Current project 24 chairs

[Brian Harnett]

Making chairs and dining tables for Franciscan convent dining hall, the wood is milled from trees that came down where the new dining hall is built. A total of 24 chairs and 4 tables will come out of the wood.

After the wood was dried it was delivered to my shop it is random lengths and the edges are not ripped a bit of a sorting challenge just getting started.

The material is primarily Soft and hard maple hickory and American elm with some red oak.

The chairs I designed for them are simple, nothing flashy for the nuns. I hope to be finished in the next few weeks.

https://image.ibb.co/e8T2XR/side_chair_1.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/i3xUCR/DSCN3306.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/cbckmm/DSCN3298.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/kgx7z6/DSCN3300.jpg

[Brian Harnett]

Some more pics

https://image.ibb.co/bJwZe6/DSCN3380.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/jW0ue6/DSCN3379.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/ihC7z6/DSCN3310.jpg

[scottp55]

WOW!
I hope taking on Large projects isn't communicable!
My lazy bone is CRINGING:)
I'd need a barn floor and a LOT of time just measuring and sorting:)
Looking good Brian!!!

[Brian Harnett]

Thanks, its coming along definitely a lot more though to make with the random sizes and species, the nuns are fine with mixed woods I am trying to keep all the legs and backs corresponding. The hickory is really hard on tools.

[Brady Watson]

Wow Brian - that IS a lot of work just getting going!

Pretty cool that the lumber has a heritage/story behind it. I would exploit that should you want to advertise this work because it's more than 'just wood'.

Is this a 'Brian proven and tested' design or a completely new design just for them? (If no...how many before you got a 'good one'?)

Keep up the always great work - thanks for sharing pics!

-B

PS - For the uninitiated, the wood chips on the floor are for moisture control & if a shop isn't messy, no actual work is getting done.

[Brian Harnett]

Brady the chair design is custom for them, based loosely on shaker design but its standard chair geometry that I use for dining chairs. still ironing out the table design for them.

[dlcw]

You're right Brian, rustic hickory is really tough on tools. I did a 11' long by 48" wide by 2" thick solid rustic hickory dining table and 16 matching chairs for a customer a few years back. I cut many of my chair parts on the CNC machine. I also flattened the table top on the CNC. I used double the number of bits and blades as I would use on a similar project using a less hostile wood. I did my dining room table and chairs from gummy cherry and bubinga and it was a lot easier on the bits and blades.

Beautiful job!!!!

[Tim Lucas]

Looks great!

Tim

[chiloquinruss]

I am so glad I don't do production work but I am also so glad there are craftsman like you that do production jobs. ;) I get nice little jobs that I can plagiarize from your folks big jobs. My very few customers see what's possible by CNC and then order a chair or some other small item. Not 24 chairs! :rolleyes: The closest I've come to a 'big' job was I made a few deacons benches for a local church. I look forward to seeing your progress on the chairs and then the table. Well done! Russ

[Brian Harnett]

Russ I do mostly smaller custom work, occasionally a large batch, when I was working for another company we were a production shop putting out runs of a few hundred at a time they were teak outdoor furniture, mainly kits shipped all over the country. It was interesting, my job was designing the products and building jigs and equipment for production. Best job I had working for someone else.

[chiloquinruss]

I enjoy dreaming up the jigs also. I have made them for my table saw, scroll saw, band saw, drill press and of course da' bot'. Much more interesting than doing the parts sometimes! I also like the part design stuff as well. I make mostly 1/8th scale structure models for the outdoor model railroad park here. Russ

[Brian Harnett]

Did a test assembly now have to glue up all the seat bases.

https://image.ibb.co/cfa1gm/DSCN3384.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/cBjPZ6/DSCN3391.jpg

[guitarwes]

I like the look of Pignut.

Your shop is my hero. I can't stand a clean shop.
;)

[Brian Harnett]

After looking at my pics I actually spent half of today cleaning up, but don't worry it still looks like a bomb went off. I love the concept of clean I have a hard time implementing it.

[scottp55]

:)
And here I thought it was VERY carefully blended combination of blown custom cellulose insulation to reduce the radiant heat from your hydronic slab, so You didn't overheat doing all that heavy work! :)
scott

[Brian Harnett]

Starting to assemble sections. I put rare earth magnets in oak blocks for pads on the pipe clamps I like them better than the soft plastic pads.

https://image.ibb.co/jqWAKG/DSCN3398.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/nJ0Fmw/DSCN3396.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/mFVFmw/DSCN3397.jpg

[Brady Watson]

LQQkin' good!!! Nice to see it all coming together. Do you do finishing or send it out?

I like the magnet trick & agree...the plastic isn't as good as the wood. Too squishy and slippery.

Converting your table saw to a PR? :p

-B

[Brian Harnett]

Brady I will be doing the finishing, Varithane water base floor finish sprayed on, been using it with good results for a while now. Harder to spray than the catalyzed lacquer but its worth it no nasty fumes and its super durable.

[Brian Harnett]

Got all the chair frames finished, the satin in the lighting is hard to photo.

Now gluing up the seat bases for shaping and finishing. I have plenty of hickory for the tables.

https://image.ibb.co/i0FbY7/DSCN3424.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/kBeg0n/DSCN3422.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/cgcqt7/DSCN3420.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/gk88fn/DSCN3414.jpg

[scottp55]

They may have ASKED for plain chairs, BUT they have a lot of character!
And liking that chair glue up...is the darker section going to be the front or the rear?
I think the pattern of the seats will tie it all together:)
NICE Brian!!
scott

[Brady Watson]

Bravo Brian!

Are the spreaders on the bottom of the legs to keep them clean or to prevent movement? (both?)

-B

[Brian Harnett]

Scott I assume you are talking about the glue up the color is from skip some of the wood is still rough it will all be planed before routing I have a mix of wood for the bases though I kept each glue up with the same species. Some seats will be maple and some oak.

Brady the spreaders are for moving them while finishing I can pick the chair up and not mess a wet finish.

[scottp55]

Ah...keep forgetting the sheer scope of the project:eek:
I still imagine each Nun will have a favorite chair she Somehow manages to grow attached to:)
Myself, I imagine the glue kicking before I was ready, and then dropping that glue-up on my feet in the wheelchair and being out of action for a year:)
scott

[chiloquinruss]

I love the glue up jig with the sides for the long clamps. Very cool! OH yeah, so are the chairs! ;) They look awesome. Russ

[Brian Harnett]

Scott, yes I agree on the favorites each chair will have its own subtle look, I did my best to make them be harmonious, but they all have a little of their own character.

[Brian Harnett]

Russ, the pipe clamp jig is great I have been using them for years even before I got my bot.

[myxpykalix]

I'd love to "apprentice" with you someday. Or maybe just do a "Vulcan Mind Meld" so i can get some of that knowledge!!;)

[Brian Harnett]

The chairs are done and delivered making the tables now.

https://image.ibb.co/gUgeLx/DSCN3455.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/dqKoDH/DSCN3435.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/buo4nc/DSCN3432.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/ngBeLx/DSCN3434.jpg

[Brian Harnett]

https://image.ibb.co/kAswVx/DSCN3490.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/gAuocc/DSCN3488.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/e5uocc/DSCN3487.jpg

[scottp55]

VERY NICE Brian!!
I'll take the center one of the three...you ship free right? :) :)
scott