Spindle Legged Stool

[xy mosian]

My first completed project of the year.
From a pencil sketch.

To a finished stool.
Cutting out the blanks with a hand held circular saw and the rest by hand. Spindle shaping by plane, spokeshave and scraper, tenons by tapered shave and mortices by auger and tapered reamer.

The finish is by Fiddes and Sons.

I am pleased with the end result. I was not looking for cabinet making quality, just an honest stool. For that reason the top was used slightly bent as I received it. The top was scraped from the bandsawn surface when taking the excess from the leg tops and left not fully smooth. Although I would have preferred no splits where the tenons come through the top they don't upset me.

Thanks for looking.

xy

 

[nathandavies]

well done sir, sounds pleasant making that with hand tools.

 

[xy mosian]

Thanks nathan, I really enjoy 'simple' woodwork. I like the feel of the spokeshave, wooden, as I move it around trying to find the best cut in the wood. The woodworkers equivalent of being 'In the zone'.
xy

 

[Spindle]

Hi

A nice stool made in a traditional manner =D>

In my opinion the stretcher assembly may look better if located further down the legs and the top corners could do with softening.

Never the less, deserves to become an heirloom, do you mark your pieces?

Regards Mick

 

[Racers]

Cracking stool!

Its good to be able to feel the wood while you work it.

Pete

 

[xy mosian]

Hi,
Mick, Thanks, that means a lot. As for the stretcher height, I completely agree with you. Sadly although I was aiming at just above middle, I forgot the thickness of the top when sited the rail and I centred the shaping on the rail. After that I was stuck with it. I could shorten the legs but they are perfect length for use as a step when cleaning, internal, windows. I see your point about the edges of the top, something I'll have a go at with the spokeshave, but how to stop it looking like a routed edge? I must shy away from my tendency to aim at that.
An heirloom, crikey. I don't have any heirs someone else can fight over it.
I have only marked a couple of pieces, generally at the insistence of the owner. How do you mark yours? Is it a monogram affair, or a full blown name stamp?

Pete, Thanks. To quote someone "It doesn't have to scream to cut wood". How right you are. Sadly the longest process, in many ways the most enjoyable too, was shaping the ends of the rails with the shave. I did rig up a pole lathe to try out, but my legs aren't up to using one. I am madly trying to figure out a slightly speedier method without resorting to a powered lathe. Perhaps along the lines of a trapping plane. Hand wound of course.
http://www.ashemcrafts.com/products_trapping_plane.aspx

xy

 

[Spindle]

Hi xy

I have the Ashem Crafts trapping plane that you linked to and can report it works well though I'm not sure how best to hand power it - I use mine on long plain spindles, (chair backs), but I drive them from my lathe.

As for marking my work - I have an old Welsh dresser which bears a makers mark written in freehand pencil which I think compliments the hand made nature of the piece. I mark my work discretely in a similar manner, name and date.

Regards Mick

 

[Woodchips2]

Well done xy, it looks lovely =D>

I recently bought some Ash to make a matching stool I made when I had a lathe. Will now make the legs by hand, more fun and no dust :roll:

Regards Keith

 

[xy mosian]

Hi Mick,

I can see the problems using the Ashem Crafts trapping plane by hand, particularly losing settings when adjusting the hold. I use my tapering shave by clamping it in the vice and turning the wood by hand, perhaps I can extend that a little. Think adjustable pencil sharpener.

I like the idea of an understated signature, in fact I recall a door being taken apart at my childhood home which had some details of the maker written on a panel, hidden by the molding.

Can I see images of your work anywhere? You sound as if a number of chairs come from your workshop.

Hi Keith,

Thanks for your comments. I'm pleased you are about to have some fun. I found the legs and spindles to be slippery little blighters, very tricky to clamp. In the end I clamped them, end to end, in a sash cramp and held the tail of that in the vice. That also meant that I could alter the working height to ease the load on my back.

Regards to you both,

xy

 

[Woodchips2]

Hi Mick,

I can see the problems using the Ashem Crafts trapping plane by hand, particularly losing settings when adjusting the hold. I use my tapering shave by clamping it in the vice and turning the wood by hand, perhaps I can extend that a little. Think adjustable pencil sharpener.

I like the idea of an understated signature, in fact I recall a door being taken apart at my childhood home which had some details of the maker written on a panel, hidden by the molding.

Can I see images of your work anywhere? You sound as if a number of chairs come from your workshop.

Hi Keith,

Thanks for your comments. I'm pleased you are about to have some fun. I found the legs and spindles to be slippery little blighters, very tricky to clamp. In the end I clamped them, end to end, in a sash cramp and held the tail of that in the vice. That also meant that I could alter the working height to ease the load on my back.

Regards to you both,

xy

Thanks xy. Another project I've got to do is a shave horse to hold the slippery little blighters :lol:

Keep up the good work.

Regards Keith

 

[xy mosian]

Hi Keith,

I have rather liked the look of shave horses myself, sadly I don't have stabling room. I'd like to see the results of your efforts once you have it sorted.

Enjoy your woodwork,

xy

 

[Spindle]

Can I see images of your work anywhere?

Hi xy

Sorry I've left it so long before responding - these are the only two chairs I have at home now - both made about ten years ago and out of olive ash from Jack Hill designs - see here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jack-Hills-Coun ... 0715387677

Which I see has suffered effing vertical inflation since it went out of print :evil: It's a good book if you see it anywhere at a reasonable price.

Regards Mick

 

[Woodchips2]

Hi Keith,

I have rather liked the look of shave horses myself, sadly I don't have stabling room. I'd like to see the results of your efforts once you have it sorted.

Enjoy your woodwork,

xy

Hi xy
I've seen this design of shave horse with the option of folding legs http://www.veritastools.com/Content/Ass ... 1901AI.pdf which cuts down on the stabling :lol:


I hope to have a go at this in the summer when we have completed the improvements to our new home.

Regards Keith

 

[xy mosian]

Hi Mick,

What good looking chairs! Thank you for posting. There is some seriously fine turning there.
I especially like the shorter of the two.

I knew Jack Hill as a fellow demonstrator at a Craft Show in these parts in the late seventies and early eighties. One of life's good guys. Sadly another that I wish I had known better.

Oh Keith, You've gone and given me another item on my 'round toit list !
In use can the rail be grabbed well enough without bruising? It does make a great deal of sense to use legs fitted by taper, that's what it's all about really.

Thank you both again.
xy