Replies

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Jan 10, 2009 04:00am | #1

   Shawn,

   I don't know if you are aware, but the reason Windsor chairs are normally made of different woods is to take advantage of each species' strengths. Easy-to-bend woods are used for the back. An easy-to-carve wood is used for the seat. Straight grained, strong stock is used for the legs. I think that you would be fine using the materials planned to make the stool.

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
   (soon to be www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   essdog | Jan 11, 2009 10:31am | #2

   Great. Thanks a lot for replying! Good luck with your business.shawn

2. 
   Lataxe | Jan 11, 2009 01:58pm | #3

   Mr Dog,

   If you're going to use greenwood, be aware that oak can be rather splitty as it dries out.  Best to get the round tenons of your oak spindles into the legs quickish, to avoid those ends drying out too rapidly and starting split.  Alternatively, consider using ash for the spindles, which doesn't split nearly so easily as oak as it dries out.

   Also, it's important to orient the grain of leg and spinde correctly (at right angles to each other) so that when the wood dries the ovalising of the initially round tenon of the spindle and mortise in the leg shrink with the ovals developing at right angles to each other, thus exerting a tight grip.  This type of shrinkage-grip joinery is another reason why leg wood should be a bit softer than spindle wood, so the softer wood will distort rather than cause the leg to develop a split as the joint dries out and tightens up.

   All the above is not an issue if you're going to use dried timber and glue for your stool.  If you are, a fox-wedge in the round tenons will help ensure that the joint is very tight, even without glue.  Using the right-angle grain orientation technique will also help to keep the joint tight if it will be subject to cycles of dry and humid weather.

   Lataxe

1. 
   essdog | Jan 14, 2009 10:02pm | #4

   Thanks Lataxe,

   That is really good stuff to know.  Its hard to slow down and learn these things before making something in a sub-optimal way. 

   thanks!

   shawn