Crafted Raven · Chairs
Square-first side chair
side chair · square frame · shaker · Cherry
Overall 36 · seat 18 × 16 1/2 · seat height 18
Rake 0.0° · slope 0.0° · crest setback 0 · rear post 36
Miter 0.00° · bevel 0.00°. Diagonals of the seat frame must match.
A Front postB Rear postC Side seat railD Front seat railE Rear seat railF Lower back railG Crest railH Back slatI Side stretcherJ Front stretcherK Rear stretcherL Plywood seatM Corner block
Cut list
| Letter | Part | Qty | Finished | Blank | Joint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Front post Class-handout length. Seat height on the elevation is 18 in; this post stops 1 in under the rail top. | 2 | 1 1/2 × 1 1/2 × 17 | 1 1/2 × 1 3/4 × 18 | mortise_tenon_haunched |
| B | Rear post Class-handout blank, wider than the finished stick even at 0° rake. Mortises 3/8 in from the outside face. Cut joinery while the post is square. | 2 | 1 1/2 × 1 1/2 × 40 1/2 | 1 1/2 × 3 1/4 × 41 | mortise_tenon_haunched |
| C | Side seat rail Includes 5/16 × 3/4 tenons each end. Square shoulders on this preset. | 2 | 1 × 2 3/4 × 17 | 1 × 3 × 18 | mortise_tenon_haunched |
| D | Front seat rail Includes 5/16 × 3/4 tenons. Groove 3/8 × 3/8, 3/8 down from the top. | 1 | 1 × 2 3/4 × 16 1/4 | 1 × 3 × 17 1/4 | mortise_tenon_haunched |
| E | Rear seat rail Includes 5/16 × 3/4 tenons. Same groove as the front rail. | 1 | 1 × 2 3/4 × 16 1/4 | 1 × 3 × 17 1/4 | mortise_tenon_haunched |
| F | Lower back rail 1/4 × 3/4 tenons. | 1 | 3/4 × 2 × 16 1/4 | 3/4 × 2 1/4 × 17 1/4 | mortise_tenon |
| G | Crest rail 1/4 × 3/4 tenons into the rear posts. | 1 | 3/4 × 2 1/2 × 16 1/4 | 3/4 × 2 3/4 × 17 1/4 | mortise_tenon |
| H | Back slat Stub tenons into crest and lower back rail. | 2 | 1/2 × 4 1/2 × 15 7/8 | 1/2 × 4 3/4 × 16 7/8 | mortise_tenon |
| I | Side stretcher Box stretcher. 3/4 × 1-1/2 section. | 2 | 3/4 × 1 1/2 × 16 1/2 | 3/4 × 1 3/4 × 17 1/2 | mortise_tenon |
| J | Front stretcher Box stretcher. | 1 | 3/4 × 1 1/2 × 16 1/2 | 3/4 × 1 3/4 × 17 1/2 | mortise_tenon |
| K | Rear stretcher Same span as the front stretcher on this square plan. | 1 | 3/4 × 1 1/2 × 16 1/2 | 3/4 × 1 3/4 × 17 1/2 | mortise_tenon |
| L | Plywood seat Drops into a 3/8 × 3/8 groove, 3/8 down. Cut to finished size. | 1 | 1/2 × 17 × 17 3/8 | 1/2 × 17 × 17 3/8 | groove_panel |
| M | Corner block Glue and screw. One under each seat corner. | 4 | 3/4 × 2 1/2 × 3 1/2 | 3/4 × 2 3/4 × 4 | chair_corner_block |
Hardware and cost
- Corner-block screws — 8 screws (1 box). Glue as well. Long grain of each block runs into both rails.
- Felt glides — 4. Nail-on or stick-on. Plastic if this chair ever sees a porch.
- Wood pins — Optional, drawbore. Shaker often pins the mortise and tenon. Cut them from scrap.
6.77 board feet of blanks, 8.81 with waste. Estimate $115.91. Not a quote.
Build
- Mock up the seat plan full size on paper or MDF, and a side-rake story stick from the template.
- Mill the posts square. Mark every mortise from the seat plan.
- Cut all mortises while the posts are still square. Do not taper through a mortise.
- Cut the rail tenons. Cut the compound shoulders from the paper template, not from a guessed machine angle.
- Dry-fit the seat frame. Diagonals of the seat frame must match. Check both seat widths.
- Cut the rear-post rake and any taper only after the mortises are done.
- Fit the crest, the lower back rail, and the slats or splat.
- Glue in stages: two side assemblies, then the front and rear rails. Diagonals must still match.
- Glue and screw the corner blocks while the frame is still in the clamps if you can, or as soon as it comes out square.
- Drop the plywood seat into the groove after the frame is glued.
- No arms on this chair.
- Fit the stretchers with the side assemblies if they were not already in the glue-up.
- No rockers.
- Finish the wood. Felt glides last.