I wanted my entry to be as far away as possible from the straight lines and right angles of the 2×4 I was starting from. After much thought I came up with the idea of a Windsor style chair.

Although I have done the occasional chair, this was still very much a challenge for me as no-one in their right mind would start to make such a chair with an 8 foot length of 2” x 4” pine! Scaling a chair to fit the material available was the first challenge. The chair has ended up at 32” tall and the 12” x 16” seat is 12” off the floor, so it’s ideally suited to an older child (or small adult).

A different view

Leg wedge detail

I’ve tried to give it the general style of the early Welsh Stick Chair, some of which had octagonal section legs. So, rather than the more commonplace turnings, I’ve gone for that approach. The two front arm-support sticks are also octagonal, formed with draw knife and spokeshave. The sticks were also shaped using plane, spokeshave and scraper, and I think the slight unevenness adds to the appeal. I did, however, turn the tenons for the legs on the lathe.

For speed, I have finished the chair with a water-based varnish, rubbed down between coats. Briwax will follow.

I have posted some photographs and further details of the chair’s construction here

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems