Going with the Grain by Mike Abbott
Product Description
Latest book from Mike Abbott, subtitled 'Making Chairs in the 21st century'
This is what the back cover says:
This book is about how to make a chair - simply and with tools you can easily obtain or construct for yourself.
When in 1985, Mike Abbott started running courses using the traditional tools and techniques of the Victorian chair-bodgers, many people said it was time he moved into the 20th C. Following the success of his first two books Green Woodwork and Living Wood, Mike's third book shows that he has now moved happily and unashamedly straight into the 21st Century.
With the help of over 600 colour photographs he guides you step-by-step, through:
* The tools and techniques needed for cleaving, shaping and assembling a chair
* Constructing a few simple homemade devices to aid the process
* Making 3 stools and 3 chairs, each with its own unique character
Going with the Grain is not written for cabinet-makers (although they are welcome to read it too) - the techniques described in this book have much in common with cabinet-making, as does a jacket pototo with haute cuisine. It is written for anyone who shares Mike's passion for trees and wood and is interested in getting to know them better through the fulfilling process of turning a tree into their very own chair.
Additional notes
This is kind of 'back to basics' for Mike Abbott. In the early part of Mike's venturing into green woodworking, more than 25 years ago, he was very influenced by American chair maker John Alexander (to whom the term 'green woodworking' is attributed). John Alexander's chairs are made entirely without the pole lathe and assembled from green wood.
Like the book Mike, but sorry, not so keen on the new shavehorse design.