Thread: Chair Design & Construction

surely you can use any timber you want for chairs, but if its a softwood make sure to put the SWL on the back of it so the larger folks keep off

If you look at a majority of the low end chairs at Super Amart and alike, they are all made out of pine and coloured to suit afterwards. I think that if you keep in mind the timber you want to use when you are designing a chair then you can use any timber you want. My dad built a large bench out of hoop pine and it was capable of holding as many people as it could hold (siiting or standing) and he did not use that bigger section timber.

Traditional chairs like Windsors use different timbers for certain parts, but harder, tougher wood for legs. I guess you don't want to carve into a hard slab of oak for a shaped seat.
Cheers,

Bob I don't think the hard/soft wood has ever entered the designers mind when it comes to durability or movement. Hardwood has always been the chosen one. Whilst i haven't had experience with the cypress, what soft wood i have used over the years i have hated because you just can not get crispness in construction or detail no matter how much attention you put into it. Shrinkage and movement in such small sections of chairs is never a factor, so hard or soft wont be an issue. Good hardwood is just better for chairs mainly for long term durability and athsetics, and it just looks better, except if you are making fully upholstered ones that are stained and then it doesn't matter as you can keep the good tassie oak for the legs and crap for all the rails [do you own a copy of 1000 chairs ?]

I think most of us would prefer to work with hardwood, and years ago that was easily acheived. Today, cost considerations dicate otherwise.

I have just finished a set of carvers to complete my dining set. All chairs are from Oregon, and are strong as buggerry. I also like Oregon (Douglas Fir) for the figure in the wood, much more intersting than plain grained hardwoods. The downside is that its a PITA to work, chips, tearouts, splits etc., but the end result is worth it.

The main issue with chairs failing is in the joints. I used Techniglue epoxy, coloured with black brickies oxide for all joints, knot holes, splits etc. All joins where M&T. They aint gonna break

Bodgy do you have some photos of the carvers and setting you made? realy would love to see them.

And i have to agree on the Fir, its beautifull, especialy the quality 1/4 sawn which seems so hard to find these days. I hate it when you get splinters as i get an infection straight away.

Great question Bob. . . .and one I'm going to have to pull some books out to find an answer.

Given that hardwood isn't always "hard", and softwood isn't always "soft", perhaps there was a theory regarding mollecular structure and propensity to shrink or crush cells?

From my very shaggy memory, hardwood has fruit-borne seed and is usually (always?) evergreen, while softwood has "naked" seed eg from pine cones and is usually deciduous.

From all of that comes a basic cellular difference, that I just can't remember!

Maybe that's why our old pine kitchen chairs used to fall to bits after 30 or 40 years?

Cheers,

P

Lignum

I've made a whole lot of stuff since I was re born about 9 months ago. The quality is gradually improving, with practice, tools and education.

I'd intended to photo all the items, predominately furniture and predominately Oregon (I bought about a cube of old formwork) and post.

As I said, its been a learning exercise and nothings real flash - yet. Hopefully piccies next week.

I seem to recall it was about molecular structure Midge.

As I understand it, the Shaker style of furniture was partially influenced by the lack of traditional hardwoods. Many of their chairs were made from softwoods but used hardwood dowels or pegs in the feet to reduce wear. I believe this is also, at least partly anyway, why they preferred pegged joints instead of plain T&M.

Both features are something I try to replicate in my work for similar reasons, as well as the fact that I simply like the style.

Are we allowed to post if we aren't students of furniture design?

Originally Posted by Bodgy

As I said, its been a learning exercise and nothings real flash - yet. Hopefully piccies next week.

Geeeze Bodge its been a very long week. Have you got the pictures yet

Hi Bob,

As someone said above, the lower end commercial chairs are sold and they used to be made from Pine (now a commercial hardwood instead from asia - paulonia??)

They were just a bit clunkier (is that a technical term?)

It's got something to do with the bending deflection on the side rails and the load bearing capacity of the timber. As they make floor beams out of cypress for moist applications, I can't see why you couldn't use it in a chair. Finding pieces without a knot for the structural members could prove a bit of a challenge, especially the back legs.

Cheers,

eddie

Originally Posted by Lignum

Geeeze Bodge its been a very long week. Have you got the pictures yet

Film still in the camera.