I just purchased a very nice James Swan draw knife for my aspiring post and rung chair making venture I am about to embark on. The handles are adjustable, which I am not too  crazy about, but the steel is excellent with these Swan tools. And the price was right.

Can't wait to get the mail in the next week and tune it up and rejuvenate the handles and put it to wood.

A little history on the James Swan Tool Co. http://www.davistownmuseum.org/bioSwan.html

Every new project deserves at least one new tool!

3 minutes ago, lew said:

Every new project deserves at least one new tool!

So true Lew! This project is actually going to get a few things added to my shop. I'll have to build a steamer as well for bending the rear back posts.

 

2 minutes ago, John Morris said:

So true Lew! This project is actually going to get a few things added to my shop. I'll have to build a steamer as well for bending the rear back posts.

 

Well just don't use PVC pipe for the steamer "box". I made some round and oval table top trivets a wile back. They were the "tumbling block" design so I thought I'd wrap them with a steam bent edge bands. Built an awesome steam box from PVC pipe- brass racks, threaded fittings- it was sweet. Then I applied steam. It now resembles one of those jungle suspension bridges. Epic Fail!

That's some great advice Lew, thanks! I think I'll lean towards a wood box like Roy Underhill uses. You can see his to the left behind him in this image. But also, the book I am taking my information from by Kerry Pierce chairmaker, he does use a PVC pipe for his steaming exclusively, he's been using the same one for 30 years. Now his is made from 6" PVC mounted on top of a french cooker he uses to boil the water. That 6" PVC is pretty thick stuff, what size PVC where you using?

That was probably my problem. I think mine was 4" and foam cored. I should have realized the steam heat would be too hot for the type of pipe I used. I imagine the 6" is solid and much tougher.

What a great drawknife.  I suspect that it will serve you very well if it is anything like the few Swan tools I have.  Good stuff! 

On 6/28/2016 at 6:34 AM, Bundoman said:

What a great drawknife.  I suspect that it will serve you very well if it is anything like the few Swan tools I have.  Good stuff! 

It came in the mail yesterday Bundoman, and I love it. It was even sharp believe it or not, the fellow who sold it to me put an edge on it before shipping. I am not sold on the adjustable handle though, it does rack a little, the handles feel a little loose which I don't like. I'll use it for awhile and I am for sure getting another one that is one piece. I had a feeling about the handles when I bought it, but I really like the looks of the tool.

Last night I shaved a little on some walnut 8/4 I have hanging around and it works very nice. Once I hone it even further with my own methods it's work like a champ.

 

Re: steam piping. To insure integrity, use 6" CPVC. Pricey but it's forever.

That is the size pipe that seems prevalent Gene. I need to go garage selling this weekend and fine me an old turkey fryer of boiling pot now!

If you can find one, a steam generator from an iron would work well. 

Here's a link to a new one. https://jet.com/product/detail/c7f7a094641c45ce87e34687206f4927?jcmp=pla:ggl:gen_home_garden_a1:household_appliances_laundry_appliances_irons_ironing_systems_a1_other:na:PLA_348543900_24223388460_pla-161697588300:na:na:na:2&code=PLA15&ds_c=gen_home_garden_a1&ds_cid&ds_ag=household_appliances_laundry_appliances_irons_ironing_systems_a1_other&product_id=c7f7a094641c45ce87e34687206f4927&product_partition_id=161697588300&gclid=CjwKEAjwqdi7BRCL6Zmjk5-rsTwSJABmrVabCu7GNv0YNXHehUIxeZYweJJSa2K6SNJV926-zEBYShoCaxbw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Often the iron quits working but the generator is still good.

I used a thrift store hot plate and water kettle.