Hi Everyone
I am looking on the web for plans to build a basic wood frame for parsons chairs..I found one on e how but there were no illiustrations .
Does anyone know where I can find plans to build the frames ?
I've never made anything from plans at this place, but it appears to be popular with the crafty, DIY, HGTV, Pinterest types
http://ana-white.com/2010/11/plans/parson-chair-plans
I took a brief look at this plan. I'm not sure I'd make them from construction studs. I'm also mixed on the ideas on joinery. Chairs, pound-for-pound, take more abuse than any other piece of furniture. No other 10 pound piece of furniture gets loaded with 250 pounds then slid across a carpeted floor or *gasp* leaned back on the back two legs. Further complicated by wanting to keep them light and most of the joints are not square.
Elsie:
Mike802 is our resident furniture building expert. If you have never seen his work you should check out his website.
Mike is what I would call a master craftsman. His work is astounding and he has many videos on how he makes things on youtube.
Here is his web site - http://mjamsdenfurniture.com/ (http://mjamsdenfurniture.com/)
Here are some of his videos - http://www.youtube.com/user/mjamsdenfurniture (http://www.youtube.com/user/mjamsdenfurniture)
Hopefully Mike will see this and comment for you. If not contact him via PM or e-mail. he is very helpful and is always willing to share his skills. He is one heck of a great guy. :)
Chris
Elsie, Why not just buy some frames either at a thrift store or on line here
http://www.chervan.com/product_pgs/parsonchair_media/parsonchair-dc.html
I'm sure you could build this frame yourself but if your woodworking skills are like mine (slow) the cost would not pay for itself. This company has been around many years and the few times I've used them I have been very happy. They also sell their frames knocked down in a neat little box.
Good luck.
I was thinking along the thrift store line myself. Find the style that you like, and bust it apart for a pattern.
I've looked into the idea of building custom pieces before. I just can't see a profit in it unless you're set up for big volume production. Just a few pieces here and there.......not worth the trouble.
That Chervan catalog is nice, but you have to have the right customer that is willing to pay enough markup to cover the cost. I've bid a few jobs based on ordering the knockdown or pre-built frames from Chervan, but never got any of them.
When customers come into a small one-man shop, they have the gross misconception that
you can custom build them a piece of furniture cheaper than a "cookie cutter" piece from a local discount furniture chain.
But if I were going to semi-mass produce anything, it would be something like Parson chairs, or round ottomans, or headboards.
Building a parsons frame shouldn't be all that difficult. Its just a seat frame and back, arms as required. I was always skeptical of "building from scratch" but I just finished a 2 pc. custom sectional and it took me 16 hours to build them. Plus shopping time for the wood. Came out excellent and I'd do it again. Many years of modifying frames and repairing them I'm sure made the work easier. But if you understand frame construction it should get you going and there is nothing like looking at a piece and thinking wholly Crap I built that LOL.
Good luck.
Thanks everyone !! I'll check all of this out..I haven't been on here much but I sure appreciate the advice ! Its good to know everyone on here has ways of getting good infomation I'm not a big computer whiz lol
Thanks again !!