Last month we built a bunch of Irish stick chairs with Rex Krueger, James Wright and Eoin Reardon, and they have begun posting videos about the process.
Here is Rex’s new video on the adventure. It gives a great overview of our week – including the tacos and pizza.
James Wright – Wood by Wright – has posted a few great videos that show how we built the chairs using a variety of methods, including a frame saw and a band saw.
Here’s the main video from James. He also gathered up all his reels here. After the chair build ended, Rex and James headed out to Homestead Heritage (my favorite tool store). Then James and Eoin Reardon went on a literal odyssey across the Eastern United States to see tools and hand-tool woodworking.
And Eoin’s posted clips of the trip from his Irish perspective.
The videos are fun and much much better than the stuff I post. If you want a great taste of what it’s like to build stick chairs, you’ll enjoy these.
I hope the four of us can get together again. The craft is always more fun when you do it with a group of goofballs.
— Christopher Schwarz
It looks like you had a great time! Why was Rex the odd one out with the splayed back and sides? In my mind, I prefer the proportions on that one, it’s a lovely chair!
(not that the others are ugly, of course).
In one of the Substack blogs, they explained that everyone had the option of building either one. That’s the one Rex chose.
Christopher, how should I determine the optimal back angle for me? I’m not the normal slouch, it hurts my back. Your Irish chair looks great, but the back angle appears too “relaxed”.
Any suggestions are welcome!
Charles
[email protected]
If you could ask your question this Saturday (2/28) during Open Wire (9 a.m.-5 p.m. on this blog), that’d be swell. Thanks!
I was surprised when watching their videos that Rex and James were both new to attempting stick chairs. I know Rex refers to Lost Art Press a lot in his videos so I’m surprised he attempted a Jenny Alexander chair before one of Mr. Schwarz’. It was nice to see them a little out of their element with the chairs. Eoin is a great woodworker keeping Irish traditions alive and I enjoy his chair build videos. They keep the vernacular spirit alive for sure.
I am a talentless, British, schmuck when it comes to woodworking having only really started giving it a go in the past year. I’m yet to progress past a basic stool, a saw bench and one of the most wonky step stools you would have ever seen BUT I love the joy of the material, the feel of hand tool work and the utter enjoyment shown by these three fine fellows (And yourselves of course) is not only good to watch but also inspiring. I hope to one day be good enough to feel comfortable making a pilgrimage to your fine establishment across the pond for a look around and a coffee (and maybe tacos).
Fitz,
I would have liked to. But when I woke up in Thailand at 5am Sunday, your comments section was already closed!
Could someone still help me with my question?
Thanks!