Now that the main chair frame is nearly done, I can move on to the independent backrest frame. I started by creating another template to define the curved shape of the rails. I also jointed, planed, and glued-up some stock to yield 1-1/2" thick pieces for the rails.
After a visual check of the proportions of the 1-1/2" rails against the chair, they seemed a bit wide. I ran them and the straight stiles through the planer, targeting taking about 1/8" off. I stopped after about 1/10" which looked right to me. With that done, I made a little jig to aid cutting the rails to the proper length and miter angle. It has a straight edge that will ride against the miter saw fence and some blocks that position the curved rail about the centerline.
With a scrap positioned on the template following the curve, I could take the angle relative to the long edge of the jig.
With the marks transferred to the jig, I could then install a rail in the jig, and transfer the marks from the jig to the rail.
A couple pieces of double-sided tape help keep the rail in position for the first cut. The miter saw was set to 10 deg in one direction, and then the other to cut both ends. This is not a terribly critical cut, it just needs to be close enough to maintain the curve once the stile is attached.
Once the first rail was cut to length, all remaining rails were marked from that model rail.
With a couple stiles cut slightly long, I could check the proportions again. I think it's looking good.
It is looking good. I like the lines of the chair in the last photo—lots of pleasing curves to see.
I do have a question… I see how you used a bevel gauge to capture the angle at the end of the rail. Why do you then switch to that transparent compass to continue the process? Could you have used the bevel gauge instead?
That is the $64,000 question. The original chair uses some custom brass hardware mounted to the back of the backrest after weaving. The strap bends around the side and has a pin that fits into a socket in the side of the arm. I have been scouring the internet for something like this, but haven't been able to find a close match. I have some Amazon pivot hinges on order that will probably work, but will be a bit clunky. I've been toying with fabricating them myself from brass stock, but I've not done metal work since shop class in high school. I may go for it to get the custom look.
I do have a question… I see how you used a bevel gauge to capture the angle at the end of the rail. Why do you then switch to that transparent compass to continue the process? Could you have used the bevel gauge instead?
Thanks, Ron. I just used the plastic gauge so I could read the numeric angle, which I then set on the miter saw. I didn't need the miter angle to be super precise, and setting the saw angle directly from the bevel gauge 8 times (twice for each rail) was more than I wanted to do for an angle that just needed to be relatively close.
I realy like how the curve of the back rest goes together with the arm rests. Thight design language.
Btw found this image (in case you did not, zoon in): https://bruun-rasmussen.dk/m/lots/A42D47280A54/images/1?resume_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbruun-rasmussen.dk%2Fm%2Flots%2FA42D47280A54 Intersting that they made version in "skovfyr" (Pinus sylvestris) at a time when that material was consideret cheap and unfashionable. It allso looks like some one altered the design as there are cut off tennons in the leg, and also visible dowels in the front rail. And of course dovetails instead of box joints between leg and armrest. Makes me think that this was perhaps a prototype or students work.
"The good chair is a task one is never completely done with" Hans Wegner
Thanks, Ty. Yes, I've found and bookmarked that site and all other auction sites I could find that had a variation of the chair. The pine one is a bit odd, but your conjecture that it could be a prototype puts it in a different light. It does have the same backrest pivot hardware and brass anchor for the limit strap for the backrest. The tight grain on the legs looks like old-growth, so it definitely could be an early version.
While interesting, I find that the finger joints and oak are much more suitable for this design. This version has a bit too much going on and diverging design langugages
"The good chair is a task one is never completely done with" Hans Wegner
