Last week, shortly after the issue of the newsletter was live, I received an email from Nick stanchenko, and Nick very kindly has shared a layout tool to us all (with his permission), that he has made, which supports several chairs, and dovetail layouts.

Currently I haven't had a great deal of time to mess about with the software, but the little I have, I must say I'm impressed.

What I like the most, is to take one of the chairs, and edit it very simply. Which allows you to see the actual proportions.

For instance, you can alter the seat width, not enough spindles in the backrest? Add more.

Change the angle of the back rest, add or remove the armrest, add more flare to the armrest spindles, and the backrest spindles.

Adjust the rake and splay of the legs, add or remove stretchers etc.

Once you have the chair looking sexy, click on layout and you'll get all the approximate size of all the components, you'll also get all the drill positions, as well as the drill angles, and sight lines.

All of this done in minutes!

How cool and easy is that! I'll 100% be using this tool in the future, on my next stick chair build.

Something i often struggle with, is the proportions of a chair, and I never know what it's going to look like, until its built, which (on my last build) lead to very unsatisfactory results.

I also tend to change things as I build, which (usually) is problematic.

Hopefully this tool will help with the above, for my chair making, and i also think that it will help many of you too.

Nick doesn't really do social media, so we can't follow him.

However, if you click on the about tab on the layout tool, there is a link to his PayPal.

If you find the tool useful, I'd suggest sending a donation (which i did) if you are able too.

I personally think this is a great tool, thank you Nick.

Click here to access the tool.

Wood porn

This weeks candy is this beautiful bench from handwerkstatt_wy.

The diamond cut/bevel were the legs meet the body, is a nice touch, which also could aid in getting good consistent drill angles, with simple jigs.

What impressed me

ujarque

View more on Instagram

The above reel, is showing a jig to split tenon cheeks quickly. 

I've never seen this before, although i have split cheeks with a chisel many times, but never in one hit.

Obviously the grain does need to be relatively straight for this to work.

Very interesting concept, click on the image to watch the reel.

Woodwork ponder

Why as woodworkers, do most of us find great satisfaction, and accomplishment in making furniture?

Is it 250,000 years of evolution using or hands to make, or is there something a little deeper occurring?

Podcast

In case you missed it, the podcast is available to those who are interested.

You can listen on Spotify here, and Apple Podcasts  here.

Think someone else will like the news letter? Share it!

Thats it for this one guys, see you next week!

Regards 

David