Thread: Thonet bending for windsor hoop back

Originally Posted by apricotripper

Windsor hoop backs and continueous arms should have bentwood backs

This, I believe, is an improvement to hoop back and continueous arm windsors, which I hope won't annoy too many traditionalist chair makers. But I don't see any way around showing an improvement without showing the negitives first.

I'll try and describe it without being overly wordy(my tendency).

The problem I've always had with hoop back chairs is that the bow(or hoop) are bent in 2 dimentional planes only. Primarily because the timber is prepared in squarish cross-sections and their straps really only want to bend either one way or the other and generally this kind of bending is easier to do. But this means you end up with a bow that doesn't match the sitters back. Not ideal. Our backs are curved not straight. And it doesn't, in my opinion, look as good either. Can see this when looking from the top. Picture one is a continueous arm(I don't have a hoop back on hand). Very squarish looking.

Bentwood chairs(Thonet) have always looked more elegant to me, because the bends are 3 dimentional. Round cross sections are used allowing the strapping to twist about in a 3rd dimention. Its harder to do , but this means you can end up with a top profile more conducive to comfort and not so squarish looking. Try and show that with a bentwood in Picture two.

So this is what I've done. I've made a former, turned a bow (round cross section) and bent the bow in a way very similar to thonets methods, but instead of bolting it up to a seat, as you find in bent woods(which is where bentwoods fail), I've jointed the bow normally to the seat as you find in windsors. Picture three shows my first windsor hoop back chair. Not glued up yet, but there's enough to see to describe the point.

It changes the look from all directions. Side profile is another angle that hoop backs look too rigidly straight as well. With a bentwood bow the tip whips over more. Picture four. Doesn't look anywhere near as squarish in my opinion.

Hope I don't look like I'm showing off too much, but its a big deal for me. I've put off making hoop backs for quite a while because of these comfort and aesthetic issues. And this bend has delt with the problem I had with them. thats it.

This is great Jake.
You are a genius. What a fantastic idea - and no - this is not showing off, it is sharing a great idea.
Thanks for posting this.
Five stars from me!
Cheers
SG

This is very fine work Jake and a new idea (for me anyway) in a very old area which is to your credit, so not showing off! Showing off would have been the umpteenth piece with the n-th variation of the dovetail joint.
Well done

Good info there Jake. Thanks for posting.

ta.

Great stuff, Jake! Nothing more satisfying than applying your own ideas to an old design. B*gg*r the traditionalists if they make a fuss - if we blindly followed tradition & never thought for ourselves, we would still be cowering in dark caves when the sun went down.....

Cheers,

Looks good Jake, you usually have something interesting to post, this is no exception.

ta. finished it.

The blackwood darkened up too much than I hoped, disquising all the fancy wedging I wanted to show off

Looks great Jake. Love the curves.

Sensational stuff! I would love to see some pics of your set up and step by step how you execute the 3 dimensional bends.

pete

Originally Posted by waveink

Sensational stuff! I would love to see some pics of your set up and step by step how you execute the 3 dimensional bends.

pete

spose....suddenly feeling very protective

no, I would but, it involves apparent 'dangerous' router work (insert wanking smiley here) that I'm told could get me sued one day.

anyway, what do I get out it ?

Ooops, sorry - didn't mean to intrude...

I am just fascinated with the work you showed us already. I have done some simple steam bending with mixed success - but have never seen anything bent in multiple planes or directions. I certainly don't plan to steal your market - I'm strictly a hobbyist with an insatiable thirst to learn all I can in the years I have left with enough mobility to put them into practise.

I completely understand if you want to protect your intellectual property - no problems. But if you do change your mind I'd be deeply appreciative for the insight.

best

pete

Originally Posted by apricotripper

spose....suddenly feeling very protective

no, I would but, it involves apparent 'dangerous' router work (insert wanking smiley here) that I'm told could get me sued one day.

anyway, what do I get out it ?

Its ok. I was just being silly. My sense of humours a bit twisted as well. dry. I'm sorry.

I actually really enjoy sharing ideas in words, trying to describe my point (because on the spot I'm not very clear and its nice to make sense for a change). Its just the consequences of me being this way can be misread. I've coped a lot flack from strangers who read this forum, who've taken on the assumption that I think I'm more than I am..etc. (more like they need to pay out others)

Don't really want to bother anymore also because to get some of these things happening I got to break the rules. (you'll have to do something people will tut tut at) Stuff that can get me into strife with anal OH&S and vigilante types.....the internet is a meddlers/gossipers paradise.

Problem is I work alone, and when something exciting happens I want to discuss it, forget the consequences that have happened over and over in the past, and post threads on it

The other problem is , it could take me half a day to get all the jigs out, photograph it all in a meaningful way, and get it all to upload to the computer successfully etc. And its unpaid which I'm being made aware of all the time. But I really don't mind at all if you use the same bend yourself.

I feel the bend is actually more complicated than it looks. A person like me would need at least say 20 attempts at this bend before I could say I know how to do it. And your going to have the right type of timber and timing to make it work. i.e... it doesn't matter how much I try to help, a person like me would have to patiently experiment anyway for months.

look, Im being stupid. I'll get the camera out next time I do some bends.

Looks really good Jake! You should rightly be pleased with the result. What timber is that you have bent, looks like Hoop pine?

Cheers

Originally Posted by Andy Mac

Looks really good Jake! You should rightly be pleased with the result. What timber is that you have bent, looks like Hoop pine?

Cheers

Thanks Andy. Its Blackwood. Or susanwattle as they call it up here.