Making Classic Country Chairs: 14 Practical Projects Complete with Detailed Plans - Softcover

Bryant, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0713480408 ISBN 13: 9780713480405

Publisher: Chrysalis Books, 1999

Synopsis

A practical guide to building 14 classic country chairs - from a Shaker rocker to a Windsor scroll-back - with plans, step-by-step instructions and details of equipment and woods. In addition, specific constructional techniques - turning, seat weaving, steam bending - are included where applicable.

About this title

From the Publisher

Drawing on the best of both American and British chair–making traditions, this is a superb practical guide to making the kind of classic regional chairs created by individual craftsmen, small family concerns, and groups of chair makers in the 18th and 19th centuries. With detailed plans and step–by–step instructions for 14 timeless country designs, ranging from a Shaker rocker to a Windsor scroll-back chair, Making Classic Country Chairs will show you how to craft beautiful pieces that will be treasured by generations to come. Generous illustrations, including color photos of finished projects as well as specific techniques, complement the clearly written text. Among the featured designs are: Windsor chairs (scroll–back and bamboo), two–row spindle–back chair, New England child’s chair, platform rocking chair, Shaker rocker, and Morris armchair. In addition, the book offers a useful introduction to basic chair–making skills, equipment, and specific construction techniques, such as spindle–turning, seat–weaving, steam–bending, and joinery.

From Library Journal

Bryant, a professional woodworker and author, has written a useful guide to making country chairs, which he defines as chairs that would have been used by common people on a daily basis during the 18th and 19th centuries. Fancy chairs that originally sold for high prices (in such styles as Chippendale, Sheraton, and Hepplewhite) are not included; instead, Bryant covers a number of styles (Windsor, Shaker, and Morris) that would have been within the abilities of many village craftsmen or local companies. The first section covers a number of techniques, including wood selection, wood turning (which is used on most of the projects), joinery jigs, steam bending, seat weaving, and glues and finishes. The bulk of this title consists of instructions for making 14 chairs, including several examples of Windsor chairs, a stool, a ladder-back chair, several Shaker designs, and a platform rocker. Each plan is well illustrated, with a color photo of the completed design and step-by-step instructions (strangely, while the parts list offers both metric and imperial measurements, the measured drawings use metric dimensions only). The list of suppliers has a definite British slant, and the bibliography is of questionable value because it offers only author and title. These limitations are annoying but will not hinder advanced woodworkers. Recommended for the most comprehensive collections.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Chrysalis Books
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0713480408
• ISBN 13: 9780713480405
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English