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user22161

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'er indoors wants a chair to match her light pine computer desk and I've been trawling around looking for something simple to build and not too heavy. Came across this frame design which shouldn't be too challenging but just can't believe anyone would pay that price. Am I out of touch or, do some people have just too much money and deserve to be parted from it? https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/seati ... _14375192/

DIY Youtube copy here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3TFwEvCtHE
 
That's a (restored?) antique. The guy who made it was the cousin (?) of and collaborator with Le Corbusier, the famous modernist architect. It's that connection you're paying the big bucks for. I'd be careful with the balance of that design, because it looks to me like it could tip over backwards a bit too easily.
 
It's a striking design, but I doubt it would be particularly comfortable.

The weight of it would make it difficult to move the chair backwards and forwards when you're sitting in it, and the seat should slope down towards the back more. I appreciate the cane will sag slightly but I'd still slope the seat a degree or two because if there's any tendency for the sitter to slide out of the chair then bracing themselves to prevent this can become very tiring on the legs.

Chairmaking is often pretty complicated, with a lot of critical tricks and techniques that aren't published on the internet or in books. I really struggle to make a chair that I can profitably sell for under £1000, and that's after I've made the dozen or more jigs that are required for virtually all of my chair designs. For a one off chair I would probably spend more time making the jigs than making the chair!

There are a few ways around this. Firstly windsor style chairs are far simpler to make than jointed chairs. The problem with windsors isn't really making them, for most people it's sourcing the necessary green timber and setting up for steam bending.

A second simpler option is this, if you separate the seat/back assembly from the frame then life becomes much, much simpler. A Canadian furniture maker, Michael Fortune, has done a lot to develop this style of chair.
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These illustrate the general construction principles, but this particular version is more geared to batch production. I think he made a nicer version for Fine Woodworking where you can order the plans plus a copy of the magazine article on how to make it?

A third possibility is that Paul Sellers has a video showing how to make and upholster a simple chair. The problem, to my eye at least, is that in simplifying the design he's ended up with a clunky, fugly mess...but if you're happy with the design then it's certainly a simple thing to make.

If you do decide to make a more complex jointed chair then I'd be happy to guide you through some of the specialist solutions, but don't underestimate the challenge. Even a superficially simple jointed chair design like this contains some fiendishly difficult constructional problems!
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Custard's second example is a good one. I made a chair about a year ago based on a much slimmed down version of PS's Masterclass Chair. Fairly straight forward except for the angled side rails. I've tried to copy my post of it here but unsuccessful!!

John
 
custard":gyb4l167 said:
If you do decide to make a more complex jointed chair then I'd be happy to guide you through some of the specialist solutions, but don't underestimate the challenge. Even a superficially simple jointed chair design like this contains some fiendishly difficult constructional problems!

Thanks Custard, very generous offer. I'm ducking & diving at the moment, using the excuse of looking for something suitable :) Heading back to the boat in 3 weeks until October so won't be starting a build until then. Thanks again, Graham.
 
GrahamF":31p9jhjg said:
'er indoors wants a chair to match her light pine computer desk and I've been trawling around looking for something simple to build and not too heavy. Came across this frame design which shouldn't be too challenging but just can't believe anyone would pay that price. Am I out of touch or, do some people have just too much money and deserve to be parted from it? https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/seati ... _14375192/

DIY Youtube copy here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3TFwEvCtHE

Design is a matter of taste I suppose, but this thing is objectively ugly. The proportions are just not pleasing in anyway.

There has to be a mid century chair with a design that is relatively straightforward to build that isn't this! :)
 
I've been unable to find many non traditional chairs to copy on line, most are either dining or outdoor. The one above I spotted on Youtube is a compromise.

It's for a spare bedroom, used mainly as wife's sewing/ironing/computer room. To give a better idea, I want something to fit in with existing contents. Wall unit is white Contiplas with gold trim (I wanted to use beech or Oak) bed is softwood, drop-leaf desk (color looks a bit strange on photo) is pine veneered mdf. The chair is what needs binning and she doesn't want an office swivel or dining chair and must be light wood with arms, small footprint due to lack of space when trundle bed rolled out and from my pov easy to build.

Easy build suggestions/links welcome :D

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