This is one of the most popular questions I get asked. I never know how to answer it. Usually I say, “About 30 hours for a Continuous Arm chair, including 8 coats of finish.” But the truth is I haven’t…
Blog Archives
I Spoke Too Soon
In the months after I last posted about my book project, I read what remains of Samuel Wing’s account books and spent some time comparing measurements. I compared my tracings and measurements of the red loop back labeled “WING” at…
Posted in Built for Speed Book Project
A Cold Sunday Night
Yesterday, my father-in-law and I delivered a set of five chairs for Josh and his wife’s new house. We met at a horse park and transferred the blanket-wrapped chairs into Josh’s car. As I wrapped the chairs last week, I…
Posted in Chair Stories, Classes
Chairs for Sale (At a Discount)
I’ve never offered chairs for sale at a discount, but I find myself drowning in chairs. Many were built in classes, both online and in-person, while others I made by accident. I am offering a discount on them for the…
Posted in Chairs For Sale, Classes
Kind Roy
I still remember the excitement I felt. I was 16 years old, returning home from a week’s camping trip. My mother’s first words were, “Roy Underhill called!” We couldn’t believe it. Weeks before, my mother had found his number on…
Posted in Chair Stories
Bending Dents – What do they Mean?
I’ve started getting my act together for my book project and I have a couple puzzles to figure out. As a reminder, I’m building two-dozen copies of this chair in Independence Hall’s collection, hopefully in about 140 hours: The…
Posted in Built for Speed Book Project
I’m Writing a Book
I just got back from a three week trip, equal parts vacation, research trip and photography experiment. Last winter I signed a book contract about early 19th. Century chairmaking with Lost Art Press. This trip was the first step on…
Posted in Built for Speed Book Project
Chair Stories: A Tree Crew
This afternoon Edward picked up a set of four custom walnut and oak swivel bar stools that his wife Phyllis had helped design. Here’s a story about their chairs: Note: Nobody was hurt in this story. Other than a plastic…
Posted in Chair Stories
