"An Old Chair Maker Shows How" Summary

To build a chair, Lon begins with oak, maple, or ash wood for the chair, and white oak splits for the chair bottom. The logs are gathered and shaped while green, then laid aside to season. A 42" length is cut from the wood for the back posts, a 20" length is cut for the front posts, and a 16" length is cut for the back. White oak splits are also made. The wood sections are quartered, and then rounded. The 16" length is cut into boards, smoothed, and trimmed. The rounds are then quartered, hewn, and shaved into posts.

Next, the two long posts are mounted on a workbench to hold them in place. Holes are drilled, and slots for the backboards are made, using a hammer and chisel. The posts are then turned...