Here is a series of pictures which will give you a general idea of what goes into constructing a chair,
in this case a "continuous arm windsor". Windsor chairs started to be built roughly 300 years ago in
England and north america. Most American windsors were constructed in Philadelphia, though this
particular design originated in New York.
Sharpening up a draw knife to rive a back from
a piece of green oak on a shaving horse.
Here is the finished back prior to
steaming and bending. Below is
the bending form, above the
steamer.
A collection of drawknives and
spokeshaves that are used for
shaping chair parts.
Pine being glued up for seat.
Drilling leg and seat post holes in seat blank. All holes are
at compound angles.
Carving seat.
Smoothing edges with spokeshave.
A series of leg turning pictures.
Assembling undercarriage.
Armpost in place.
Splitting oak for spindles.
Drying the ends of spindles in hot sand.
Boring spindle holes in back and seat.
Building a Windsor Chair
A coat of milk paint topped with tung oil.
