Making Classic Chairs: A Craftsman's Chippendale Reference (Paperback)

~ Ron Clarkson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In over 300 photographs, every aspect of design and construction through to carving details is covered. Ron painstakingly documents each step of the carving process to ensure your success, including the carving of a striking "hairy paw" foot. Start your project with the actual measured drawings of the Chippendale chair. A splendid accompanying full color gallery chapter showcases this fine furniture for close-up study. Ron's easy reading text and comprehensive step-by-step technique section will make building these beautiful chairs easy - right from the start.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565230817
• ISBN-13: 978-1565230811
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #616,947 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars addendum to my previous review, January 25, 2000

By	FRANCISCO TESTOR FDEZ DE C (Santiago Chile) - See all my reviews

I recommended to buy the plans for the chair. I forgot to say the plans lack of simmetry, hence, use the left hand side for reference to make the templates otherwise you will end up with mismatched pieces!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting book, but beware of errors., May 13, 1998

By	FRANCISCO TESTOR FDEZ DE C (Santiago Chile) - See all my reviews

I am presently building the chair explained in the book. The book is very well written an helpful if you have never built a chair before, but beware there are many (many although the author does not recognize the mistakes) mistakes in the measurements. MEASURE TWICE- READ ALL THE REFERENCES in the book which relate to each piece, or you will have to buy extra wood to recover from these mistakes. There is a set of plans for the chair which you MUST buy or from the tiny pictures from the book will not be able to accomplish the project.

The book itself has plenty of pictures (all black and white except for a gallery of chairs). The cover seems to deliver better quality pictures than it actually does.

The title should say "Building A classic chair" since it only explains how to build just one model. But remember, get the plans, and re-read the book back and forward before cutting any part and buying the wood.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book, July 19, 2003

By A Customer

This is a fantastic book despite the false claim on the ball and claw foot on the back cover, as the author does not show the reader how to carve a ball and claw foot anywhere in the book, only the hairy paw carving is shown in detail. It is certainly the best chair making book I have seen.
I highly recommend this book.