I Build Willow Chairs for Pleasure and Profit

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Note: Throughout construction, choose your nails so that they'll just reach through the two pieces of willow you're joining, since it's nearly impossible to clinch an overlong nail without bruising the wood's surface.

Now make another, complementary chair half as described above . . . but be sure it is complementary. I've been known to make two right sides (or two lefts) by accident. It's easier to do than you think!

When both halves are finished, stand them up side by side?rungs to the outside?about 18" apart (for a medium?size chair), then connect the two assemblies with a crossmember at a spot just above the highest rungs at the front of the chair. (You'll need a third arm or an assistant for this. See Photo 4.) Also place crosspieces [1] just beneath the front overhang of the topmost rungs, and [2] just above the front overhang of the bottommost rungs. (To avoid splitting the wood, always nail these crossmembers to the legs. . . not to the rungs.)

Now?moving around to the back of the chair?nail one crosspiece to the open side of the frame atop the lower set of rungs, and another crosspiece atop the upper set of rungs. When you're done, there ought to be three parallel crossmembers at the front of the frame, two at the rear, and a pair of rungs on either side.

To complete the frame, nail a double?long piece of stock?28", in the case of a medium?size chair-across the back of the chair, midway up the backrest (and do note the extra cut-to-length spacer that I like to tack to the front of this piece between the uprights of the chair's back). Then place an identical piece across the top of the two rear uprights. These crossmembers have considerable overhang (5" to 6" on either side of the chair) so they can accommodate the arm and headrest willows later on.

BRACING

The next order of business is to add braces to the somewhat rickety chair frame.

First, wobble the frame around until it sits squarely and evenly on all four legs. Then carefully lay it on its side and place a brace between a spot high on the inside of the front leg and a spot low on the inside of the rear leg. (In other words, nail the stiffener to the inside?not the outside?of the chair's frame.)

Next, lay the frame on its opposite side and add another brace in the manner just described. (Further bracing is unnecessary, since the arms and headrest will lend additional stiffness in other directions.)

Now's a good time to check the security of all framing members and add extra nails where needed. Grip and twist each run or crosspiece, and?if there's any movement?add another nail.

So far, you will have used 11 of the 14 mid-length framing members you started with. The remaining three 21" pieces?which will be used as seat supports?are best left off until the arms and headrest are finished.

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