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Lewis Ehrhardt
02-03-2014, 8:31 PM
I was talking with Mr. Lyle Wheeler a while back about making some chairs from oak logs. What I'm wanting to do is take a log and I'm thinking quarter it somehow, then, with a froe?? slice out some quarter cut logs (think Roy Underhill) and make a few chairs and such. Any books, sites on how this is actually done from start to finish [starting with a 3 or 4 foot log]? Thanks Lewis

Nelson Howe
02-03-2014, 8:38 PM
Check out this guy. Great artisan. Cool instruction. Good entertainment.

Nelson

Ooops:

http://www.curtisbuchananchairmaker.com/videos.html

Jim Matthews
02-03-2014, 8:49 PM
Isn't there a book about getting a chair from a tree?

I believe it stressed working with green lumber.
Oak is nice to rive, when it's green.

When it's dry, that's another matter.

I think you're on the right track - I managed to quarter a larger (30" diameter, 6 foot lengths) and move it while green.
Green oak is REALLY HEAVY, it's the hardest part of the task - getting it to the sawyer.

I like to quarter oak to 2" (8/4) thickness and let it air dry.

If you're making chairs, I think you're supposed to do some of the shaping, when it's green.

http://www.adrianmccurdy.co.uk/
http://www.amazon.com/Make-Chair-From-Tree-Introduction/dp/0918804019

Steve Voigt
02-03-2014, 9:04 PM
Watch Curtis Buchanan's 40-some part video series on youtube, "make a comb-back Windsor chair." Tells you just about all you need to know.
I bought a white oak log over the summer and split out the parts for 4 chairs. It was basically a long weekend, maybe a little more, to go from an 8 ft. log to a big pile of rived parts. What was more time consuming was shaving all those spindles (around 50) and turning all the legs & stretchers.
There are a ton of books out there, do some searching.

FYI Jim, the book you linked to by John/Jennie Alexander, "make a chair from a tree," is out of print and expensive. There's a newer version, "make a joint stool from a tree," which you can get from lost art press for reasonable money.

Noah Wagener
02-03-2014, 10:25 PM
Jennie has a sight:Greenwoodworking (http://www.greenwoodworking.com/)

Bruce Haugen
02-04-2014, 12:01 AM
Amen to Curt Buchanan's YouTube videos. There is so much info in the videos that they'll keep you studying and learning for a very long time. He not only explains what and how but also why you do what you do. You will also note the precision of his building techniques. There are likely other artisans who rise to his level (Brian Boggs, Jennie Alexander, Peter Galbert and Mike Dunbar come to mind) but no one else has been as generous with providing the level of instruction that he has, free for the taking.

Tony Shea
02-04-2014, 5:53 AM
Jennie's book is now turned into a DVD and should be avail. I own it and find it very informative.

Bob Glenn
02-04-2014, 10:42 AM
Buy the very best oak log you can find. Ask for a veneer log. Look for a log with no twist in the bark and very straight. If you have a sawyer in your area, get to know him and ask him to save you some straight grained quartered logs the next time he quarter saws boards. Pay him well and he will reward you later with good wood.

Don't get in hurry when splitting the log. After a split is opened, pry it apart slowly, giving it time to separate along the fibers. You need to keep the fibers intact along the full length of the wood you are splitting out.

Buchanon's video tells the rest on how to keep the split from running out.

Lewis Ehrhardt
02-05-2014, 12:34 PM
thanks! Good info and websites. L

Mark Haviland
02-05-2014, 1:53 PM
I am also interested in green woodworking. I agree that Curtis Buchanan's videos are excellent. I also would add two more things to check out:

Mike Abbott- British green woodworker. I have his book "Living Wood" which has a lot of great tips on green woodworking and chairmaking.
http://www.living-wood.co.uk/index.html



Drew Langsner- I got his book "Green Woodworking" from the library- it is very good. He also runs "Country Workshops" at his property in North Carolina. There are many classes on green woodworking and chairmaking- I haven't taken any classes there but I have heard they are awesome.
http://www.countryworkshops.org/