back rails for stickley style chair

[Bob T]

Good morning All,

I would like to make a set of craftsman/arts and crafts side chairs. I am new, but have had some success with mortise and tenon. The angled joints on stretchers I am considering a domino. The seat will most likely be upholstered.

The back rails are giving me trouble. I use vcarve pro, and have not done any 3d designing or cutting, don't know where to start on that.

I have thought of making forms on my machine for steam bending, and guides for cutting the edges on a table saw. but, if I can machine the whole thing, including tenons, it seems I would have a better outcome quicker and safer.

Any ideas, for the back rails, or the angled stretchers, or something I may not have thought of, would be appreciated.

[scottp55]

Bob,
Gustav/Morris style like this?
scott

[Bob T]

Hi Scott. I am a big fan of the Morris chairs, but need a set of side chairs, like for a dining room. I want to cut out the crest and lower back rails, with the concave curve and tenons, then flip it and cut the convex curve and tenons on the back. I don't know if I can do this without aspire, and am wondering if making the templates for bending and table saw cutting the tenons is best for me.

[jTr]

Bob,
What you describe is essentially a 3D carving. Challenging to draft, very time consuming to mill. Glued lamination or a band-sawn block are viable options, but sounds like you'd really prefer a CNC'd way, so here's what I'd suggest, involving no 3D drafting.

Lay out the curved profile in VCarve Pro. If your crest rail is 3.5" high, just stack two 1.75" pieces. Draft a pair of 10mm domino mortises that can serve to align as you glue the stack. Your bot can cut those as well. In order to bury those, just "flip" your draft, creating a top and bottom. Tenons will be curved at inside corners, but hand tools can be used to clean them up.

Of course, this is a bit more complicated if your rails need to be tapered at the tenon shoulders...


jeff

[scottp55]

Bob,
Also the concave isn't a problem using the Fluting fluting tool in VCP, and possibly using Paul Rowntree's Fluteplus for the convex(?)
https://www.google.com/search?q=paul+Rowntree+vectric+fluteplus+site:foru m.vectric.com&num=20&sa=X&ved=0CDEQrQIoBDACahUKEwjP1Yyop8fIAhXCGj4KHebWDrQ&biw=1280&bih=666
If you haven't played with Fluting toolpath...Draw line/linear array at desired stepover/smooth ramp 100% to desired depth/ cut.
Not too bad with for speed with .5"BN or better yet a bowl/dish bit.
I'd listen to Jeff though:)
scott

[Bob T]

That's funny, I could picture cutting forms like that, but not the finished piece.

Thanks for the help!

BT

[Bob T]

Hi Scott.

I have the fluting tool, have not played with it yet. Hopefully will get a chance tonight.

thanks for suggestion.