Building your chair.It takes me about a day and a half complete an unfinished chair. Staining requires three days of dry weather. Dry is the key word here. Even though the staining is done inside I will not stain above a certain humidity level. Reason being is called the popcorn effect in the stain where the stain will have a very rough surface. A total of three coats are applied. Steel wool is used to between coats to produce a very smooth surface.
The follow is what happens when I build a chair.This is an actual "chair blog". It's my way of keeping track of customer correspondence and you get to see your chair being built. |
I would like to order two chairs from you. We live in the metro area, do you include that
in your delivery? Do I pay you when you come or before you start making them? My
understanding is that the price would be 400 dollars. Lastly, we have a house with a
deep red stained porch and deep red color. I'll attach a picture in a second email to
show you. What color chair do you think would go well with that? Thanks!
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Thank you!
No prepay is necessary. And yes the area you live in is included in the delivery area.
You can watch your chairs being made. I'll send you the link on Monday.
As to color. I'll be posting color stains on Wed of this week. My first thought would
be just a natural finish.
My current lead time is about two weeks.
At final
delivery payment must be made in full.
Do send a pic of the deck.
pat
ps. Yes the cost is $175 per chair.
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The wood for your chairs is in the drying room.
Even though the wood is dry, I give it a few days to reduce moisture content.
This drying is done in an enclosed area with a dehumidifier for two to three days.
Any defects in the wood will also show up allowing me to end troubles before they begin.
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Pre-drying the wood. Ok drying is done. Why do it? I'll let the photos explain.
These are checks. The wood is shipped with a higher moisture content than what I require.
Checks will only show up as the wood is drying.
By heating the wood and drying I expose the check and get rid of them.
Better to find them now then latter.
The leg base is now done.
This joint is critical. Under those four plugs are 3" coated screws. All joints at this point are glued using an outdoor construction grade adhesive. Front legs next. Now really what I should do is pre-make the legs. But I don't. It's the reason why your chair takes so long to make. That's part of the art of woodworking. Each chair has it's own personality. Some are buggers some are easy. pat |
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Arm rests.
The template (in front) is used to rough cut the arms on the bandsaw.
That template is about ten years old now and has never failed me.
This is one of the changes that I've made to the original plans. I like the arm to be wider.
Always thought you should be able to set a plate and a beverage without worrying about spills.
Rough cut arms.
Now it's onto the router table to soften up the edges.
I use two different bits in a DeWalt 625 router. The first pass takes off just a 32 inch.
The second pass competes the round over.
Next up...arm braces and back seat support and we should be adding the center slat.
From here thing will go pretty fast.
pat
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Well things have been going along this week with your chairs.
Legs and arms are now ready to put together.
Dry fit went well, everything is square and level.
Side view with two of the three leg bolts installed.
Arms tacked in place. Those braces in the back are used to keep the arms level and will be removed.
And we're ready to put in the slats.
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Well the first chair is almost finished.
Another bolt in the front legs and seat slats.
Just love working with cedar.
This image is with the plugs installed. A little bit more sanding.
Behind each of those plugs is a two inch screw.
Each vertical slat is also reinforced with an outdoor adhesive.
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Some of the pictures I've been meaning to post on your chairs.
The first back slat. If you think in terms of your house now.
We want all the weight to be transferred to the ground. That's the job of the back slats.
I've never really counted all the screws and plugs I use but I like the results.
Please to excuse dirty litter pans.
But the result is that the screws are protected and unseen.
Well I really need to clean those litter pans now.
And your chairs are now finished. Buying something without seeing it is just not my way. You'll be able to sit in your chairs and have no commitment to buying at this point. If you choose not to accept them it's ok. Hope you're having a good vacation. Back to those litter pans for me. Whoever would think such a small kitty could produce so much. pat
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Your chairs sitting in the sun.
