Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Nov 23, 2005 08:29pm | #1

   It looks like a finger joint that would have been machined on a shaper.  After the arch of the arms and back was glued up, probably with an epoxy, the oversized assembly was probably brought down to its final shape with template jigs on a shaper followed up with some final shaping by hand.  I can't think of any practical way to make the joint without a special cutter on a shaper.

   John W. 

   
   

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   Edited 11/23/2005 12:31 pm ET by JohnWW

1. 
   coldprofit | Nov 23, 2005 08:36pm | #2

   Do you think the initial joint was created with all 90 degree angles and the tapered zig zag look is a result of the final curved shape, which possibly could be done with a spokeshave? It's that first joint I'm mostly curious about. It seems there must be a lot of waste during the final cuts and shaping.

1. 
   JohnWW | Nov 24, 2005 12:08am | #6

   The angle of the joint would be determined by how the designer wanted the grain to run and how much wood waste could be tolerated.  In any case this chair design probably wasted one or two board feet of wood for each board foot that wound up in the finished product.  It is possible that some of the components could have been band sawn out out of larger blocks, with the pieces nested together to eliminate some waste.

   John W. 

2. 
   WillGeorge | Nov 23, 2005 09:22pm | #3

   I agree.. Most likely a custom shaper tool.. The company probably has many custom tools.

2. 
   Rich14 | Nov 23, 2005 10:28pm | #4

   cold,

   Hans Wegner's designs contain some of the most innovative construction techniques known in the furniture industry. As is the custom in Denmark, the designer works closely with the manufacturer's craftsmen whose job it is to help translate the design into a workable mechanical reality. The furniture maker is afforded the same respect as the designer, and his expertise, knowledge and experience with the way wood behaves can often suggest methods that may not have been in the designer's original ideas. It's a great collaborative effort.

   I am lucky to have several of Wegner's chairs, including another version of The Chair, shown at the bottom of this page:

   http://www.designaddict.com/design_index/index.cfm/fuseaction/designer_show_one/DESIGNER_ID/336/index.cfmwhich

   and his "Y" chair, at the top of that page.

   The Y chair's top rail is formed by cutting the wood into thin strips and laminating them back together, in sequence, on a curved template. The knife that slices the laminations is so fine, and the assembly is so exact the the original grain pattern is undisturbed. If one does not know the rail is laminated, it almost escapes notice. The lines of lamination almost look like the natural figure of the wood.

   "The Chair" uses equally innovative techniques. The finger joint is made on a computer-controlled shaper. The back and arms are flat at that point, then the arms are shaped (CNC machines) and the back is steam bent.

   I don't have the links to the references where I found the above any longer. Some comes from books I bought when I visited at Scandinavia house,

   http://www.scandinaviahouse.org/programs.html

   in New York, several years ago. They are a great resource.

   Rich

1. 
   Rich14 | Nov 23, 2005 11:20pm | #5

   BTW,

   In the original design, and in early production models, the chair back was wrapped in cane which hid the finger joints. Wegner covered them because exposed joinery was not in vogue and he did not anticipate the joints being a design element.

   http://www.dmk.dk/details/13471/

   Use the zoom functions on this page.

   The craftsmen convinced him to let them show. Everything about the lines of the chair, it's refreshing minimalism, while maintaining extreme comfort, and the sophistication of line, including those beautiful, curved matings was responsible for the popularity of the design.

   Rich

   Edited 11/23/2005 3:36 pm ET by Rich14

2. 
   coldprofit | Nov 28, 2005 10:53pm | #7

   Rich,

   Thanks for your expertise. I am a big fan of Wegner's work and would love to learn more about the manufacturing process. A CNC machine would certainly do the trick. The fingers for this finger joint seem too large for a standard shaper bit, so a CNC is probably right. Perhaps a custom shaper as other posts suggested.

   Two things, 1. could you recommend any books on his work. Specifically that highlight joints and manufacturing methods. I think i saw that there was an exhibit in the 80's at the MOMA and a catalog may have come out of that, but I'm not sure.

   2. The arm on the Y-chair. If I understood you correctly, you said it is a laminate with super thin strips? I be curious if you understood the jigs construction for this piece. I've done laminate curves before, but never one with compound curves. Is this a two step process? Or is it some crazy one piece jig. I think it's a compound curve(by this I mean the curve is in two planes), but I could be wrong. No steam bending right?

   Thanks for your help,

   Dan

3. 
   coldprofit | Nov 28, 2005 10:57pm | #8

   Rich,

   I just looked more closely at the chair and realized it probably is not a double curvature for the arm piece. But how are the back legs made. Steamed?

   Thanks again,

   dan

1. 
   Rich14 | Nov 28, 2005 11:16pm | #9

   Dan,

   I'm at work. I'll look at the Y chair when I get home. I don't think there is a compound curve involved in the top rail. I don't know how the Y arms are made, but steam bending is a good bet.

   He uses the lamination/bending technique on all his chairs that have that style top rail. I think I can find some on-line images that show the the top rail "end grain." The laminations (running vertically) are evident there.

   Rich