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Chairmaking & Design by Jeff Miller
Chairmaking & Design by Jeff Miller
(c) 2008 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
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Chairmaking & Design by Jeff Miller

From Chris Baylor,
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The Bottom Line

For novice woodworkers looking to learn the basics of chair design, Jeff Miller's "Chairmaking & Design" is a very useful book. Not only does the author do an excellent job of covering the hows and whys of chair design, but he takes the reader through a number of various chair designs, with each successive set of plans being a bit more intricate. While a couple of the designs seem to be a bit dated, most of the chairs are versatile enough that nearly everyone should find a chair of their liking.

This book is a quality introduction into chair design, and a nice addition to any woodworking library.
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Pros

  • Chairmaking Basics section very thorough
  • Contains nine interesting chair designs, each building on lessons learned in the previous design
  • Loaded with illustrations and pictures to help guide reader through each design
  • Includes complete step-by-step upholstery instructions for appropriate designs

Cons

  • Would've liked to have seen a classic Windsor chair as one of the designs

Description

  • Many chapters outline jigs that are needed to build that chapter's chair, jigs that may also be useful around the shop.
  • Book is loaded with good general woodworking tips that help with the design of each chair.
  • Includes a photo gallery of unique chairs that may inspire a woodworker to create their own designs.

Guide Review - Chairmaking & Design by Jeff Miller

When one looks at a chair, it seems like such a simple thing to build. Four legs, a back, a seat and maybe some arms. Nothing to it, right?

Oh, if it was only that simple. Many a chairmaker will tell you about the number of chairs they built early in their career that looked so nice, but was so utterly uncomfortable that their creation was worth little more than firewood.

Chairmaking is truly an art. To build a chair that is strong, durable and yet comfortable is not an easy task. Fortunately, there are some principles that, when followed properly, will accomplish all three requirements.

In "Chairmaking & Design," Jeff Miller does a very good job of outlining not only the "how" of chair design, but also the "why." He begins the book with a chapter on the basics of chair design, followed by a chapter on chairmaking basics.

While this may seem redundant, it actually isn't. The first chapter focuses on the theory of how a chair should function and how it can be built to be strong and handle the stresses of sitting and getting in and out of the chair. The second chapter focuses on the techniques necessary to build the chairs that will follow.

From that point, the author works through a series of chair designs, each of which build on the techniques presented in previous designs. All in all, the book is a fine introduction into chair making, and should allow the reader to learn the skills necessary to venture into designing and building fine chairs of their own.
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