Replies

1. 
   jptenberg | Mar 05, 2006 07:43pm | #1

   Chairmaking and Design by Jeff Miller. 

   Although this may be hard to find as I believe it's out of print, it's definately the best book I've found on the subject.  The library may have a copy.

   Another book, albeit not as good, The Art of Chair-Making by Kerry Pierce.

   This book would be very helpful if you were interested in making ladder-back style chairs.

   If you're looking for design inspiration, there's a book called 397 Chairs by Abrams.  This is basically a coffee-table book, but it has lots of pics of different designs.

   Good Luck

    

   Peter

   jpswoodworking.com

2. 
   JeffHeath | Mar 05, 2006 08:53pm | #2

   I also highly recommend Jeff Miller's book.  I took his chairmaking class several years back, and his teaching skills are excellent, and the book reflects this.  If you can't find it in print, I have an extra copy.  I'd sell it to you for what I paid plus shipping.  I'm keeping the one he signed, though.  :-)

   Jeff

3. 
   DavidxDoud | Mar 06, 2006 03:29am | #3

   here's a link to 5 of Jeff Miller's books,  used -

   looks like they would have been a good investment - they aren't cheap -

   http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&an=jeff+miller&y=8&tn=chairmaking+and+design&x=67

    

    

   "there's enough for everyone"
1. 
   Len | Mar 08, 2006 02:13am | #7

   Wow! I bought this book about six or seven years ago for less than the list from Taunton.

   So what's made this book go up so high. I mean it's a wonderful book but what a jump in price.

   No. I don't want to sell it.

   Enjoy!

   Len

4. 
   Napie | Mar 06, 2006 05:22pm | #4

   Dunbars classic on windsors is a must if you like that style.

5. 
   cadiddlehopper | Mar 07, 2006 06:14am | #5

   Bookfinder.com is a very good way to find used or new books. It searches many dealers nationwide.

   Cadiddlehopper

6. 
   Lataxe | Mar 07, 2006 05:44pm | #6

   Drew Langster "Chairmakers Workshop" for all varities of (mostly) greenwood chairs. 

   His book and explanations are very thorough.  Personally I found some bits too thorough, having learnt a simpler making-process for ladderback chairs.  But if you want comprehensive, this is the book.

   Lataxe

7. 
   byhammerandhand | Mar 08, 2006 04:44am | #8

   I'll thow John Alexander's "Make a Chair from a Tree." Drew Langsner used it when I took a chairmaking class from him. It is interesting in that each piece of the chair has an optimum orientation for the interaction of seasonal wood movement. It's a classic in "wet-dry" joinery. Worth a read regardless of the type of chair you're building for the engineering aspects.

1. 
   Lataxe | Mar 08, 2006 04:36pm | #9

   Haven't got John Alexander's book but I was given a copy of the video.  The vid is good value as you get 3 hours of detailed explanation and demonstration. The vid only demos the production of a single ladderback design and the associated green wood working techniques.

   I believe the video (and now DVD) are still published.

   Don't laugh, but if you want a really basic (but still very informative) book, the Time Life woodworking series volume on (dry timber) chairmaking is not bad, albeit overpriced (and  they might pester you to buy the whole series).

8. 
   eddiefromAustralia | Mar 11, 2006 06:22am | #10

   34164.1

   pqken, direct copy of a post that I just made in response to a similar question - the other thread is 34164.  Larry, I'm looking at the spine of a British book that I picked up a month or so ago in the remainder bins - Making Classic Country Chairs; author Bryant, Publisher Batford. ISBN 0-7134-8040-8 I teach woodworking and am a cabinetmaker by trade.  I picked this book up because it looks to be an excellent book for teaching from - well written and described, a wide variety of chair styles in it.  Basically, if you could build the chairs in here, you could do just about anything bar a ribbon-back chippendale. Cheers, eddie

9. 
   pzgren | Mar 11, 2006 07:56am | #11

   Try Ron Clarkson's <Making Classic Chairs>. ~150 pages on nearly every aspect of building a Chippendale style side chair. Most of it should be readily adaptable to your specific needs.

10. 
    pqken | Mar 11, 2006 01:25pm | #12

    I posted this in another thread.

    After a bit of looking around, including contacting Jeff Miller who told me that, "Chair Making and Design" is being re-published, and will be out again this fall. Linden Publications is the new publisher...in case you're wondering.

    Thanks everyone who posted...pqken