The Chair Back Continued

Once each of the three bent laminations was ready and removed from the form the edges were jointed and then ripped to width to make them paralel.  This allows for a more accurate cleanup of the glue and which then allows for another round of jointing and ripping on the table saw.  This is done taking off as  little as possible.  Once done each of the three peices looks pretty much like this. 

One bent lamination jointed and ripped, ready for joining. 

With the three of them done I was able to mix and match for the best grain alignment and cleanest of joints.  Even though the form to make these was itself made form only one half of the curve there was a minor difference side to side which defined each of the three laminations with a definite left and right side .  Imperceptible to the touch of the back but a misalignment of 1/16th of an inch glares out when looking at curves that run parallel. 

All three bent laminations standing on top of each
other in their eventual configuration. 

When ripping the final width of the center lamination I also ripped the width and height of the insert square that will the the detail inthe centre of the chair back.  This is cut from a solid block of walnut which is thicker than the rest fo the parts to allow for final fitting when completed.  The imterior thickness of the block was reduced using a router so that only the middle 1/4 inch remained.  Then, pilot holes were drilled in the empty space and the outline of the tree was cut out with a fret saw. 

Rough shape after the fret saw. 

After roughing out the shape the edges and profiles were broken and refined with a set of small files.  This peice is almost finished and took quite a while to do but I think the results will be worth it when all is said and done. 



After refining with some small files.