OldTools Archive
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273639 | John M. Johnston <jmjhnstn@m...> | 2021‑05‑08 | Chair from a tree |
Galoots assembled, I’ve a lovely old white oak tree in my yard that is suffering from massive root rot and will be taken down May 25th. It measures about 36 inches in diameter near the base and has a couple of good long straight runs in the trunk where there are no branches. Ever since my Peace Corps days in the early Seventies, the Whole Earth Catalog, and the publication of the first edition of Alexander’s Making a Chair From a Tree (3rd edition due in July), I’ve wanted to make a chair from a tree. While I’ve built lots of 18th century fine furniture, I’ve never done any green wood working. I’m sure I could get the arborist to cut a 5 foot long log from a straight segment of the trunk, so that would be the starting point. I ordered the 2nd edition DVD of Making a Chair From a Tree to get an overview of the process, necessary tools, etc. Am I out of my mind to consider such a project? Your collective wise counsel is appreciated. Cheers, John M. Johnston “P.S. If you do not receive this, of course it must have been miscarried; therefore I beg you to write and let me know.” - Sir Boyle Roche, M.P. |
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273643 | Ed Minch <edminch3@g...> | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
such a big log will be hard to split by hand, but once it is worked down, let the fun begin Ed Minch |
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273640 | James Crammond | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
John, Rest assured, you are of sound mind to consider this. Many new skills to learn, research to do, tools to acquire and fun to be had. Be careful, though, chairmaking from green wood is a rabbit hole that may occupy your time for a while. Jennie Alexander's chair is a pretty refined example of a post and rung chair. JA, Peter Follansbee and Brock Jobe ( I think ) wrote an article for an antique journal ( possibly Chipstone) that explores the regional and ethnic variations of these chairs that may be of interest to you from a living history perspective. Have fun, Jim Crammond |
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273642 | Brian Welch <brian.w.welch@g...> | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
I think you would be out of your mind to not do it. You should also buy the book How to make a coopered wooden bucket if you have all that white oak. I’m starting down the path of green woodworking and loving it. I have some white oak air drying that should have been prepped better at the time but life got in the way but will eventually be a chair and some buckets. Brian |
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273645 | Paul Honore <lawnguy44@g...> | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
Peter Follansbee's blog has lots of info and videos on this; here's a sample: https://pfollansbee.wordpress.com/2021/04/15/splitting-planing-video/ Paul H. on 5/8/2021 7:47 AM, John M. Johnston wrote: |
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273646 | Tom Dugan <tom_dugan@h...> | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
Yeah, I have some experience in these matters. Before you can do any crafting comes the grunt work. 'Twas many - many! - years ago, somewhere in the 90s, that I had to have a giant oak taken down in our front yard. Ours was a beautiful red oak, and "only" about 30" dbh, that had shaded the yard for decades. I had them leave an 8' section, and by the time I was done with the initial split, I'd quadrupled my supply of steel wedges as well as crafting a number of gluts. It was a stringy, wretched tree. Even after I'd gotten it "split" over half way, I needed to employ a scissors jack to pry the halves apart, all the while taking an ax to the "strings", which were splinters a quarter inch or more thick. I hated that tree. Did I mention that this was in the middle of a Tidewater Maryland summer? No shade to work in any more! Anyway, just food for thought. Especially since summer is coming to Tennessee. -T ________________________________ From: oldtools@g... |
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273648 | John M. Johnston <jmjhnstn@m...> | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
Tom, I take your point. What if it were a 12” diameter 5’ long log? I have seen the Folllansbe video that Paul just referenced. It seems manageable, looking up at it from the ground as it were. John John M. Johnston “P.S. If you do not receive this, of course it must have been miscarried; therefore I beg you to write and let me know.” - Sir Boyle Roche, M.P. ________________________________ From: Tom Dugan |
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273650 | John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
John wrote: "I’m sure I could get the arborist to cut a 5 foot long log from a straight segment of the trunk, so that would be the starting point." Why stop a one 5-footer? |
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273651 | Matthew Groves <grovesthegrey@g...> | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
Hey John, I can assure you that a 36in white oak log is very manageable. And you get more heart wood to work with! All log processing requires work, but better an oak than an elm! I don’t know what lengths the Jennie chair uses, but cut your bole a foot longer. To make a joint stool a la Peter Follansbee, you only need a log about 24inches long, but end checking and such can make you glad you gave it some extra. I have no doubt you’ll soon be an expert in green woodworking just as you are with the dry stuff. Here’s the stem to almost stern photo album of the joint stool I started back in 2020. Way too many pics, warning. https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0UGqkRUiGO1hBo This was red oak, but yours will be similar. You’ll find out soon enough if your log is hollow or not. For sure keep us all posted! Matthew Groves Springfield, MO |
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273653 | Ed Minch <edminch3@g...> | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
1) I have successfully used left-over water based paint on fresh Ash 3) It’s just a giut - make a new one Ed Minch |
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273654 | Ed Minch <edminch3@g...> | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
> On May 8, 2021, at 11:51 AM, Matthew Groves |
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273652 | Michael Suwczinsky <nicknaylo@g...> | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
It will definitely be a lot of work and you will have a lot of scrap, shavings, splits etc Be prepared for a fair amount of waste wood as you split, hack and hew down to workable stock. The splits and splints dry out quickly and lend themselves to kindling. You'll need a brake perhaps? Follansbee has blogged about using a forked branch on the ground, with two limbs close together, as a spot to wedge stock while splitting it. If a branch from your downed oak fits that bill, the arborist might put that aside for you. https://pfollansbee.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/riving-brakes-boxes-etc/ Have fun! I was only ever able to access green wood blocks from the County Arborist dump pile on the way home from pre school. The back of the mini van was often loaded with a stroller and a few logs. Nothing longer than a 15 inches but made a whole bunch of little stool and benches of dubious stability and wood choice, but it was all green and fun to work. Michael On Sat, May 8, 2021 at 4:47 AM John M. Johnston |
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273655 | Stephen Rosenthal <srosenthal26@g...> | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
Although my primary focus is on furniture for animals, I find Curtis Buchanan to be an incredible resource for chair making and woodworking. He’s got his own YouTube channel, which is both informative and very entertaining. His use of an auger bit extension to line up the holes for stretchers on chair legs is ingenious and just one of many techniques that I’ve been able to apply to my work. Lately he’s been appearing on Elia Bizzarri’s channel (also an excellent green and general woodworking resource). |
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273657 | gtgrouch@r... | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
Oh dear! I haven't had a good laugh like that in a while. Excellent workmanship, by the way. Gary Katsanis Albion New York, USA -----------------------------------------From: "Ed Minch" To: "Matthew Groves" Cc: "John M Johnston", "Old Tools" Sent: Saturday May 8 2021 12:26:41PM Subject: Re: [oldtools] Chair from a tree > On May 8, 2021, at 11:51 AM, Matthew Groves wrote: > > All log processing requires work, but better an oak than an elm! Elm chair seat https://www.flickr.com/photos/ruby1638/35348022032/in/album-72157685365718166/ /> Ed Minchj Links: ------ [1] https://groups.io/g/oldtools/unsub |
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273658 | Paul Honore <lawnguy44@g...> | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
I did some 12" Red oak 4 footers last fall after the August Storm (Isaias?). That went pretty easily although most of what you wind up with will be 4" wide or less after you get rid of the juvenile wood and the sapwood/bark. Follansbee also has several great videos on You Tube; riving as well finishing into boards Paul H. |
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273661 | galoot@l... | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
Follensbee's joinery book also has how-to's starting with a log for some chests and boxes that would be heirlooms for your impression ;-) Also check lost arts press, they have just released or are soon to release a new third edition of make a chair from a tree. Esther the scadian Quoting Paul Honore |
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273663 | Mark van Roojen <mvr1@e...> | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
John Ruth wrote: >Is there a mobile sawmill service in your area? ( Bandsaw mounted on >a trailer; on-topic only if powered by a horse treadmill. ) Several of the Bandsaw Mill companies have places on their websites where you can search for someone in your area who uses their Mill to make money on the side. - Mark |
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273666 | Charlie Driggs | 2021‑05‑08 | Re: Chair from a tree |
> On May 8, 2021, at 7:47 AM, John M. Johnston |
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