Thought it was time to start with a clean slate.
A barstool I made and just finished. Made out of beech
and wenge.
The backrest is constructed out of glued up thin slats of wenge, laminated against a curved piece of wood.
The seat is solid pieces of wenge, sawn at 3 degrees (like a goldbar) to create the curve, then sanded out.
On the lathe I turned pens at the ends of my uprights (wich make the supports for the backrest), and finished them of with a wedge.
This is my second project. 
Very handsome.
The contrast of material is a winner, of course. And it looks like comfort was taken well into account. Did you go so far as to use the seat and back in a mockup, prior to making the frame, so as to assure yourself that the seat and back angles would be comfortable ? I can imagine that a very slight seat angle, in a tall stool, would be enough -- and that too much might inhibit getting out of the seat ?
A minor point of wood-design orthodoxy: the wedge, which is intended to slightly enlarge the end of the through-tenon (pin), is usually aligned at right angles to the grain direction of the piece receiving the tenon -- so that any enlargement of the pin won't tend to split the wood of the receiving part.
What joinery is used to connect the top rails of the frame to the legs ?
The craftsmanship and...
The craftsmanship and materials are lovely. To my eye, the seat portion looks too small in relation to the base structure...resulting in a somewhat unbalanced overall appearance. The way the two different color woods are integrated into the design, enhance this issue. It almost looks, to me, like a marriage of two pieces. Not trying to be a downer-just giving some honest feedback
All good advice and remarks
Thank you, guys.
Indeed, SDR, the tenons aren't positioned perfectly
(from wood-based ethos), will give this more thought next time!
The legs are connected via 'live tenons' (wood goes through, at the front you get this sort of 'finger joint' effect).
Jesgord, I understand your comment about the balance, indeed the contrast in wood enhances this. I think the legs could be slimmer at the side (profile), but the seat is already a thick piece of wenge, it's probably the legs wich are a bit bulky at the top.
Indeed, bottom rails would've been better when a bit higher.
I didn't make a mockup, just made some drawings (studying the proportions) and measured my body and best angles when sitting at this sort of height..
I have to say, the seating angle is perfect, considering the almost wet-finger sort of study..
Cool.
I think it's very good. Maybe the back posts could take some refinement -- tapering, maybe ? I don't mind the other aspects mentioned -- but again, everyone will notice something different.
My question would be, what do you see differently than you did in the drawings ? Seeing the object in the round the first time is always a revelation (and usually some kind of surprise), for me. Designing on the flat surface is necessarily a 2D exercise, no matter how acute one's "structural visualization" -- I think.
Cane for me mum
Made this cane for my soon to be 90 year old step mother. Yes I know it's obvious I got the idea for the design from Dieter Rams' cane. My dear second mom has arthritis in her hands and needed to replace the one she had been using as it was causing her pain. The shaft is made of hard maple and the handle is black walnut. The shaft has an slightly angled integral tenon morticed through the handle. It's quite comfortable to use and feels much more balanced than the classic offset cane handle.
Stool Seat
I think the main forms of the stool are great, but all could be refined further.
I'm reminded of some of the more sculpted wooden seats such as Nakashima and McCobb. Pulling some of the hard edges from the blocky seat would lighten up the form considerably
But overall its a great start and I'm envious of the skills you've got with woodworking.
an A-frame duck house
Some wild ducks showed up at our garden pond and to entice them to stay, I built a floating nesting house for them. I kind of thought I should do something simpler because my design and carpentry skills are pretty sucky, but we really wanted something with a little style.
That's my daughter in very baggy chest waders going out to put some cracked corn on the deck. (It did not work. They're very suspicious and after 48 hours are still keeping a wide berth. But I think they'll come around.)
I could have posted a clearer, closer shot but really, I'd be embarrassed to have some of you furniture and design people get a better look! I fully expect it to not last more than a year. There are several major things I'd do differently (one of which is less of a reveal on the shingles). But oh well, it was really fun and it's just a duck house.
p.s. the pond is in desperate need of major landscaping. We hope to start on that this spring.
.
Ha lovely! Having wildlife around is such a pleasure, unless they live in your shed roller door like my possum but he makes me pack up at the end of the day or things end up on the floor.
Just a thought, maybe yo could tie a bit of old rope or chain to the houseboat and stake it to the bank? Save your daughter getting toggd up 🙂
If you need any help, please contact us at – info@designaddict.com