Windsor Chairmakers : Windsor sackback rocker with comb, writing arm and drawer

Writing arm and drawer.
A writing arm upon which to write. This was done originally so that the chair could be brought up to the fireplace for warmth and have a surface upon which to write. It may be on the user's left or right as you specify. A drawer for pencils and paper is provided under the seat on the same side as the writing arm.

The study of the human body dimensions, muscles, and bones. As a derriere-ologist, I have been studying derrieres all my life. After years of study, we made the patterns for the scoop in our chairs. They are deep in the back providing room for the ischele tuberisity bones that we sit on. You will not slide out of this chair.

Ordering procedure.

1. Determine generally what you want to buy.
Questions by phone are good. 800-789-5188

2. Mail a $200 deposit check to us. As we say, this seperates the serious from the curious. It also puts you on our build schedule.

3. We will mail you a written confirmation of your deposit and an invoice distilling to writing the decisions made thus far.

4. Each item we build has lists of "choices" from which a selection must be made. "Options" are optional.

5. Once you have paid your deposit, we are happy to mail you finish samples of your choosing for consideration in your light.

6. Payment in full including shipping and Maine state sales tax if applicable, must be paid by personal check prior to your build date.

7. We will build, ship, arrange and pay the shipper on your behalf, and refund any overpayment.

Cross pinned stretchers.
The cross stretcher to side stretcher and side stretcher to leg joints take a lot of stress. We therefore cross pin these joints with a 3/16" wooden dowel in addition to epoxy. We have never had one fo these joints fail.

Position
for left-handed person
for right-handed person (shown)

Turnings
Traditional (shown)
Contemporary

Knots
Yes, knots in seat
No knots please

Spindles
Some proud
All flush

Saddle on painted chair
Stained
Worn

Color
Cranberry
Patina
Raisin
Black/green
Black/blue over barn red
Custom

Antiquing
Light
Medium
Heavy

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Rocker boards. When your rocker is sitting on a carpet with a thick nap, the use of rocker boards will allow it to rock easier. They also work well on new hardwood floors where you are concerned about getting scratches.

Ash. A straight grained open pored hardwood that is stronger than oak. The strength and straight grained characteristics of ash allows the diameter at the top of spindle to be smaller without fear of it breaking. Spindles that are smaller in diameter at the top are more flexible. Spindles that are more flexible are more comfortable.

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Shipping options. Select the level of service you desire that is available for each and all the pieces in your order.

If you select a level of service that requires packing, we are happy to pack it for you for 5% of the purchase price. The cost of packing and shipping on common carrier is about the same as white glove blanket wrapped.

After shipping is complete, we will pay the shipping company on your behalf, charge that exact amount against your prepayment, and send you a refund check of any overpayment.

White glove blanket wrapped service- Furniture set up in room ready to use. No packing required.

Common carrier- Furniture will be delivered to the curb in front of your home or office. Must be packed in boxes and/or crates.

Delivery in company van in Maine- Furniture set up in your room ready to use. No packing required.

Customer pick up- From loading dock at workshop. No packing required.

Call Suzanne for quote
800-789-5188

9am - 5pm EST

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Antiquing. The combination of steps in the furniture finishing process that have as their sole objective to make the furniture look older than it really is. How much older is determined by the amount of antiquing applied. We offer antiquing in light, medium and heavy quantities.
The lowest level of antiquing is "light", not "none". There are three reasons for this.

First, try as we might to make perfect furniture with no blemishes, we can't. So, rather than promise you something that we can't do, we offer you the best that we can do.

Second, scratches and dings will happen to your furniture as you use it. if we put the first few on, as others occur, there is less anxiety which is good for you and your visitors.

Third, we think it looks more appropriate. It's like a person over forty-five having crows feet around their eyes.

Personalized comb.
One inch high capital letters and numbers may be carved into the face of the comb. We are happy to try to fit whatever you might consider. If it won't fit, we'll tell you.

Tiger maple or cherry seat.A two piece tiger maple or cherry seat is available instead of a one piece pine seat. A board twice as long as the seat is cut in half and folded around and glued to itself. This procedure results in as perfect a grain match as is possible.

Pegged.
An alternative method of securing a member in a hole when the end of the member is not exposed to receive a wedge. We use a 3/16" diameter wooden dowel for pegging.

Epoxy.
Better than glue on Windsor chairs. Glue needs to be clamped "thin" to be strong. Most Windsor chair joints are a round turning put into a cylindrical hole. Clamping from the outside of the hole is not possible. In theory, a wedge inserted into the end of the turning clamps the joint from the inside. Unfortunately, the wedge flares the end of the bow causing the bow to be tight only at one end of the hole. To solve this problem, we use epoxy which doesn't need to be clamped "thin" to hold strong. The epoxy fills the space in the joint and cures hard.

Counter bored.
Refers to a hole with a shoulder inside created by boring a hole from one direction all the way through and then a slightly larger diameter hole is bored part way through from the opposite direction.
A counter bored Windsor chair leg hole, bored on an angle to the seat, provides a shoulder all around the leg inside the seat. This is a much stronger joint than the alternative tangent shoulder method.

Lifetime guarantee. You get it to and from our shop and we'll fix it free. No time limit, no exception. If you back over your chair with a pick up truck, send the pieces and we'll fix it free. You only pay the shipping.

Shellac.
A secretion from the Lac bug in India. It is unaffected by the pitch that is present in the pine seat. We use shellac to seal the pitch into the pine seat. Pitch eats through other finishing materials such as lacquer and varnish causing blemishes in the finish.

Varnish. better than lacquer, shellac, or linseed oil as a top coat. It does not allow water to penetrate into the wood and cause a white spot. We use two coats to be surer that we have the surface entirely covered.

Knots.
Some people like the character of knots in the chair seat. We will place them where they do not affect the strength of the chair.
Some people do not like knots and this is ok. Traditionally, Windsors were usually made without knots because they are harder to carve.

Proud spindles.
Refers to our practice of leaving the tops of some of the spindles on chair protruding about 1/16" above the bow. We like this and do it to impart the appearance of age. You may have all the spindles flush on top if you want.

Color.
A list of choices. You must select one before we can build. They are all the same price.
Cranberry stain
Patina stain
Raisin stain
Black green milkpaint
Custom color

Bare bottom chair.A Windsor sackback chair that intentionally has no finish on the bottom of the seat.

We do this for wedding receptions or retirement parties. Just like a year book, anything can be written here with a ball point pen. it may never be shown to anyone after the event or shown frequently. Owner's choice. Fun is good.

Thin Spindles.
Round vertical pieces in the back of the chair that the sitter leans against. Our spindles are 5/16 inch diameter at the top. They flex more than the 3/8 inch diameter that most chairmakers make. Spindles that are more flexible at the top are more comfortable.