Building a chair

[JustMovement]

I have some spare time during my weekends and some mornings, and I wanted something productive to take up my time. Seeing that at the moment Im chairless, I was wondering if it would be feasible to attempt to build a chair.

I understand that there is are shops that sell planks of wood cut at the dimensions you request. I have no idea how to even begin to go about doing this, but my general idea would be plan in advance the pieces of wood and their sizes that I need, then assemble (???), and then paint. Keep in mind that I find IKEA tricky, is this at all possible? If it is, any tips, or resources you can direct me to would be very much appreciated.

[Aurora]

If you don't have much experience with woodworking the biggest problem is not having the tools for it, the actual skills can be picked up relatively easily with either a book, trial and error or the best option, having someone show you how. Just off the top of my head you'll need a hand saw, chisel, mallet, gauge, tri-square, ruler, tape measure, wood glue and sandpaper. You can pick up the wood at any DIY store or builders providers.
Something like this wouldnt be out of the realm of possibility:
http://paradehome.co.uk/cms/files/cache/glp_ame_415350350.jpg
Measuring and cutting the wood shouldn't be too much of a problem but without a doubt the trickiest bit will be the joints, i'd say your best bet is to do a standard mortise and tenon like this:
http://www.mcgillteak.com/image/data/Title%20images/Teak-Tenon-Mortise-Joint.jpg
And reinforce it with wood glue and screws too if necessary.

If you have any questions i'll try and answer them the best i can.

[JustMovement]

Fucking hell man thats perfect. OK im going to look into this and if I have any questions ill ask. Thanks!

[Bitter Ashes]

Remember to draw it all out, along with your dimensions before you start. That way you wont have any nasty surprises.

[Terror Bot]

Ahhhhhhhhhh so THATS how chairs are made! Thank you!!

[Dr Mindbender]

[REMOVED PICTURE]
I know it was a joke, but a 3mb bitmap was just silly.
-Hannah Kay

[MarxSchmarx]

An alternative to chiseling the joints would be to drill holes for long screws and pegs that could be used to fit the parts together. You would again use wood glue to secure in esp. the pegs.. These aren't as sturdy as a mortis and tenon anarion uses, but depending on how much your load is, for the right kind of wood (in my experience the harder the better in terms of load bearing) they are fine and probably easier for starting out.

[Dr Mindbender]

I know it was a joke, but a 3mb bitmap was just silly.
-Hannah Kay

Sorry, I couldn't tell it was 3mb from the thumbnail!

[-marx-]

If you do use a mortise and tenon method the best glue is "Franklin titebond 50". It's stronger than the wood itself and will never break. Gibson guitars use the above mentioned method.

[Bitter Ashes]

If you do use a mortise and tenon method the best glue is "Franklin titebond 50". It's stronger than the wood itself and will never break. Gibson guitars use the above mentioned method.
I wouldn't buy a brand name of glue tbh. Most wood glues, even your cheapie generic PVA brand is stronger than most woods in some way or other. Most important thing to be really anal about your measurements. Nice sharp pencil, set square, using a tenon saw rather than a hacksaw, etc. If you get the joints nice and tight they wont need much glue at all and you'll have a far more comfortable and stale chair than one that has loose joints which slide around in glue.

Personally I prefer the dowel joint
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Woodworking-joint-butt-dowel.gifhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Woodworking-joint-butt-dowel.gif
Much easier to make. No fucking around with chisels which are a royal pain in the backside to get precise in small enclosed spaces. All you need is a drill bit a nice big chunky bit and something like a curtain pole of the same diameter as your drill bit. You cut off the dowels from the pole and put a little bit of glue around there and hammer it in. Quick wipe around for excess glue and you're done! Yeah, it looks a bit like it's come from a flat pack I suppose, but I've also seen some really creative chairs made from having multiple holes across the back of the chair and threading extra long dowels all the way through to the legs at the front to actually provide the seat. Just make sure you're drilling straight down, or it might go wonky.

[Aurora]

Aye Marx and Hannah are dead on, much easier to use dowels than to fuck around cutting out mortises with a chisel.
Anyway if you've gotten around to it i'd love to see a picture :cool:

[-marx-]

I wouldn't buy a brand name of glue tbh. Most wood glues, even your cheapie generic PVA brand is stronger than most woods in some way or other. Most important thing to be really anal about your measurements. Nice sharp pencil, set square, using a tenon saw rather than a hacksaw, etc. If you get the joints nice and tight they wont need much glue at all and you'll have a far more comfortable and stale chair than one that has loose joints which slide around in glue.

Personally I prefer the dowel joint
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Woodworking-joint-butt-dowel.gifhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Woodworking-joint-butt-dowel.gif
Much easier to make. No fucking around with chisels which are a royal pain in the backside to get precise in small enclosed spaces. All you need is a drill bit a nice big chunky bit and something like a curtain pole of the same diameter as your drill bit. You cut off the dowels from the pole and put a little bit of glue around there and hammer it in. Quick wipe around for excess glue and you're done! Yeah, it looks a bit like it's come from a flat pack I suppose, but I've also seen some really creative chairs made from having multiple holes across the back of the chair and threading extra long dowels all the way through to the legs at the front to actually provide the seat. Just make sure you're drilling straight down, or it might go wonky.


I'm somewhat anal about it because I'm a guitarist and somewhat of a fanatic as far as music goes, so I would only use the glue that holds my guitars together as they have proven themselves to me under extreme tension. :D

I don't do woodwork though, I just know how guitars are built.

The most woodwork I ever done was hand chiseling out on a new door for its lock assembly. Took ages but turned out great.

[Bitter Ashes]

I'm somewhat anal about it because I'm a guitarist and somewhat of a fanatic as far as music goes, so I would only use the glue that holds my guitars together as they have proven themselves to me under extreme tension. :D

I don't do woodwork though, I just know how guitars are built.

The most woodwork I ever done was hand chiseling out on a new door for its lock assembly. Took ages but turned out great.
I saw a TV programme showing how guitars are made. It was interesting stuff, but the thing I kind of noticed was the glue being used heavily. The long setting time is a side effect of that kind of construction. I'm sure there's a reason for it, but I've never tried to build a guitar myself and tbh, if it works, don't knock it. :)

[danyboy27]

http://zedomax.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Barrel-Chair-1-391x510.jpg