Queen Anne Wing Chair Frames

32 Pages·2006·6.97 MB·English

September 2006 Queen Anne Wing Chair Frames
Volume 18 No. 1
Hand Cut Thru Dovetails
(cid:41)(cid:53)(cid:42)(cid:41)(cid:38)(cid:1)(cid:51)(cid:1)(cid:40)(cid:38)(cid:54)(cid:42)(cid:45)(cid:56)(cid:37)(cid:48)(cid:1)(cid:48)(cid:39)
(cid:52) (cid:48)
(cid:49) (cid:37)
(cid:46) (cid:56)
(cid:34) (cid:48)
(cid:41) (cid:51)
(cid:44)
(cid:1)(cid:56) (cid:38)
(cid:51)
(cid:38) (cid:52)
(cid:47)
(cid:116) (cid:116)
Founded 1990
The Newsletter of the Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers
www.gnhw.org
vee grooving • marking your work
at large • target coatings • biedermeier style lamp
Sept 16 Period Furniture
Sept 23 Annual Meeting
Sept 30 GSWT
– new date
Oct 7 BIG
Oct 19 GSWT/Mt Wash Valley
Oct 21 Small Meetings
Oct 22 NHFMA Auction
Nov 11 Period Furniture
Nov 18 Guild Meeting
Nov 25 GSWT
Dec 2 BIG
Jan 13 Period Furniture
Jan 27 GSWT
Feb 3 BIG ell
w
Feb 17 Guild Meeting o
P
n
Mar 10 Period Furniture a
e
D
Mar 17 Small Meetings y
b
o
Mar 24 GSWT ot
h
Apr 7 BIG p
Apr 21 Guild Meeting
May 12 Period Furniture
May 26 GSWT
Jun 2 BIG
porringer table by John Siegel
Jun 16 Summer Trip maple legs, tiger maple top
Jul 28 GSWT
Turning Dutch Foot Legs
Aug 4-12 NH Craftsmen’s Fair
president’s message by Roger Myers

A Wonderful Experience
I
write this President’s message with over $4,000, another new record, and for me, and
many mixed feelings as it will be my demonstrations by Guild members Dave Anderson
last as president of the Guild. It has assured a constant crowd around the has been an
been a wonderful experience for me to tent during the entire fair and generated exceptional
have had the opportunity to serve the considerable interest in memberships. Vice President
Guild in this role for the past two years. I’ve also had the great fortune to and provided
Getting to know so many of you and work with a fantastic group of people tremendous assistance.
to see the Guild continue to grow and in taking care of Guild business. The Before this sounds too much like an
flourish has been very rewarding and an entire Guild steering committee academy award speech, I’ll stop and just
experience I will never forget. devotes a great deal of time and energy say thanks everybody. I’ve truly enjoyed
Seeing so many of our members in providing the strategic direction and the opportunity!
volunteer their time, energy and talents leadership for the Guild.
over the last couple of weeks at the DJ Delorie spends an incredible
Oct 21st, 2006
Craftsmen’s Fair at Sunapee truly amount of time in maintaining our ever
exemplifies the qualities that make growing membership database, sending Small Meetings
our organization something we can all out reminders and membership cards,
take great pride in. Our annual raffle and maintaining the Guild’s website.
W
to benefit the scholarship fund raised Jim Seroskie and his team of writers, e are working on a series of three
reporters, and photographers – what a to five small shop meetings to
great job they have done with The Old be held simultaneously at different
Saw. It is truly a newsletter without locations on the third Saturday in
equal. A publication like this doesn’t October. The Guild’s small meeting
come about without extraordinary effort format has met with much success in
and dedication! the past, so we hope you will be able to
Treasurer C. Peter James, and take advantage of this opportunity to
Secretaries Ed Jones and Greg Benulis see some other shops where the venue is
have worked diligently behind the focused to individual interests.
scenes. An email will be sent to all members
Our past president, Peter Breu, in October with details. Or check into
See Sunapee report on page 26
was an outstanding mentor and coach the Guild web site at www.gnhw.org.
Steering Committee (cid:46)(cid:49)(cid:52)(cid:41)(cid:53)(cid:42)(cid:41)(cid:38)(cid:1)(cid:51)(cid:1)(cid:40)(cid:38)(cid:54)(cid:42)(cid:45)(cid:56)(cid:37)(cid:48)(cid:1)(cid:48)(cid:48)(cid:39)(cid:37)(cid:56)
PVircees iPdreenst ident RDoagvee rA Mndyeerrsso n 660033--787837--96623647 sdtsraacthhaemstwero@[email protected] Scholarship Committee (cid:41)(cid:1)(cid:56)(cid:34)(cid:38)(cid:47)(cid:116) (cid:52)(cid:116)(cid:48)(cid:51)(cid:51)(cid:38)(cid:44)
Secretary Greg Benulis 978-314-5815 [email protected] Selection Committee John McAlevey 207-372-6455 [email protected]
Treasurer Peter James 603-435-8133 [email protected] Selection Committee Peter Breu 603-647-2327 [email protected]
At Large Peter Breu 603-647-2327 [email protected] Selection Committee Jack Grube 603-432-4060 [email protected]
At Large Jack Grube 603-432-4060 [email protected] Member Peter Bloch 603-526-6152 [email protected]
At Large Brian Sargent 603-483-1330 [email protected] Member Bob Jarrett 978-456-3928 [email protected]
At Large George Saridakis 978 549-1807 [email protected] — Please send all applications to John McAlevey, Selection Committee Chair
At Large Bob LaCivita 603-942-1240 [email protected]
At Large Andy Young 603-672-9558 [email protected] Volunteer Positions
At Large David Frechette 802-633-2561 [email protected]
Books Tony Immorlica 603-673-9629 [email protected]
GSWT President Jon Siegel 603-768-5882 [email protected]
Membership DJ Delorie 603-463-5996 [email protected]
Old Saw Editor Jim Seroskie 603-673-2123 [email protected]
Old Saw Mailing Syd Lorandeau 603-542-5295 slorandeau@verizon. net
Programs Sal Morgani 603-772-1006 [email protected]
Shirts/Hats Peter James 603-435-8133 [email protected]
Small Meetings Brian Sargent 603-483-1330 blsdesigns126@earthlink .net
SubGroups
Sunapee Fair Dave Anderson 603-887-6267 [email protected]
BIG Bob LaCivita 603-942-1240 [email protected] Video Librarian Bob Trahan 603-444-5284 [email protected]
GSWT Jon Siegel 603-768-5882 [email protected] Video Recording Peter Bloch 603-526-6152 [email protected]
Period Furniture John Whiteside 603-679-5443 [email protected] Web Master DJ Delorie 603-463-5996 [email protected]
The Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers – Bringing together the diverse interests of the New Hampshire woodworking community.
“The Old Saw” is published five times per year. To join the Guild, go to www.gnhw.org and click on “Membership “ to download an application form.
announcements

Sept 23rd, 2006 – 9:30 am
many good buys, it is rumored that ebay Dana Robes Wood Craftsmen
Annual Meeting
is coming to buy our “stuff” for resale
Route 4A
on their internet site. Try to bring your
Lower Shaker Village, Enfield, NH
at Dana Robes Wood Craftsmen items early so we can put it on display
www.danarobes.com
I for all to look over. This will also give you
do not believe time to tour the workshop and gallery which Take exit #17 off I-89. Go east on

it but another in itself is worth the drive to Enfield. Rt. 4 toward Enfield. Proceed two
Presentation –
year has gone Jere Osgood has been miles to the intersection of Rt. 4A.
by since the last designing and making furniture in his Take a right onto Rt. 4A. Proceed
Annual Meeting. own workshop for almost fifty years. three miles. You will see the Shaker
Time sure flies when you are having fun During this time he has received many Inn on the left. Dana Robes is the
woodworking! This year’s meeting place awards for his furniture. He was named second one on the left after the Inn.
is at Dana Robes – custom furniture and a Fellow of the American Craft Council
cabinet maker also offering a variety of in 1993 and was given the Award of
workshops. Distinction by the Furniture Society show a few slides of his work – pieces
Business Meeting
– Two items of note in 2002. Jere’s work has been included he considers to be original. He will
this time are the election of officers in many permanent collections such explain his approach to designing a
and a discussion and membership vote as, the American Craft Museum (NY), piece of furniture, use of a sketch book,
on by-law adjustments. The proposed the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), the scale drawings, full size mock-up, shop
by-laws and change summary were Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian drawings and then the making of the
included in the June issue of The Old Institution’s National Museum of piece. Then he will explain how to
Saw and may be viewed on-line at American Art and the Currier Gallery design and the possible need to change
www.gnhw.org/mission.html. of Art. His work is also in many private his approach. Bring your questions as
Annual Auction
– The annual auction collections. To view some of Jere’s work, Jere has a wealth of knowledge to share.
Parking
is a big fund raiser, so let us get behind go to www.furnituremasters.org. – Parking is always a bit of
it and bring our hardly used “stuff” to Jere will present Process of Design a problem, so please carpool if possible.
– Syd Lorandeau
be auctioned off. Last year we had so after our break for lunch. Jere will
Treasurer’s Report by Peter James
his past year has seen a lot of has awarded $10,647 in grants and numbers have
T
activity in the financial area of the scholarships. This year, the Steering risen so quickly
Guild. I did the five year filing for our Committee decided to assist the New in my opinion.
501(c)(3) status in the fall of 2005. This England Association of Woodworking Year end
status makes donations to the Guild Teachers with a grant that was used to membership is
tax deductible. In addition to this filing, promote woodworking in schools. As a over 475 – up
I also had the regular IRS and New guild, we need to benefit not only the about 100 over
Hampshire Secretary of State’s office members but the general public as part where we were one year ago and over
filing for our not-for-profit reports. of our 501(c)(3) status. The amount 160 where we were two years ago. There
The big event of the year was the awarded in scholarships was $7,320. will be increases in both production
Turning Symposium held in May Since we converted the video library and mailing costs for The Old Saw this
at Pinkerton Academy, Derry. We to DVD format, sales have increased. coming year, but it is still within our
had record attendance and record Video sales along with books, magazines budget without a dues increase. Costs
expenditures. The net profit from this and shirts (the enterprise activities) are for the newsletter will approach $25 per
event is split three equal ways. One third self sustaining. Income from the sale of member this year.
goes to Pinkerton for use of the facility, the DVDs covers the cost of those in This report is being put together
one third goes to the Guild Scholarship the lending library. with two weeks remaining in our fiscal
Fund and the Guild general fund retains Costs for The Old Saw have gone up year. There will be some slight changes
one third. We netted out about $9,000 dramatically due to production cost and in that period and I will give a report
so Pinkerton and the Scholarship fund the greatly increased membership. The at the annual meeting in September.
received $3,000 each and the general quality of the newsletter (magazine) is Again this year, it has been a pleasure to
fund retained just under $3,000. something the Guild is proud of and be your treasurer.
See cash flow report on Page 27
The Scholarship Committee is the primary reason membership
Write to [email protected] with your questions 
Q
Summer Swelling – Why
days before waxing. Like many surface of fixing it up, or the cost? The cost
do drawers and doors get
films, water based finish dries quickly and time will often exceed reason with
tight (hard to open) or stick in the
but needs time to harden. making old tools serviceable. Most
summer? – Anon
Q importantly, know what you are buying!
uSed machinery — When
Don’t buy a square head jointer or planer
considering the purchase of
Joe Barry replies: Think of wood as because they were considered unsafe in
used machinery. What should one
a sponge. In the summer the air is our grandparent’s time.
be looking for to insure that the
more humid and it absorbs moisture Q
machine is worth buying? – BL decalS — I make old post
and swells. In the winter the drier air
office box banks. One of the
causes it to give up moisture and shrink.
things that I need to keep the banks
A finish only slows the exchange of Jon Siegel replies: Are there parts
authentic is numerical decals for the
moisture with the atmosphere - it can missing? If so you should check on the
windows. Can anyone give me a clue
never fully seal out moisture exchange. availability of these parts before buying.
as to where I can obtain numerical
A house with humidity control will If the machine is old, you may not be
decals. – John Willse
lessen the movement. However, few of able to get original parts. In this case,
our customers will have a museum grade consider fabricating the parts yourself
environmental control system. We just or buying an aftermarket item (such as Bob LaCivita replies: This is a stab.
need to allow for this when we build. a table saw fence) which might be even Sign and banner companies have
You may have heard the expression better than the original one. graphic programs that seem to produce
“a nickel and dime fit.” One meaning Look for signs of poorly made repairs. any font in the world. They can make
of this expression is that when fitting Castings which have been broken and vinyl letters. They also might put you
doors or drawers in the winter when brazed back together are rarely accurate, on track.
the wood is driest, allow a nickel sized and may break again.
space. Conversely, allow only a dime Has the machine been taken care Herm Finkbeiner replies: There are at
space when the wood is at it’s largest of? Obviously, you should look for least two types of decals available. Dry
dimension in the summer. Experience rust, or any signs that the machine has transfer letters can be obtained in almost
in your shop and with different species been stored outside. Have the adjusting any art supply store. A common brand
will give you a better feel for just how screws been lubricated? If adjustments is: C-Thru Demi-Better Letters. Their
much allowance is required. work smoothly, and the knives are sharp product is available in about 30 different
(jointer or planer), this is a good sign. If fonts and 3-6 sizes in each font.
Herm Finkbeiner replies: Drawers stick buying a machine from a woodworking The other type lets you make decals
because wood gets bigger in the high shop, look at the shop itself. Is it orderly from anything you can put together on
humidity of summer. For a very graphic and well kept? Although indirect, this your computer. The decal is produced
explanation of the phenomenon, see the is an amazingly good predictor of the on a regular printer so it can be any
http://timber.ce.wsu.edu/content.htm
web site: maintenance the machine received. composition and color combination.
Click on “Moisture Effects” then click on The system I use is by McGonical Paper
“Next”. Joe Barry replies: With used machinery & Graphics www.mcgpaper.com. Hope
Q I like to see it run. If not possible, when this helps.
water BaSed FiniSh — How
was the last time it was run? Stick to the
can I use water based finish &
established brands that support their Jim Seroskie replies: Try these sources:
get good results? I need a low VOC
tools. I can still buy parts for my Unisaw • www.lettersunlimited.com
product to use inside a residence.
built in 1948 from Delta. I just bought a • www.brucknerhobbies.com/vinyl_
– Peter James
used Powermatic shaper because I know letters.htm
I will be able to maintain it and get • www.speedysigns.com/lettering/
Gary R. Wood replies: If appearance accessories. Check the manufacturer’s • www.staples.com then search for
is a concern with water based finish, I web site to see if parts are still available “vinyl number letter”
often wax over the last coat. Wax can for the machine in question. If you • www.quillcorp.com then search for
give more depth and richness to the want to buy a fixer-upper, ask yourself “vinyl letter” in quotes
final finish. It is best to wait a couple of why. Are you doing it for the pleasure
current work by Bill Thomas

Queen Anne
building
Wing Chair Frames
Photo by Frank Cordelle
then, and appreciate I also had to learn about the
that I had the requirements of upholstery frames.
opportunity to get I had some experience making slip
the proportions seat frames in school, but knew little
correct at the about wing chairs. I got out my books
beginning. Queen of antiques and looked up every photo
Anne wing chairs I could find of bare frames as well as
are big and wide, upholstered chairs. One thing became
but the lines of the clear pretty quickly. While more modern
wings and arms chairs are often covered with quite thick
balance the cabriole upholstery – “overstuffed” is the term –
w
o legs and turned eighteenth century practice was to use a
sl
u
Tr stretchers to form a minimum of padding for comfort and let
Bill refined whole. the frame define the shape. My term for
y
b The proposed good period upholstery is “crisp”. When
o
ot arrangement was I went to measure the original chair, I
h
P that once I made a worried about getting the shape of the
sample frame they frame without taking the upholstery
n 1982, when I had would keep it in their shop to show off. I need not have worried because the
been in business for potential buyers. When an order came padding was thin enough to make the
just a few years, I was in they would call me and I would have dimensions of the parts pretty obvious.
approached about eight weeks to fill the order. Initially they An important consideration is
the idea of building offered me $500 per frame. Even in the how the upholsterer is able to pull the
Newport style Queen Anne wing chair best light in 1982, $500 seemed close fabric tight over the frame. An advance
frames. The two people involved were to slave wages, so I knew that to make over original antique frames was the
an antique dealer and the owner of a it worthwhile I would have to work fast. introduction of “spreaders” or upholstery
shop selling reproduction furniture. The I knew I could make one chair from rails to allow the fabric to be stretched
idea was that since antique Queen Anne scratch, but to make multiples I was on the inside of the wings and back. I
wing chairs were so scarce and highly going to need jigs that would allow me was warned early on to include these as
sought after, there would be a market for to make the same parts over and over they make the job much easier.
well-made reproductions. The antique with consistent results. Chair frames I knew from school that the best
dealer knew someone who owned an don’t necessarily lend themselves easily wood for an upholstery frame would
original chair and knew that he could to working this way, but since the wood be ash due to its resiliency. A frame has
borrow it so that I could measure it. The of a wing chair is only seen below the to be able to accept and hold hundreds
desirability of these chairs was proved seat frame, I realized that the majority of of tacks. Every time it is re-upholstered
when he brought the chair into his shop the frame could be done by this method. it needs to stand up to being re-tacked.
and got immediate offers to buy it. It helped that I had been spending time So the frame would be ash, with the
Measuring the original was a big visiting a shop in Concord, NH where primary wood the choice of the buyer
advantage for me. I have seen many I had been learning about the use of (traditionally walnut) for the legs, and
so-so interpretations of the design since shapers in production work. some poplar for the turned rolls.

surface. A fixed ring eliminates this the coil springs for the seat. It consists
problem. The shaper knives are set in of a front and two side rails cut from
line with the outside diameter of the 13/4˝ ash with the side rails horizontally
ring and shape the work piece exactly to mortised into the front rails. The side
the jig. This method is used to profile and front rails are profiled on the shaper,
all the other major shaped parts of the the tenons for the back posts are cut,
chair frame if they are square edged. By and then the side and front rails are
changing knives, I can shape the molded glued together.
parts with the same setup. Next, the side rails have to be mortised
At this point in the process I start for the wings and arm stumps. This is
to employ a jig I designed which helps the real reason I built that mortising
out quite a bit. It is a mortising jig for jig. These mortises are at an angle to
my plunge router, and it consists of a the inside faces of the side rails. I clamp
rectangular platform of stacked plywood the side rails to the front edge of the
about two inches thick which is set on jig, using the back edge of the front rail
low legs so that it can be held in the as a locator. The fence then has angled
dogs on my workbench. The leg height positions for routing the wing mortises
is just enough to allow a bar clamp to and the stump mortises – both left and
pass underneath. right hand. The final steps on the seat
In use, the work piece is clamped frame are the square through mortises
to the front edge of the jig. A fence is for the front legs.
Indespensible shaper & wing chair jigs Making the base of the chair consumes
positioned on the top of the jig to line
about a third of the total time.
Building the first frame involved the router up to cut specific mortises. Since this is
not only constructing the chair, but The fence is held with through bolts the part where wood is visible, it is worth
also building the jigs and planning my that thread into t-nuts on the underside it. This is especially because Queen
approach to solving joinery problems. I of the jig so that it lines up exactly the Anne chair legs and stretchers are
started with a full size drawing, which same every time. beautiful designs. I traced the original
allowed me to see all dimensions, For the back posts, the fence has a cabriole legs. Note that the way the leg
joints, and angles actual size. A wing position which lines up the side rail and is incorporated into the design makes
chair frame is a complex assembly side stretcher mortises, a position for it end up not entirely symmetrical. The
with angled joinery and odd-shaped the back rail, and another position for most obvious detail is the joint with
parts. I couldn’t afford to make a huge the crest rail. I can do all the joinery for the side stretcher. This is a rectangular
investment in elaborate jigs at first, so the back of the chair in a very short time. mortise and tenon even though the
I solved each joinery puzzle with the The back seat rail and crest rail are made front of the stretchers are round. A
simplest methods I could come up with. and their tenons cut and fit. The turned round tenon would take too much
I will describe how I go about back stretcher is then joined to the posts material away and seriously weaken the
building a chair and talk about my with round tenons and the back frame legs at their narrowest point. The back
solutions as they arise. Of course, I am is ready for glue-up. The crest rail is edges of the leg blanks are the shoulders
going to simplify things, or I would take bandsawed and shaped after the back is of the stretcher tenons so a flat is left
up the whole newsletter. glued.
I start a chair with the back frame.
The New England
first pieces I cut are the two back posts. Queen Anne wing
These are shaped in a profiling jig with chairs always had
my shaper. The type of jig I use involves one-piece back
two straight knives and a 1/4˝ high posts. In later
concentric fixed ring held in the shaper practice the posts
table. This bears were often scarfed
against the above the seat
bottom edge of frame. The upper
the jig. Many back would be
people would framed separately
do this with a out of secondary
ball bearing rub wood.
The next part of
collar, but in
the chair is the seat
practice the ball
frame.
bearing is sloppy This heavy
enough to leave horseshoe-shaped
Shaper ring guide Router mortising jig in use on a seat frame
a scalloped frame supports
Shop photos by Bill Thomas 
around the mortises in the legs for the is smaller in diameter
stretchers to butt up against. The tops of than the ring, the
the legs are faired into the curve of the edge of the ramp that
seat frame. The knee blocks are glued the ring bears against
on to each leg and the non-symmetrical needs to be set back the
seat curve is drawn on the top face of corresponding distance
the leg. As the knees are shaped, their from the line it follows.
form changes according to this line so The first ramp I made
that the front knee blocks are quite was for the wing stile
different from the side blocks. Most of bottom tenon. The
the legs of my chairs have turned pad wing stile leans back
feet, but I have made several with ball and leans out, so I
and claw feet. planed the ramp to
The side stretcher joinery
is carefully have a face that slopes
marked out on the square blanks before at two degrees to the
Cutting a post lap joint
they are turned as it is much harder to horizontal. I clamped
do the layout afterwards. I don’t cut the ramp so that its end was on the pattern, but more recently I have been
the tenons beforehand as that would angled tenon shoulder line. I glued a building the second design.
remove the centers for turning. Once fence to the bottom butted against the The first roll and arm design is
the stretchers are turned, the tenons front edge of the stile. With the ramp constructed with rectangular stumps
are cut and fit. These are angled tenons, properly located and the router bit set to mortised into the seat. The rolls are
of course, and I have always cut them the correct depth, it was no problem to made from a split turning. Two pieces
by hand. The front end needs to be left rout a close fitting angled tenon which of poplar are glued together with paper
with enough wood to support paring was also at an angle to the line of the between them, and once turned, they are
the tenon shoulders. I don’t turn up to stock so that the wing stile was properly split apart and the halves are glued to the
the marks, but leave a quarter inch or so. positioned. I actually made two of these outside of the stumps. The inside front
The waste is pared down to the turned ramps. One left and one right. edge of the stumps are then rounded
The joint between the wing rail and back
profile after the joint has been fit. The over to continue the curve around the
post is very complex.
long mid stretcher can be joined with The posts lean back, inside. The stumps are mortised up
round tenons into the blocks of the and the wing rails are at an angle to through the horizontal arms that are
side stretchers. Once the base frame is both the horizontal and vertical planes. made in the shape of a letter “P” with
joined and sanded, the main frame of I thought about mortising the wings the round part of the “P” the shape of
the chair can be glued up. The front leg into the fronts of the posts, but aside the top of the roll. These arms are then
through tenons are wedged, and then all from the complexity of the angles, there fit to dados in the wing stiles.
the joints are pegged. are already large mortises for the crest The two-roll variation has stumps
The upper frame consists of the wings,
rail. It just appeared to be too weak. I mortised into the seat frame, and the
arm stumps, arms and rolls.
The wings are decided instead to lap the wings to the “P” shaped pieces are glued vertically
made from two pieces mortised and sides of the posts and screw them in to the back edges of the stumps with
tenoned together. All the rest of the place. Even this is complex joinery. The the “P”s facing the outside. Short arms
joinery involves angles. To cut these lap in the post has an angled bottom are through mortised into the “P”s and
joints consistently I decided to make a and shoulder, and the wing rail lap does then mortised into the front faces of the
series of router guide ramps that rely as well. I made a symmetrical keystone wing stiles.
on a template ring on the router base. shaped ramp for the router to cut the The arm to wing joints are quite
This works similarly to the shaper ring lap on the inside of the left and right complex. I usually make mock-ups of
but upside down. Since the router bit wing rails. It sits at a two-degree incline the arm to get the angles and lengths
to the face of the wing. The post laps are right. The mortises in the wing stiles are
cut with another double-ended angled not parallel to the edge of the stock, but
jig. That one has the router template plumb. A two-degree ramp is clamped
ring follow the interior cutout. to the side of each wing to guide the
Wing chairs are differentiated by the
router for cutting the mortises. The
design of the arms and rolls.
The best- arms have angled shoulders and angled
known Newport design has one vertical tenons.
tapered roll at the front of each arm. A The small tapered vertical rolls
second roll design has a short vertical are also split turnings, but the large
roll at the front and a larger cornucopia horizontal rolls are single pieces turned
shaped horizontal roll on the arm. Most to a bullet-like shape, then one side
of the chairs I have made are in the first is cut off and planed flat, the ends cut
Cutting a wing lap joint
Continued on Page 25
tips & techniques by Brooks Tanner

fast box construction technique
Vee Grooving
machines. Insert type bits are typically used in the
commercial industry since you can change the cutter
in a matter of minutes, and continue your work. The
down side, however, is that they may have some
vibration since the tool is not balanced as a whole. If
you have significant vibration – stop.
Box Design
– In box design, the two opposing faces
(i.e. front & back, or top & bottom) are typically
separate pieces that the four sides are assembled
upon. These two faces should be rabbeted around
the perimeter allowing room for insertion of a wood
edge. The rabbet also allows rapid construction by
providing a positive reference for square and keeps
the pieces in alignment. The wood edge may then be
routed with a detail, which gives an appearance of
solid wood panels.
I have found that application of the wood edge
ee grooving is a fast and easy manufacturers. Some will cut the takes longer than the routing, cutting and assembly of
V
method to make a box. It bottom of the groove to a point, the rest of the box. Details will get you every time.
is extensively used in speaker similar to a chamfer bit, but will Before cutting the groove, determine how you
manufacture with veneer covered cut an extra few tenths of a degree plan to cut the pieces to width. If you cut the vee
MDF. This method allows the to allow room for folding and glue. groove across an entire sheet first and plan to cut to
panels to be rapidly glued, folded Another method, which I chose to width second, you may have a surprise. Since each
and made into a box with minimal go with, uses a bit that cuts a true groove is now a hinge, large areas are hard to handle.
clamping. It also allows the grain 45° bevel, but leaves a flat at the Also, if the “hinge” is flexed a couple of times, chances
to be continuous around the bottom of the groove. This also are the piece will separate.
box. Although I have only used allows room for folding and glue.
Cutting the Sides
this method with veneer covered Bits for hand held routers – Several methods may be employed
MDF, it can be successfully used are available, but do take some to cut sections to width. The most straight forward
with other sheet goods as well as research to find. The bit I use method is to cut the pieces to width before grooving
solids. is manufactured by Her-Saf and then clamp them together while grooving. If
I was introduced to vee grooving (www.hersaf.com), model V090, an entire sheet is to be used, a sacrificial sheet of
while trying to gain prototype and is an insert type bit. This bit cheap ply may be used for support to keep the pieces
work with a local speaker company. is also designed for use in CNC together while sawing. Grooving is performed with
At the time, I was not eligible the sacrificial sheet in place to keep the grooved sheet
for the work since I did not vee from moving independently. This can still be a bit
groove. Now I do and use it for unwieldy and should not be attempted alone.
short run speaker construction in You may also choose to assemble the box before
my own shop, but still cannot gain cutting. A long box would be assembled and then
prototype contracts since I do cut to width as required. Two issues arise with this
not have a CNC operated router. method. First is squaring the box while the glue dries
Now if only I could find an extra and the second is cutting all sides without leaving saw
$50,000 somewhere… marks or dings.
I assume you chose the first option (cut to width
The Bit
– To begin, you first before grooving). Congratulations on a wise choice.
need to obtain a vee grooving Cut pieces to length allowing an extra 1/4˝, plus at
bit. Methodologies for cutting both ends. Length is simply the outside length of all
the groove vary between sides added together.
Photos by Brooks Tanner 
Tape should now be applied to the finish (outside) of the sheet under
where the vee groove is to be cut. Tape performs multiple functions. It
aids in the formation of the corner by keeping tension on the wood
fibers as they are bending and breaking. It is also the clamp which holds
the box together as the glue dries. Tape does not need to be applied to
the end cuts.
Adjust the router to cut a groove to within a 1/64˝ or less of severing
the material. You want just enough material to hold things together after
cutting. If too much material is left, the break at the corner will leave a
rough broken edge. Too little material will not allow handling, allowing
the panels to sever as soon as they are moved.
Use a guide for the router and make the first cut, leaving a scrap
cutoff to be removed on the far side of the bottom of the vee. I have
First cut
found that a cutoff of at least 1/4˝ is best. To make the second and fourth
cut, I usually use an MDF guide cut to the dimension that allows
placement of one side of the guide on the edge of the initial vee and the
other to dimension for cutting of the second vee. This allows for accurate
placement of the router in multiple locations. Accurate placement of a
guide is difficult by measurement. Inaccurate measurement or alignment
will cause the box to not have equal sides or be misaligned.
Use of a second guide similar to the first is used for the third and fifth
cut. A scrap section should be left at the end of the fifth cut.
Assembly
– Now the fun begins. Break the scrap sections off from
both ends. Attach tape to one end leaving half exposed. Apply glue to
the rabbet of one of the front/back panels. Apply glue to all vee grooves.
Apply glue to the end cut that does not have the tape applied. Roll the
Router guide clamped in place, cut completed. vee groove panel onto its edge. Fold the panel into the box and use the
Note tape on finish side. exposed tape to tape the two ends together.
Now pick the box up as a unit and place it into the rabbet. Check for
square. Apply glue to the rabbet on the remaining front/back and apply
to the box. Light clamping may be used between the front and back of
the box. No additional clamping is necessary.
Breathe
– The box is done except for application of the wood edging,
flush sanding of the edge and detail routing.
One variation or addition used by some manufacturers is the use of a
small amount of water in the bottom of the vee just prior to folding. This
will make the wood fibers more pliable for the bend. I have not found
this necessary, but use of this method may allow for thicker material
below the cut.
Scrap being broken off after last cut
Folding the box Edging applied
period furniture by Joe Barry
Marking Your Work
T
here are a number of reasons for being sold as antiques. A good mark
marking your work as your own. will reduce the risk of your work being
First is pride in your work – “No, it’s misrepresented in the future.
not a kit!” Second is the marketing of I have gone through a couple of
your work. Others will see the mark iterations as my marking of my work
Joe Barry is a woodworker from
and associate you with quality work. evolved. I was initially drawn to the paper
Randolph, VT. A graduate of Keene
This may be the best source of new labels of the period furniture makers.
State’s Industrial Arts Education
work beside the word of mouth from They were wonderfully complex and
satisfied customers. “Branding” yourself evocative of a time when furniture was program in 10, he taught for several
in the same way as Thomas Moser, “bespoke”. However, I passed that idea years and worked as a cabinetmaker.
George Nakashima or Sam Maloof up as paper labels do not hold up well He now supports his woodworking
will associate your name with a certain and are easily removed without damage vice as an occupational therapist.
genre or style of work. And finally, there to the piece. I wanted something a little
is the obligation to posterity to identify more permanent, and less fragile.
the date of manufacture and the maker. The first branding iron that I style or inspiration. I make traditional
Can you imagine an appraiser of the purchased was based upon a Viking American country style, Shaker inspired
future stating that your chair is “…in era rock carving. The response to this pieces and roll-top desks. The interlaced
the style of Dunbar, likely from New logo was always very positive. However, dragons said nothing about my work or
Hampshire?” I soon came to see a number of flaws me. Poor choice!
There are reports of reproduction with my choice of logo. Aside from The multiple fine lines were an
style work being sold as original. We the plagiarism suit awaiting me in additional expense in the manufacture
use the tools and methods of the past Valhalla, there is the issue of it not of the branding iron and always a
and copy the best work of well-known clearly communicating who I am or problem in getting a good impression.
craftsmen. There are reports of Wallace what I do. I am not Swedish. Shake my It was difficult to get a consistent line
Nutting pieces and Mike Dunbar chairs family tree and only Micks fall out of value when heating this iron. Some lines
having the maker’s marks removed and it. My work was not Scandinavian in would be too dark and others too light. I
Original Norcraft iron Second Norcraft iron (electric) from Final logo with date numbers on
Herget’s Quality Engraving BrandNew Industries electric iron