J.C.Sellers
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