How to Make Tables & Chairs

Making tables and chairs is a craft that can take a lifetime to perfect. Each style of furniture, and each wood grain, has certain traits that need to be taken into consideration. There are many universal techniques used in the construction of all tables and chairs. Learning these will put you well on your way to becoming an expert craftsman. The best way to get started is to buy a simple set of plans and follow them carefully, learning basic techniques as you go. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Choose a plan. Even if it is as simple as a sketch with a few dimensions for a picnic table, map out your work. Start with something simple to build confidence. When looking for more advanced plans, choose plans that are clear and easy to understand. Plans with material and tool recommendations can shortcut much of the work, and detailed scale drawings can help to avoid confusion.

2

Read the plan and make a list of each step, including the materials and tools needed. If you are new to the process, make note of anything you don't understand and search online, at the library, or ask a fellow craftsman to explain it. Make sure you understand each step, on at least a basic level before proceeding to the next step. Tricky steps in chair and table plans may involve intricate leg cuts, or assembling the piece. If you simply cannot understand a plan, choose a simpler one to start.

3

Compile the tools and materials list and gather up the needed items. For large expensive tools, borrow or rent until you can afford to purchase. Tool rental houses rent by the hour or day, so find out who has one and plan to pick it up on the day you will need it. Store materials in a dry area out of sunlight. Lumber should be stacked off the floor and well supported to prevent warping.

4

Make a cut ticket. This is a list of every piece you need to cut out. Break it into steps for each tool that will be used. Create a list of things to be cut to length using the miter saw, a list of things to be cut to size or ripped to width on the table saw, a list of things to be bored, and a list of things to be shaped on the band saw.

5

Start cutting with largest pieces first. Always measure twice and cut once. This will help to prevent waste and create usable, accurate parts. Finish all pieces with one tool setup before moving onto the next. Eg: cut legs to length all at one time. This saves time and prevents mistakes.

6

Machine cut parts. This includes boring for fasteners or dowels, cuts made in the formation of joints, routing, shaping, or any other process that is needed to complete the parts. Use the same method here, complete that step with all parts before resetting your tools, measure twice and cut, drill, or shape once. Build jigs, or other aids to make long or frequent processes easier. A jig that holds a piece in place, or guides a tool, may take fifteen minutes to build, but save three or four minutes on each part you do that process on, saving you more time than it costs.

7

Sand all pieces thoroughly before assembly. This allows you to even out the grain and smooth any roughness, even in areas that will become less accessible once assembled. Focus on details such as table tops, chair seats, legs and other highly visible surfaces. Use 150 grit sandpaper, on most woods, for this pass.

8

Assemble parts into components. On tables this may be the legs and the skirt that supports the top, then the top. For chairs, this could be the leg assembly, then the back, then the arms. Study your plans and learn to recognize when assembling more than one part to attach to the whole will aid in assembly. Assemble these smaller sections into the whole project starting from the ground up. Use wood glue at every joint, even if it will also have another fastener, such as a nail or screw. This will create a piece that will outlast you. Use clamps carefully, pad metal clamps with squares of cardboard to prevent dings. Allow adequate drying time for the glue, typically three to four hours is sufficient, overnight is better. Assemble multiple components at a time when practical, all the arms for a set of chairs, for example, much like you did with your part cutting.

9

Sand the chair or table down with 220 grit sandpaper to prepare it for finish. Apply stain or paint with a sift bristle brush. Always work with a well loaded brush to keep a wet edge on your finish. Work in long, straight strokes, overlapping to get the finish as even as possible. Wipe excess stain with a clean, soft, lint-free rag. Allow stain and paint to dry according to the label. Apply additional coats as recommended.

10

Apply clear finish over stain in the same way, once the stain has dried. Spread the finish in a moderate thick coat to get a clear, even shine spreading as evenly as possible to avoid runs and drips.