Replies

1. 
   Sgian_Dubh | Nov 23, 1999 08:57am | #1

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   Sounds like a dining chair. Historically and typically many of this style of chair was made with rails of beech (maple or birch substituted in US) with a veneer of the show timber on top, especially if it's a stuffover upholstered piece. No reason at all why you couldn't use solid cherry if it's a drop in seat, but solid cherry for the stuffover style does not take nails well.

   Both the steam bent and laminated method would work too given the right circumstances. I can't comment on that for I can't see the style you propose, but you will probably need a jig to accurately lay out and cut the tenons. One advantage of the solid is you can leave the rails square until after you've cut the joints, and then do the shaping.

   From your description it seems unlikely that you are proposing to cane the seat, but if you are I'd suggest strongly that seriously consider cutting it all out of the solid or maybe steam bent, for glue line laminations may not be attractive.

1. 
   RJT_ | Nov 29, 1999 03:57am | #2

   *Traditionally these were cut on the band saw and doweled together, that should work again.