Club Night Report

Wednesday 13th February 2013

An evening with Paul Hayden, Bodger and Chairmaker - observations by Brian Oram

Paul started his demonstration with a piece of green Ash the length of a chair leg, using two special axes he chopped it in half then reduced it in stages to a rough round of about 2" in diameter. Then using and ancient form of holding bench called a 'shaving horse' and a draw knife further rounded it.
This was mounted on his treadle Pole Lathe, then treadling with one leg and using sharp but basic chisels turned it to a round. Using the 'Golden Mean' of one to point six ratio, the work was marked out. The beads and shoulder shapes then turned. The work comes off the lathe to a finished standard.

Making the seat shape with special curved planes - travisher, and an adze (long handled axe) was explained. And then the underside was marked out by eye for drilling the legs and back support holes. Paul has a special boring machine/ jig for the actual drilling.
Paul explained the steam bending equipment he uses and the technique of bending the back top or arch. Finally, the process of 'levelling' the chair was shown.

Having done a lot of steam bending myself I thought that he did not give sufficient emphasis to the difficulties and dangers of handling and bending wood at a temperature of 100 degrees centigrade.
It was an interesting insight into ancient skills and art but not anything we could take home and use in our own workshop.

Brian Oram
14th February 2013

A couple of other comments from Club Members:

"The demonstrator was very good, his passion for his work really came across"

"Even though I have no intention of ever making a chair - Paul was very entertaining, very knowledgeable and very skilled - a great night"

The Show 'n' Tell Theme for the evening was "A Goblet" - here is a selection of the items displayed:







Winning Entry for February 2013 This goblet was made in three pieces - Bubinga and Walnut, and stands 11 1/4" tall
(Thanks to Ron Headon for the photographs)