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Just finished building this Irish Gibson chair. It’s probably the simplest chair construction I’ve encountered. Details on our blog today.As the rain began to taper off in the afternoon, Jonathan looked both chests over one final time to see if there was anything he missed. His bony fingers searched for dust nibs, his eyes scoured for irregularities. He had been over these pieces time and again but wanted to make sure all was satisfactory. Mr. Johnson was pleased. The proportions were most agreeable, the drawers ran smooth, and the paint was just right. Nothing ostentatious, just tasteful and neat. It was a $14 well spent. Of all the furniture Jonathan made for his neighbors, this commission was the largest. Most customers ordered light stands, blanket chests or simple kitchen chairs, but the money from this project was an unexpected godsend to their family. — from “Hands Employed Aright: The Furniture Making of Jonathan Fisher (1768-1847)” by Joshua A. Klein #Hands_Employed_ArightAnd how should we finish up this Chest of Drawers? “The Joiner and Cabinet Maker” suggests grain-painting it to look like oak, then adding wooden knobs that are ebony or painted to look like it. Also recommended: Adding a strip of flat or beaded wood around the bottom of the case to cover the dovetails. Then paint this strip black as well. Contemporary tastes don’t go for grain-painting, and we like our joinery exposed. And this chest looks just fine to the modern eye if simply varnished. In fact, some people have asked me if the piece was a Shaker design. That’s an interesting comment, as early Shakers were from England and were trained in the shops of 18th-century masters. It wasn’t until the Shakers started training their own followers in cabinet making that the Shaker style became extremely refined like what you see in the Eastern Shaker communities in the middle 19th century. The chest in this book is made using American black cherry, which does not take well to complex dyes. So I decided to use a finish that would be simple, as this is not a high-style piece, and would be in line with the practices of the period. — from “The Joiner and Cabinet Maker” by Anon, Christopher Schwarz and Joel Moskowitz #The_Joiner_and_Cabinet_Maker@RudeMechanic on Twitter
- Dec. 14 Open House Special Guests blog.lostartpress.com/2019/12/13/dec… https://t.co/zMVQUFb7Sa 18 hours ago
- Another Gibson Chair blog.lostartpress.com/2019/12/12/ano… https://t.co/ACP2BcWsFP 1 day ago
- 2019 Anarchist’s Gift Guide, Day 10: Berea College Brooms blog.lostartpress.com/2019/12/10/201… https://t.co/x4MO81trXA 4 days ago
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Author Archives: meghanlostartpress
Who is the Father?
This is an excerpt from “Welsh Stick Chairs” by John Brown. Tracing the provenance of individual country chairs is a complicated business, probably with few exceptions, impossible. There is no scholarly standard work to refer to. Chairs with similar characteristics are found … Continue reading
Posted in Welsh Stick Chairs by John Brown
1 Comment
An Introduction to the Construction
This is an excerpt from “The Joiner and Cabinet Maker” by Anon, Christopher Schwarz, and Joel Moskowitz. When I decided to build the three projects featured in “The Joiner and Cabinet Maker,” my plan was to assume the role of Thomas W., the … Continue reading
Posted in The Joiner & Cabinet Maker
7 Comments
The Stone Beneath All Other Stones
This is an excerpt from “The Intelligent Hand” by David Binnington Savage. The most important thing the bench does for you is hold a job whilst you work on it. (I remember my early days without a bench, struggling to hold work with … Continue reading
Posted in The Intelligent Hand
22 Comments
Full Panel vs. Frame & Panel
This is an excerpt from “Shaker Inspiration: Five Decades of Fine Craftsmanship” by Christian Becksvoort. Full-panel construction, sometimes called slab or wide-panel construction, consists of a single board, or a series of boards glued up to form a wider panel. In a case piece, … Continue reading
Posted in Shaker Inspiration
7 Comments
Dovetail Marking System
This is an excerpt from “The Solution at Hand” by Robert Wearing. There are many types of dovetail markers and as many methods of using them, but I like to think that this marker, A, and its method is pre-eminent. The plate … Continue reading
Posted in The Solution at Hand
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Making a Carving/Marking Knife
This is an excerpt from “Making & Mastering Wood Planes” by David Finck. The blades on most marking and carving knives feel too thick and bulky for my taste. The types of knives shown (above) are easily made and perform beautifully for marking and also … Continue reading
Posted in Making & Mastering Wood Planes
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Seasoning or Drying of Wood
This is an excerpt from “Cut & Dried: A Woodworker’s Guide to Timber Technology” by Richard Jones. Seasoning and drying of wood describe the same thing: reducing the moisture content of boards or planks thus bringing them into a dry-enough condition to use. Acclimatising … Continue reading
Posted in Cut & Dried, Uncategorized
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