The finished children’s chairs are now on our portfolio page
Kids Chairs




March 2010:


Two Inlaid Children’s Chairs


    The inspiration for these chairs came when one of our good friends had a baby.  In our family, a gift of a child’s chair to welcome a newborn is often given.  One is out of cherry, to match the one given to the first child in that family, and the second is of mahogany (will be for sale).



First, the stock was milled and cut to size.  Next the joinery was laid out and cut.  All of the joints on these chairs are mortise and tenon.  At left Moriah  is cutting the mortises into the legs.













    Tenons are cut on the rails and stretchers.  Sharp chisels are used to clean up the joint after being cut on the table saw. 

    Below, the chairs are “dry fit”.....many times.  This is to make sure that all the joints fit together tightly, before all the parts are scraped and sanded before glue up.


   


Lots of scraping, and then sanding on every part.  

Below, all the parts ready for assembly.  Same parts as a full size chair, just smaller.






Before the chairs are glued up inlay is done.     Design of the inlay on the chair was drawn up, and the images were sketched.   Swallows and gingko leaves  are the patterns chosen for these two chairs.  The possibilities are endless, which is the fun part of making these, and what makes them a special personalized gift.

   The patterns are photocopied multiple times.  Duplicates being glued to the surface of the chair part where the inlay is going, and on to the thin piece of wood that is being inlaid.  Curly maple was chosen as the inlaid wood.



                    
           



The shape on the thin inlay piece is cut out using a sharp surgical knife and carving tool, while the shape on the chair is outlined using the sharp knife and excavated using a very small spiral bit on a dremel tool.

   


   


    Below, scraping the new ginkgo inlay flush with the mahogany.



 


    The swallow inlay complete.


    
   


     
Gluing up the different parts, and finally gluing them all together into the chair.




       






                           








        Shaping the contour of the seat using a scorp to rough it out.   Then using curved scrapers and sandpaper to finish it.




      

Corner blocks are shown being glued in place.   These help to keep the chair square, and give something to attach the seat to.  Below, the seat is attached.  Ready for finish.





 


A few coats of an oil varnish is applied.  No stain or coloring was used on these chairs, so what you see is the natural beauty of the wood.  After the last coat has cured the surface is rubbed down to achieve the desired sheen.





Finished chairs can be seen on our portfolio page.