Hybrid Windsor Bench

My goal for the Hybrid Windsor Bench was to create a bench that ventures beyond Windsor traditions.   Made of sculpted parts of warm wood combined with cool clean steel, it would be inviting to the touch and keep the sitter interested in where they are sitting. 

Windsor chairs and benches are defined by a solid seat that has legs and back mortised into it.  In this piece, I have exchanged the wedged tenon wooden joinery with stainless steel bolts and fittings while the back and leg support structure is swapped for CAD designed parts.

Every new design remains a mystery until it is completed and I am very happy with how this came out. The back has a nice give to it as do the backs of my usual Windsor chairs that have my trademark "Floating Back". This steel supported back is quite flexible in contrast to what may be expected. The wood is warm and inviting to touch. I think that this is the beginning of many new related pieces. 

 

Over the last few years I have taught myself Computer Aided Design or CAD.  For this project, I worked up the design for the piece using the CAD software, but more importantly, I was able to create the files that ran the machine which cut out the stainless steel components.  I emailed the files to a machine shop in the next town over and the files were used to drive a waterjet  cutter to make my parts. Each part is exactly like the next and exactly what I had designed.

The wooden part of the design centers around a seat that is cut from the same pattern as my more traditional Windsor benches and has turned legs that also come from my 

previous work.  The sculpted crest rail is new but is actually bent over the same jig as my other Windsor benches. See my other benches here.

While the steel is cut out by a computer guided machine, the wooden parts are shaped and sculpted by hand and the steel parts are all ground and polished to create touchable edges.  All of the stainless steel bolt fastenings are chosen to create a finished looking surface top and bottom.  The hex heads that are visible on the top of the bench are set flush to the surface. In my mind, these are similar to the look of a traditional,  wooden, through wedged tenon joint.  As in Shaker tradition, joints are not hidden but are celebrated whether they be metal or wood.

I am sure that there will be some opinions on the use of 'Windsor' in the name of this design and I welcome the discussion.

Below is the sketch that led to this design.

 

Enjoy the fall weather!

Tim

Three Versions of My New Waltham Windsor Chairs

My Waltham line of chairs is made up of an arm chair, side chair and benches. These are all finished in milk paint and have some traditional detailing. They are designed to have a traditional look but with a comfortable fit of a modern chair. They have a deeper seat and my trademark "Floating Back" design that gives with the sitter.

The New Waltham chairs are the same chairs but with a more modern look.  They have a natural finish and most are made of cherry and ash.

My New Waltham Side Chairs are designed to be a chair with ample room and comfort.  The seat is round and inviting and it easy to move around in. You can sit straight or turn easily to accommodate changes in position or for entry and exit from the table.

 

Below is a shot of the New Waltham Side Chair with a New Waltham Arm Chair. Notice that the arm chairs arm rail passes behind the back spindles. This is my trademark "Floating Back Design" that allows the back to flex with the sitter. It is much more comfortable than a traditional Windsor that does not allow for this movement.

Below are two New Waltham Arm Chairs and a Tall New Waltham Arm Chair (center). Most of my customers order the standard New Waltham Arm Chair but occasionally individuals order the Tall version for the ends of the table or for a stand-alone chair.

All of my chair designs can be found at http://www.timothyclark.com/chairs.html

Please take a look and contact me to discuss the right chair for you.

Enjoy the Spring weather,

Tim

Custom Windsor Benches- contemporary and traditional

I have found a nice niche in the furniture making world with my contemporary Windsor benches or settees.  While both lines that I build are rooted in tradition, my New Waltham line features natural finishes that show off the warm wood of the pieces and has a more modern look.  These work well for someone who loves wood everywhere or just wants a warm accent to contrast furniture or surroundings that are not rich in natural wood.   My Waltham line features, pieces with milk paint finishes and hand carved details that give a more traditional look while not screaming "fife and drum".  These pieces also have a warmth that is a nice contrast to an ultra modern decor while blending with a more rustic or period surrounding.  More of my benches and settees can be found at my website. TimothyClark.com 

5' Waltham Bench with thin crest rail

cherry highlights are seen at edges of the rail with a
rubbed out finish

the carved "gutter" detail is part of my
painted  Waltham line.

When I paint a piece, I ask the customer if they want more or less "wear through" of the paint.  As the paint is rubbed out there is sometimes a small bit of rub through.  My favorite look is to rub through a bit more at high contact edges. This adds highlights that define the lines of the piece. You can ask for more or less of this.The bench below is a 3' version of my Waltham bench with the traditional crest rail.    This rail  results in the most traditional look of my designs. 

This last year, I added a bench with an arm rail to my Waltham line.  This design is based on my Waltham Arm chair.  If a bench is to be used at a table, I suggest a bench without an arm rail but this design works well in a hall or a spot where the sitter does not need to slide in from the side.  

The arm rail passes behind the back spindles as in all of my arm chair designs.  This is my "Floating Back" design.

Enjoy the snow,

Tim

Evolving Windsor Chair Designs at TimothyClark.com

My latest adaptation to the more modern of my Windsor chair designs is the addition of stretchers as a means of supporting the legs.  I will still offer the laminated leg supports but I was ready for a change.  All of my chair designs can be seen on my website here.  The legs and stretchers are rough turned on the lathe and then hand planed to the final shape on the shaving horse.

                     





Enjoy the cool weather.  We have had a chilly week but temps should be more reasonable later this week.
Tim

What's New? Lots!

In my digital world, Instagram has been a huge new thing.  Please take a look at my page at https://www.instagram.com/timothyclarkfurniture/     It is a good place to see what is happening in my shop in an off the cuff way.  Lots of shots of things happening as they are happening.  Pretty much whatever catches my eye.  The drawback of Instagram is that I have been neglecting my blog posts.
So, here are a few things-

I got a nice picture from an NY customer, showing my their round ended trestle table that I made for them last year.  It is nice to see it all ready for guests.  The round ends allow is to seat 8 people very nicely.  A previous post about the building of this table is here- http://windsorchairsvermont.blogspot.com/2015/04/back-in-shop.html   and finished pictures are on my website here- http://www.timothyclark.com/t_trestleroundend.html


I made Waltham Arm chair #102 a couple of weeks ago. I am now working on #105 and 106 and will start soon on #'107 - #114.
You will notice in the picture below, I marked the chair as #101.  I just looked through my book and saw that I had already numbered a New Waltham Arm chair with an office base with the number 101. Oh well. Case of the double 101.


Below is a Cod Rib Arm Chair that I made back around 1990. I just delivered a dining table to them and they were customers from way back when I was getting started.  I made some of my first sets of chairs for them. This one had a seat glue joint that needed some attention and while I had it, I decided to replace the braces on the legs.
I do not know what number this chair is but it could be under number 20.


Currently, I am making Cod Rib Arm Chair # 118.  The drill but not shaped seat is sitting on a seat for a 5' Waltham Bench in the same condition. I have another cherry version of that same bench roughed out to the same point.  Whenever I can, I like to make more than one at the same time as there is a lot of set up for each step of the way. These benches will be #13 and #14.


Below are some of the many spindles that will go into those two benches.  32 for each bench. Lots of hand planing on the shaving horse.
Winter did not really make it here this year. It has been a strange one. So, here is a parting shot to fit the strange weather.My daughter Claire and a "her size" Darth Vader.May the Force be with you,Tim

Curly Maple Trestle Table with Painted Base and a New Cod Rib Rocker

Last week I finally delivered this table to a very nice couple in Vermont.  Many think that I would do a lot of work for people in Vermont but usually my local work amounts to one order per year.

I was very happy to receive this note a few days after the delivery.

"A note to let you know how much we appreciate the beautiful craftsmanship and finished result of the tiger maple trestle table.  The words used by our guests were’ stunning’ and they reflect our own sentiments.  You surprised our expectations!"

A tiger maple key to match the top.

Below is a new Cod Rib Rocker with the added detail of the carved gutter around the base of the spindles.  A while back, the same client in California requested the gutter detail on some New Waltham Side chairs.  I usually only put the gutter on my painted chairs but I think it looks nice.

Don't be afraid to suggest detail additions or modifications.  Many times the results are great.

The garden is doing great after all of the rain that we had.

Enjoy the rest of July.

Tim

New 5' Waltham Bench w/ Thin Crest Rail

This is a design that I have wanted to do for a long while now and I was lucky enough to get an order for one and then another order for the same bench and two matching arm chairs to go with it. Below are some shots before painting.  The black bench is very pretty but hard to photograph. Some of the details come out a little better when the bench is in its raw state.  This bench was delivered today to the New York side of Lake Champlain.  It was kind of a wild ride on the ferry crossing. see video below.

the bench in place in its new home. the new owner tells me that the chairs will be replaced to go better with the new table and bench.