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Chair Posts Bent

John Morris

By John Morris

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Cherry is a pretty brittle lumber in relation to other common North American species. But even at that, this kiln dried lumber from my local supplier bent just fine without a crack.

I was surprised how pliable they were when I pulled them out of the box. The posts are 1 3/8" in diameter, the general rule is to steam lumber 1 hour per inch, I rounded and erred on the side of caution and steamed these posts for 1.5 hours. I could have bent them around a large doughnut they were so pliable. 

I made the blocks as an after thought on the fly as the posts were steaming, I did a dry run before this operation with just a rag and the straps and it worked ok, but I had second thoughts while the wood was steaming, so I made these blocks up for the strap to go around and I am glad I did. They worked fantastic.

 

These posts will stay in the form for two weeks give or take a day or two.

From the album:

Shaker Furniture

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Photo Information

  • Taken with Motorola XT1080
  • Focal Length 4.5 mm
  • Exposure Time 2498/100000
  • f Aperture f/2.4
  • ISO Speed 640
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Recommended Comments

Gene Howe

Gene Howe 64,655

Posted

Ingenious.

I'm guessing the hole alignment was critical. Any special procedure to insure alignment? Or just a good eye?

John Morris

John Morris 42,083

Posted

Thanks Gene, much of chair building is by eye. But if you see the holes, they are aligned on the pencil mark I drew while the post was on the lathe.

lew

lew 49,112

Posted

Great series! Looks like that steamer worked perfectly!!

 

Like Gene, I wondered about the holes. Could they have been drilled after the bending process??

John Morris

John Morris 42,083

Posted

27 minutes ago, lew said:

Great series! Looks like that steamer worked perfectly!!

 

Like Gene, I wondered about the holes. Could they have been drilled after the bending process??

I feel it's best to drill them while the post is straight Lew, easier to line up, and easier to handle at the drill press.

John Morris

John Morris 42,083

Posted

Plus, I have to lay out the holes with my story stick, while the posts is straight, see at 

 

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