Replies

1. 
   doorboy | Oct 02, 2008 12:38am | #1

   It seems that at some point ergonomics should come into play. If you just add 6" to the legs, then some people will feel like they are climbing up to get into the chair. If you leave the chair seat at the standard height, then most people will not be able to "pass the salt' across the table.
   I'm curious, why did the table end up at that height?
2. 
   Aftonwood | Oct 02, 2008 06:33am | #2

   Snack bars are often 36" high - to sit at those you need a bar stool. Now a bar stool could be made to whatever style you want to make it in, but it reallly ought to have a "foot rest" (some type of horizontal cross member) about 6" above the floor. Otherwise the user will feel like a six year old kid in an adult sized chair - feet dangling in the air.

   Jerry

3. 
   ring | Oct 02, 2008 08:24am | #3

   Lacking exact plans, make a prototype in cheap pine or any junk wood you've got. Chairs are notorious for not tolerating changes in measurements. That is, seemingly insignificant modifications on a successful chair can make it into an uncomfortable one. There's no way around it; you have to do a prototype if you want to design a chair. In fact, I'll wager that you will need 3 prototypes to "get it right" both esthetically and ergonomically. In any case, they will allow you to develop the various jigs you need to make 8 chairs in a more expensive wood.

   Don't rush it. I'm assuming that this is not a professional shop, that you're doing it for yourself. If you're a pro and took this commission, you should know better.

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e

4. 
   MikeHennessy | Oct 02, 2008 02:29pm | #4

   One of the woodworking mags had a nice FL Wright tall chair plan 8 or so years ago. I liked it, but I needed chairs with taller seats to work for kitchen counter seating. So I got the plans, modified the seat height and overall height, made some other design tweaks of my own just for looks, changed the wood from oak to maple and cherry, the seat from cloth to leather, and put a set together. Tho' they look simple, these were not a particularly easy project. Turned out pretty nice tho' --  everyone who sees 'em want's 'em, so I guess it worked out OK.

   (Interesting side story: the crest rail is curved slightly, so it's concave in the back. I needed a good way to hollow it out but my tool inventory was lacking in that regard. Had a custom Knight Toolworks plane made with a sole that's convex on the long axis to do it and it was sweeeet! Those are some nice tools, and VERY reasonably priced for what you get.)

   The chairs are pretty plain, typical A&C "chunky", essentially straight backs, seats taper a bit from front to rear (4 degrees, IIRC) with a bunch of slats running up the full length of the back. I still have the plans somewhere. If you're interested, lemme know and I'll dig 'em out and get the info to ya.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

1. 
   roqqytop | Oct 02, 2008 11:48pm | #5

   Thx to all that replied.
   Why the table is 36"?
   Recently bought some living room furniture (delivered hours ago)
   and in the show room they had a few High Tables with High Style chairs.
   I liked the look and besides, we have a 7 foot penisula top adjacent
   to the dining room and the 3 high stools can be utilized when the table extensions are used.
   Besides, a lot of times the penisula is used for
   buffet style.
   As for the plan for a Mission Style High Chair, I am still looking.
   I even thought about buying 1 of the chairs I liked, disassembling
   it, modifying it, and proceeding. I still may choose that route.And yes, a foot rest needs to be part of the design.It may take awhile, but in the end I will either find or develop
   a plan for 6 or 8 mission style high chairs. I am committed because the table frame is finished and can not be changed.ANY useful suggestions are greatly appreciated.I will post some pictures when finished.
   The walnut top looks awesome with only 1 coat of finish so far.
   It will look doubly awesome sitting besides the 7 foot high
   by 8 foot long solid walnut china closet I made a few years ago.

1. 
   DonaldCBrown | Oct 03, 2008 01:06am | #7

   "As for the plan for a Mission Style High Chair, I am still looking."About ten years ago, Rex Alexander had an article in FWW on building a dining chair in the Arts and Crafts style. Checkhttp://tinyurl.com/4q3kndI believe full-size plans are available through Taunton, though there are the usual excellent exploded drawings by Heather Lambert accompanying the article.The Alexander chair (based on a Gustav Stickley design) has the normal seating height of 18 inches, but it looks like the style you are seeking.

   Edited 10/2/2008 6:07 pm ET by DonaldCBrown

2. 
   roqqytop | Oct 02, 2008 11:57pm | #6

   Mike,
   thx for the offer and yes I am interested.
   I also live in PA and if you ever venture to Grizzly
   (Muncy, PA) I will gladly show you the finished product.
   Less than 10 minutes from I80-I180 junction.

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Oct 03, 2008 01:49pm | #8

   I'll see if I can dig out the paperwork when I get home tonight.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

1. 
   roqqytop | Oct 03, 2008 10:31pm | #9

   Thx again to Donald & Mike.
   Probably 10 days til I start the chairs.
   Looks like it will be impossible for the chairs to be as nice as the table because the Walnut on edge looks awesome, but still will give it a strong effort.

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Oct 03, 2008 11:51pm | #10

   Well, after digging down through about 6" of sawdust, I found the plans. They're in May/June 2000 Woodworker's Journal magazine. Their site is, unfortunately, below lame. WELL below lame. So you might have difficulty locating this issue. If so, lemme know and I can maybe scan the plan sheets for ya. (I don't have the article that went with the plans, so you're on your own on the step-by-steps.)

   Here's a few pix of the finished, albeit modified, product:

   View Image      View Image 

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

   
2. 
   roqqytop | Oct 04, 2008 01:27am | #11

   Thx for the pictures.
   Will investigate the article.
   I am getting a fairly good idea of what I what, I think.
   Probably leaning toward an oak (got tons of it) prototype or 3 before committing to the walnut.
   Dont like the idear of buying anything that I can make myself given enough time.
   T-minus 53 days and counting.