| A continuing trend in modern furniture design has been | | | | opposite corners. Provided your two side panels |
| the sacrificing of comfort for economy and space. | | | | match exactly in size, you can clamp them together |
| While agreeing that those huge Victorian armchairs | | | | and cut along the diagonal line to give a matching pair. |
| were really luxurious, designers today would argue that | | | | Now cut the slots in the side panels. There are two on |
| they would be very much out of place in a modern | | | | each: one houses the back panel and the other |
| house, as well as being inordinately expensive. So, | | | | houses the seat panel. Make the slot for the seat |
| designers concentrate on producing chairs which can | | | | panel first. This slot, which is 16mm wide, runs at angle, |
| easily be mass produced and which fit contemporary | | | | from a point about halfway down the front edge, to a |
| tastes. Unfortunately of course, the result of such | | | | point 368mm from the front edge. To mark it in |
| thinking is that most chairs manufactured now tend to | | | | exactly, first draw a point on the front, short edge, |
| merely ornament a room without being very | | | | 267mm from the top long edge. With a protractor set |
| comfortable. | | | | at 86° mark in the angle at which the seat panel |
| Perhaps the greatest limitation on furniture design is the | | | | meets the front edge of the side panel. Then use the |
| smallness of modern houses. To be comfortable, a | | | | two marked points to draw in a line extending 368mm |
| chair must not only be well designed, constructed and | | | | from the front short edge of the side panel. This line |
| padded, but also it must be fairly large. As few people | | | | marks the proposed location of the upper surface of |
| can afford the space for a large suite of furniture, | | | | the seat panel. To mark out the correct width of the |
| armchairs become increasingly smaller. | | | | slot, draw another point 16mm from that already |
| One answer to the problem, which has been | | | | marked on the front short edge of the side panel and, |
| developed over the last few years, is furniture which | | | | with the aid of a protractor, draw another line parallel |
| can easily and quickly be stowed away when not in | | | | to the first and 16mm from it. |
| use. Nowadays it is possible to buy inflatable chairs, | | | | Use a tenon saw to cut the slot, following the rules on |
| and more conventional chairs which can be assembled | | | | correct sawing techniques given in most DIY manuals. |
| or dismantled in a matter of seconds. It is on this latter | | | | If you cut exactly to the marked lines, you will make |
| principle that the knock-down chair has been designed. | | | | the slot slightly too wide. Instead, position the saw so |
| This chair has a very simple construction. It consists | | | | that one face is just inside and parallel to the line. |
| simply of four panels which slot together to give a | | | | When you have cut down the lines, cut out the short |
| stable assembly. Despite its simplicity, its lines are as | | | | edge of the slot with a jig saw or chisel. |
| stylish as any manufactured chair and will complement | | | | Provided both side panels have been cut to exactly |
| any living room. | | | | the same size, there is no reason why you should not |
| Materials | | | | clamp them together with all edges flush and cut out |
| Wood is used for the basic frame. Pine or some other | | | | paired slots at the same time. |
| softwood is suitable, but a satisfactory and cheaper | | | | Now mark and cut out the slots which house the back |
| alternative is 16mm plywood. As with most | | | | panel. These are 165mm long, 13mm wide, and run at |
| manufactured materials, there are different grades of | | | | an angel of 82° to the top edges of the side |
| plywood and you should choose a high quality type, | | | | panels. Use the methods detailed above to mark and |
| such as Finnish birch, which takes a very good painted | | | | cut them accurately. |
| finish on both surfaces. | | | | The seat panel has two slots cut in it, corresponding to |
| It is possible to have cushions made up for you by | | | | those cut in the front edge of the side panels. Each |
| professionals, but they are easy to make yourself | | | | slot is located 64mm from and parallel to the short |
| from rubber and the covering of your choice. | | | | sides and is 368mm in length. |
| Cutting out | | | | Two slots corresponding to those cut in the top edges |
| Cut out all the pieces to the sizes given in the cutting | | | | of the side panels are made in the back panel. They |
| list, taking care that the two side panels match exactly. | | | | are the same length - 165mm and are located 64mm |
| These pieces now have to be cut to patterns and as | | | | from, and parallel to, the short sides, and is 368mm. in |
| this work represents the major part of the | | | | length. |
| construction processes, great care should be taken. | | | | Two slots corresponding to those cut in the top edges |
| First tale the two side panels and cut out the angled | | | | of the side panels are made in the back panel. They |
| rear edge. To do this accurately, mark a line 25mm | | | | are the same length 165mm. and are located 64mm. |
| from the rear edge, then draw a line diagonally from | | | | from, and parallel to, the short sides. |