. ASSEMBLING THE CHAIR

GLUING UP THE FRONT AND BACK ASSEMBLIES

Spreading the glue

A frame chair is assembled in two steps: First, the back and front leg assemblies are glued up separately, as shown above and on page 48, then the leg assemblies are joined with the side seat rails (page 49). Start by test-fitting the chair com­ponents—the legs, the crest and back rails, the seat rails, and the slats. Use a chisel to pare away excess wood from any excessively tight joints. If you will be screwing the chair seat to

the seat rails, drill the holes through the rails (page 77). Once the rails are ready, cut a half-dozen wood clamping pads, pre­pare three bar clamps, then apply glue to the joints of the rear leg assembly. Using a small, stiff-bristled brush, spread adhe­sive on the rail tenons and in their leg mortises (above). Do not apply any glue on the slats or in their rail mortises; the slats must be free to move.

2 Gluing up the rear leg assembly

Assemble the back rest, fitting the slats into their mortises in the back and crest rails, then insert the rail tenons into their mortises in one of the rear legs; take care to keep the slats in place. Next, slip the back seat rail into place in the leg, fit the other rear leg onto the rails and tap the assembly together with a wooden mallet; use a striking block to prevent marring the stock. Install the clamps across the three rails, protect­ing the legs with the pads. Tighten the clamps a little at a time (above) until a thin bead of glue squeezes out of the joints. [1]

GLUING UP THE CHAIR

1 Gluing the side seat rails to the rear legs

Once the adhesive in the two leg assemblies has cured, remove the clamps and glue the assemblies together with the side seat rails. Assemble the chair on a perfectly flat surface, such as a saw table. Start by clamping a board as long as the front of the chair is wide to the back face of the back seat rail; this clamping board will help you keep the chair square as you assemble it. Set the rear leg assembly on its back, then spread glue on the side rail tenons (right) and in their mortises in the legs. Fit the rails into the rear legs. [2]