A one piece wing back chair.....

[Humanbackhoe]

Hello all....This is one of my recent first time projects. I started with an 800 lb piece of Willow Oak from my front yard.....

<img src="http://i545.photobucket.com/albums/hh385/humanbackhoe/Willow%20Oak%20chair/0901170823a_Burst01_zpsqjxyirlf.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 0901170823a_Burst01_zpsqjxyirlf.jpg"/>


Roughed it out with a small chainsaw and a Sawsall.....


<img src="http://i545.photobucket.com/albums/hh385/humanbackhoe/Willow%20Oak%20chair/0901170823_Burst01_zpsjzqsnw31.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 0901170823_Burst01_zpsjzqsnw31.jpg"/>



I whittled it down to about 350 lbs and let it sit on my shop deck, out of the rain, for the winter. This allowed the moister to equalize after the initial savagery...


<img src="http://i545.photobucket.com/albums/hh385/humanbackhoe/Willow%20Oak%20chair/0907170827_Burst01_zpsfen0drbg.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 0907170827_Burst01_zpsfen0drbg.jpg"/>


Early spring... I took it indoor the shop and continued to refine the shape with a right angle grinder outfitted with a Galahad type head. Every kind of hand tool and power tool was used on this. Spokeshaves, chisels, handsaws, draw knives, files and rasps were crucial......


<img src="http://i545.photobucket.com/albums/hh385/humanbackhoe/Willow%20Oak%20chair/DSC00568_zpsq70lbhbv.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC00568_zpsq70lbhbv.jpg"/>


I added a couple of dutchmen and sprayed it with Super Blond shellac....



<img src="http://i545.photobucket.com/albums/hh385/humanbackhoe/Willow%20Oak%20chair/DSC00549_zpsctaw0j5x.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC00549_zpsctaw0j5x.jpg"/>



<img src="http://i545.photobucket.com/albums/hh385/humanbackhoe/Willow%20Oak%20chair/DSC00789_zpshu33rfqf.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC00789_zpshu33rfqf.jpg"/>



<img src="http://i545.photobucket.com/albums/hh385/humanbackhoe/Willow%20Oak%20chair/DSC00790_zpsyyehzenl.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC00790_zpsyyehzenl.jpg"/>



I am looking for some larger tree rounds for  taller and larger chairs...
This was seriously a lot of fun. The unorthodox use of the chainsaw was dangerous and thrilling, being boxed into interior cuts, but I am ready for more. 


See ya'

Andrew

[Cooler]

A beautiful chair.  

My friend, a tree surgeon, told me once that the reason there were so many accidents with chain saws was that the amateurs buy the smallest ones available because they think they are safer.

He said there was less of a risk of "catching the tip" of the chain saw bar (and kick back) with a chain saw with a long bar.  

I don't know how you made those cuts without catching the tip.  There must be a trick or two.

[ianab]

I don't know how you made those cuts without catching the tip.  There must be a trick or two.

It's the upper corner of the tip that's the dangerous part. Trying to cut with that (usually accidentally) is what causes kickback of the chainsaw. If you have to "plunge" you start with the saw on an angle, so you are using the bottom corner of the tip, which doesn't kick back at you. Once the bar is "buried" in the wood, you rotate the saw so it can be plunged straight into the wood. It now can't kick because it's buried in wood. 

A heavier saw does make this easier in some ways, but keeping your wits about you is the important part. Thinking about where the saw tip is all the time, and what it's going to contact. 

Your buddy us right though that people underestimate little saws, and it often bites them. Big saws you kinda have to think about how you are holding them, your body stance etc, just to use them properly. Little top handle saws are some of the most dangerous, especially if you try and use them like a Jedi with a lightsabre.

[Humanbackhoe]

A beautiful chair.  

I don't know how you made those cuts without catching the tip.  There must be a trick or two.

Thank you, I really like it too.......These was no trick or previous knowledge about these cuts. I felt how the saw was cutting and went with that. I could feel what had to happen....Exciting...

Andrew

[ianab]

Cool 


Reminds me of the story about the guy asking the native how you he made a dugout canoe from a tree. 

"Simple, you just cut away everything that's not a canoe... " 

[goaliedad]

That is the best use of a willow tree I can think of!

[Humanbackhoe]

That is the best use of a willow tree I can think of!

This is my first Willow Oak, or as they say in the south "Willer Oak"...LOL...so I have to say that the 8 or 10 cords of firewood from it, was really grand to burn during the last couple of winters......

Andrew

[giradman]

Great use of a log!  Innovative and imaginative and still woodworking!  Congrats - enjoyed the pics!  Dave

[KyleD]

So..... this is what furniture looks like without a Domino machine. 

[Duane N]

How much did it end up weighing after it was complete?  That's a pretty cool looking chair.