Mahogany Kitchen Stool Project #9: Seat backs

Lookin’ good, Steve!
You will have 6 of the finest stools and can take pride in the fact that YOU made them (not IKEA)!!

-- Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Making chairs is a pretty slow process Steve, except maybe for those that do every day. So I’m not surprised that this project is taking awhile, especially considering all the curvy complexity involved. You have accomplished quite a bit in only 108 hrs. I know these are going to be fantastic stools when they’re finished and you will never want to get rid of them. Great work so far and a wonderful blog too. Can’t wait to see them completed.

-- Mike, American in Norway

Thanks Ellen, You’ll know they are not IKEA if you were to pick one up. They are going to have a nice heavy feel to them.

Thanks Mike, My oldest son teases me with “Those are never going to be finished!” We know better, but they do take a long time. For instance, my weekend in the shop will result in very little time spent on these as other projects take priority.

-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive

This is amazing Steve. As you started this long before I joined up, I have just discovered it and have just fully enjoyed the whole ride from the start to the present. I applaud your organization, planning and attention to detail. It’s really something to see the process that someone else goes through to arrive at the desired end and your documentation is as complete as anyone could ask. I do things soooo differently. These are sure to be real head turners and will be a source of enjoyment for you every time you enter the kitchen … for the rest of your life.

What a great accomplishment! Congratulations!

I have to stop now or I won’t have anything left to say when you post them as a finished project.

-- Paul M ..............If God wanted us to have fiberglass boats he would have given us fiberglass trees. http://prmdesigns.com/

That’s OK Steve. Your slow speed helps me keep up as old Arthur Ritis seems to have moved in for the winter. lol I appreciate you thinking of us old cripples and switching to slo-mo. lol

Those tenons are to die for.Man, those are great crisp lines and the curves of the backs. Wow! You guysand gals that make the furniture just amaze me. Rand

Like Paul, I had missed this whole series. Very nice.

It looks like it takes you a while, but you get to figure out things as you go. That is part of the fun to me.

You can put a bar or pipe clamp together backwards to spread things apart. Just remember to put them together the right way around before you need them again, or things get confusing :)

Steve

-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon

Steve,

I really got a bunch of ideas from this- especially your use of clamping jigs/procedures, thanks!!

It is amazing how much time a project actually takes. You don’t realize it until you start documenting the hours.

Lew

-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

I have never built a chair nor do I think I will… great to see how you do all the pieces.. fabulously documented…
some of these techniques could be adapted to other projects so thanks for the post…

-- Drink twice... and don't bother to cut... @ larrysworkshop.wordpress.com For lovers of all things timber...

Thaks for the comments everyone!

Paul – Likewise, I have learned a lot from what you have shared. I just went bkc and checked – My first post on this blog will be a year old in a few days!

Rand – Stay tuned, I am still behind on the blog and will try to get another entry out soon.

Steve – Thanks – Problem solving is definitely a fun part of woodworking.I had thought about the pipe clamp solution, but all I have is bar clamps that don’t come apart.

Lew – This is the second time I have kept track of hours. The first time I put in about twice as many hours as I had guessed. It is interesting – 108 hours seems like a lokng time, but 18 hours per stool feels pretty good!

Larry – I had tried a chair when I was young – it was pretty wobbly and not much to look at. Gave me a lot of respect for those who make them. I spent a lot of time working this over in my mind. So many ways to screw this up!

-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive

Steve that is really good work I particularly like your innovative use of jigs those are the challenges of woodworking I love the best & what a great result. I’m not good with production work after 2 units I want to get on to the next project so I really admire anyone who has the perseverance to do 6 off
great job
Trevor

-- God created wood that we may create. Trevor East Yorkshire UK

Trevor – I am actually a lot like you. The only way I would get 6 of these done is to do them all now. If I were asked do to more, I’m not sure that would happen.

Autumn – Thanks! I like your signature line. The shop equipment is the result of years of getting by without and slowly adding pieces. Often when my Dad asks me what I want for my birthday, he chips in for a new tool. That works out every 3 or 4 years…

-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive

Nice work Uncle Steve. Those curves are amazing. These would look nice with the bar I’m just getting started with.

Thanks Jras. I’m looking forward to seeing your bar – and maybe take it for a test drive!

-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive