Shopsmith Forums

In the latest issue of Popular Woodworking (#205-Aug. 2013) is an excellent article by Mario Rodriguez regarding a novel approach to scooping a chair seat using the table saw.

Mr. Rodriguez was inspired by a 20 year old book titled "Making the Classic Windsor Chair", by Robert Marquis.

This method is similar to how we cut coves on the TS but, a jig/sled is utilized instead of an angled fence. It's very ingenious, as both sides and the back scoop are cut with the same jig without removing the seat blank from the jig.

If you make chairs, this is an excellent read and well worth the cost of the magazine. Even if you don't make chairs, reading about this unique jig might trigger some ideas applicable to other projects.

You can see a video blog of Mr. Rodriguez using the jig at popularwoodworking.com/aug13

That's pretty slick!

I read the article. I find myself fascinated by machine operations. If you have ever watched a steam engine powered, belt driven shop there is something hypnotic in it all. Yet the same industrial revolution that brought machines into the woodshop cost the craftsman the joys of handwork. From a closeness to the material we shape, to the joys of a well working plane, there is always a price that technology extracts. I, for one, enjoy shaping seats by hand. It takes longer, but I don't care. I studied Windsor chairmaking for many reasons and top on my list was NOT to run a machine shop - although I appreciate and love machines. As Carl Jung once wrote, individuation calls one to hold opposites in tension seeing the shades of grey.

WmZ,
Most everyone who's read the article and/or watched the video is pretty much the same as you. I just thought it was a unique way to scoop a chair and I really found his jig most interesting.
Being almost exclusively a box/case maker, you guys who make chairs have my admiration.

Gene, I struggled with my earlier post as I didn't want to sound like a snob. I think there is a place for what Mario R. has developed, especially if one is in production work and lives by the labor of their hands. I don't have to do that and it's easy for me to pontificate. I made my first Windsor chair in 2003 and class work blew my mind as it was the first woodworking project I had ever done that was not dependent on the 90 deg. angle. All my previous experience was with case work. I also liked it because it could be done without benefit of machines. That appealed to me as I know the day will come, as it did for my Grandfather, when they take away your keys to the machines.

Well WmZ, I do make band saw boxes, so not EVERYTHING is 90°. Then, sometimes it's not, even when it's supposed to be.