Kent A Bathurst
05-21-2012, 6:07 PM
Am closing in on the finish line of a set of A+C dining chairs. I am not doing the upholstery - that is being outsourced. The finished seat cushion will drop in, sit on cleats, and be attached with screws coming up from underneath.
The plan, after talking to some qualified upholstery shops, is to supply them with an open frame. They will put webbing on it, and then whatever it is they do, to build up the seat cushion. We are talking heirloom stuff here. Cattle will die. Not in vain, but they will still be dead, and appreciated.
My question is this:
It appears that a doweled or M+T frame, from hardwood, is common. Can I instead use birch 3/4" plywood for the seat frame? It seems to me that the hardwood frame would be cheaper in a high-volume production shop that is set up to do them - using downfall from low-grade lumber is a never-ending headache for them. But for me - needing only 7 copies [don't ask why 7, not 6, not 8] it seems a chunk of plywood cut to fit, then with the field cut away to leave an open frame, would be easier. The issue is shop time, not material cost, but I don't want to do something that is stupid.
PS - A solid plywood base is not being considered, so please don't take your time to offer that as an alternative.
Thanks
Kent
The plan, after talking to some qualified upholstery shops, is to supply them with an open frame. They will put webbing on it, and then whatever it is they do, to build up the seat cushion. We are talking heirloom stuff here. Cattle will die. Not in vain, but they will still be dead, and appreciated.
My question is this:
It appears that a doweled or M+T frame, from hardwood, is common. Can I instead use birch 3/4" plywood for the seat frame? It seems to me that the hardwood frame would be cheaper in a high-volume production shop that is set up to do them - using downfall from low-grade lumber is a never-ending headache for them. But for me - needing only 7 copies [don't ask why 7, not 6, not 8] it seems a chunk of plywood cut to fit, then with the field cut away to leave an open frame, would be easier. The issue is shop time, not material cost, but I don't want to do something that is stupid.
PS - A solid plywood base is not being considered, so please don't take your time to offer that as an alternative.
Thanks
Kent