Round chair in walnut

[rscrawford]

My daughter wanted a walnut chair for Christmas and so I made this one for her (I may have posted a similar chair I made in butternut and cherry a few years ago). My 'copy' of Hans Wegner's round chair (though I've never seen one in person, only a few pictures and a video of it). Very complex joinery, as none if it is 90 degrees. And the top is rather complex to design and to cut. The mortises for the leg tenons are angled a several degrees, and the rabbet for the seat is curved in all 3 planes.

[rscrawford]

And while I had everything set up for round legs, I made my wife a bench that she's been wanting for a while (for the entrance). The same joinery, but very simple lines and angles compared to the round chair! Not as much design work for the top, because I got lazy and made it simple. The seat is a rectangle, no curves or weird angles.

[JimmyD]

You do amazing work. I aspire to be as good as you. Pun not intended.

[Tailmaker]

Beautiful! Not to mention functional...
How much of that is CNC vs. manual?

[h9vq9]

Beautiful chair and bench great work.

[rscrawford]

Beautiful! Not to mention functional...
How much of that is CNC vs. manual?

These were pretty much all cnc. The legs were turned on a lathe I have mounted to the bed of the cnc, then transferred to the 4th axis to cut the mortises. The tenons were also cut on the cnc, since they were all different angles. Then I had to make a special jig to cut the rabbets for the seat to sit in, as they were curved in all 3 axis (not something I could easily cut without the cnc).

The pieces for the top were joined with finger joints before carving out on the cnc (2 sided cuts), then the mortises were cut on a special jig on the cnc that held the top at 4 different angles (since the legs with the tenons were angled).

[Bobtail Farm]

swell work. thanks.

[Leo]

Randal

Sam M. got nothing on you.

Fantastic job

I bet it's all silky smooth - sure does look like it is.

[Creation in Wood]

Great job Russell

[tornavi]

Grandisimo trabajo!!

[rscrawford]

Randal

Sam M. got nothing on you.

Fantastic job

I bet it's all silky smooth - sure does look like it is.

Thanks Leo!

Yes, it is silky smooth! I like to use a danish oil finish, so it still feels like wood. Like all furniture (whether built with a CNC or by hand) I spend WAY more time sanding and finishing than cutting and assembling.

[Tex_Lawrence]

... I like to use a danish oil finish, so it still feels like wood....

Russell, when you apply the danish oil, do you apply many thin/light layers or thicker/heavier layers?

[rscrawford]

... I like to use a danish oil finish, so it still feels like wood....

Russell, when you apply the danish oil, do you apply many thin/light layers or thicker/heavier layers?

ALWAYS thin layers. Wipe on with a clean rag, let it sit for a few minutes, wipe dry with another clean rag. Its not meant to be a surface build up finish. You can still get a nice, durable finish by applying 5-6 coats like this, but it still feels like wood (not plastic). I'll sometimes apply with 600 grit wet paper if it doesn't feel smooth, then wipe dry. If you forget to wipe an area dry, you get a sticky rough mess.

Often for my final coat I will melt together 1/3 beeswax and 2/3 danish oil, and wipe that on as a paste then buff it out. Gives a really nice feel and is durable.

[Leo]

Nice,

I use a mix of Beeswax, Linseed oil, and mineral spirits or turpentine

I also use Mineral Oil and Beeswax for foodsafe stuff.

Randall, you are quite an accomplished woodworker.

[Rcnewcomb]

Randall, you are quite an accomplished woodworker.

Russell Crawford is far more accomplished than I am.