Boggs side chair

Asa Christiana, editor, Fine Woodworking magazine

11 users recommend

This is Brian Boggs' famous side chair design. I took a class at his shop and made it there.

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This turned out to be an extremely difficult chair to build, requiring some serious jigs for the steambent parts. The legs bend in two directions, and the back slats are bent progressively to fit the countours of your back. The legs are shaped by routing and shaving, and the joinery is a very precise version of wet-dry, with compound angles all over the place. The hickory-bark seat was the easiest part. You weave it while it is wet and then it tightens as it dries. All of the class attendees intended to build more of these when we got home, but I don't think any of us have!

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Comments (3)

mtrcycldude writes: I went to Boston in 2007 to be in Brian's 10 day class and I have not built another chair. But... I am working on it. Would love to take the course again now that I know how hard it is. Wish I could see Brian's shop too. When I got to the airport and tried to check my precious chair as luggage they said noway. I left it at the ticket counter and called my Craigslist landlord to get her to pick it up and then ship it to me later. When she got to Logan my chair was gone. I guess the most memorable part of Brian's class was watching him work on his shaving horse. The guy is a true craftsman. I am a machinist so I understand skill but have never seen anyone in any line of work with skill like Brian has. Love his chairs.
Posted: 10:13 pm on January 22nd

osagecanusee writes: Very nice! I have made a ladderback chair (no bending) from green wood in Drew Langsner' class. For your chair, what source did you use for the hickory bark strips for weaving?
Thanks.
Posted: 10:18 am on November 5th

ak writes: Wow! Very nice work! I suspect that it is a most comfortable chair.
Posted: 11:36 pm on October 9th

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