Woodworker West (May-June, 2013)

isn’t obvious at first glance, but it makes the chairs inviting and a
lot harder to make the sides. One of the lessons this furniture has
taught me is the importance of making good parts; how careful I
am in the initial milling—getting everything square and the correct
size—determines whether the rest of the project will be fun
or a nightmare.
What can you tell us about fuming furniture with ammonia?
I’ve done it some, but it is dangerous and unpredictable. Looking
at fumed and dyed pieces side by side, it can be hard to tell the
difference. After about 1905, Stickley switched to early versions of
aniline dye stains and lacquer. If you fume, you learn to touch up
with dyes and colored shellac.
What is your preferred method for precise measuring? Do you use
calipers? Story sticks?
I have a curious mix of methods. I like to
make a story stick at the beginning of a
project, then put the tape measure away.
I’d be helpless without my Starrett combination
square, and I use fractional dial calipers
a lot when I’m fitting joints and milling
parts. Good parts equal good furniture.
My background is in production work, so
that’s the way I think. I want to be right in
the beginning, not patching up at the end.
Can A&C furniture look good in other
woods or other stains?
There’s a lot to be said about getting to
know the wood. The clock I’m making is
turning into six clocks, because I couldn’t
decide on a single color combination.
Do you think A&C aesthetics are burned
into the American psyche?
I think so. It’s something uniquely American,
kind of like jazz or rock & roll. It is a big part
of the culture, and I think it came back to
life in the late 1970s. I also think it’s a good
antidote to our current cultural condition. I
think our eyes develop with the more pieces
we look at.
how do you feel about taking liberties with
Stickley’s designs?
Adaptations are possible and can be excellently
done; but, what happens is, designers
tend to take the easy way out. Instead of
really knowing the style, they pick a few
details, like spindles, and slap them on any
old thing.
I think the original design aesthetic is an
excellent starting point for improvisation. If
you don’t like dark Oak, make it in Cherry. If
it looks too heavy to your eye, lighten it up.
Today’s Stickley furniture is very high quality
in its manufacture, but a couple of things do
bother me. Their line is a mix of authentic
pieces and new designs, and they really
aren’t clear about which is which. And they
have gone overboard with the Harvey Ellis
inlays, which are cheap to produce now,
thanks to CNC machines.
how would you sum up Stickley’s legacy?
I think one of Gustav Stickley’s big contributions
was nailing basic forms. One of my
favorite quotes of his is along the lines of
“...a table doesn’t try to be a chair.” He was a
master of proportion, sizing furniture parts in relation to each other
and to the pieces as a whole. It isn’t in your face, and it’s easy to miss.
There’s also a lot to be said for the sturdiness of the stuff. I often
think, when I first assemble something, that if a tornado comes,
I’m getting under there. I think he put together an entire package.
It makes a difference to the quality of your life if you’re surrounded
by solid, honest, well-made furniture. I think the world would be a
better place if more people built their own furniture. My son has a
different mindset than a lot of his friends, in part because he grew
up in a house where his dad made most of the furniture.
Bob’s new blog is at www.readWatchDo.com. You can buy his
books and large-format plans at www.CraftsmanPlans.com.
Participate in future surveys at WoodCentral.com
Demand more from your CNC
woodworking investment.
One CNC routing system, so many problems solved.
Other CNC Router manufacturers expect you to live with only three axis’
of control and a fl at worktable. Legacy’s vision of CNC is much different.
With one of our hybrid turning/milling CNC woodworking systems you
will be able to create; simple and complex turnings, inlays, 3D carvings
on fl at stock or wrapped around a turning, mill production parts, carve
signs, mill complex cabinet and spindle joinery, and more.
Learn more at:
www.legacycncwoodworking.com
May-June, 2013 Woodworker West Page 11