Learn from one's mistakes!

Project: Making "rustic" chairs to go with the cypress (camp) table.

I wanted to do the woodwork with hand tools, mostly, and this, I think, made for some inaccurate fitting-of-parts together or fitting them disproportionately.

I used the bandsaw for some rip cutting of the back legs.... at an angle, so that the back legs angled backwards 7°. You might can see this in the practice-making of the Maloof joint (scroll right for more pics).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/438361...posted-public/

The front legs angle forward 7° and sideways 7°, i.e., splay legged.

I first designed this chair in my head, put a few notes and drawings on paper, then started the build, piecemeal, somewhat designing/modifying elements as I went along. Maybe pics show this better than my description.

Using the plastic chairs in the shop as my size model, they are a little small for comfort. I wanted something a little larger, i.e., seat wider and backrest taller. The camp scenario is not just for dining, but often for general seating, slouching, watching TV and the like.... not always perfect posture.

6 Pics, scroll right: https://www.flickr.com/photos/438361...posted-public/

This first chair is a little shorter than I want and the seat is too wide. I can rip the seat's center to narrow it, though this will alter the backrest slats. I'll re-do/re-fit the center backrest slat, in order to figure out the modifications for the remaining chairs. As is, this chair looks disproportionate... squat - wide and short.

The backrest slats don't align, quite right (unsightly), with the backrest frame members. The slats' contour need to be reworked.... and lengthened, if I am to make the backrest taller. These initial build-results don't match my initial imagination and paper drawings.

Some of these design errors may be that, I started out with 4X4 stock, with the intention of carving the legs and backrest supports to 1) reduce bulk and weight and 2) to give the chairs some basic rustic curved/contoured elements of design. The seat will be gouged out (Windsor chair-like), also, so, at this stage, the seat is still thick and bulky.

I'm not crazy about this first chair, after putting in lots of hand work, but it's allowing me to see some errors in design and build. This chair looks more awkward in person, than in the pics. I think the design/build anomalies will be relatively easy to correct, though the actual work won't get easier.

I want to build 5 chairs for the 9' table, two captains chairs and 3 side chairs. An 8' bench has already been made for one side of the table setting. https://www.flickr.com/photos/438361...posted-public/

Side note: I was to have a curved scorp made, for this project, by a local blacksmith. I haven't heard back from him, despite texting him, as to the progress. I suspect he won't produce the scorp, after all. He could, at least, let me know something, one way or the other.

Despite the issues I'm having, I'm pleased with the general goings-on and am enjoying building this project. I can visualize the subsequent good results.

Sonny