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Building a Roorkhee chair is one thing. Assembling it without looking like a lowly private is quite another.
In the October 2012 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine, I showed you how to build the chair, however there wasn’t enough space to show you how to best strap the thing together in the field. Everyone who has tried it has succeeded – it’s not that hard – but it takes a few times before you can do it with panache. And with a cup of tea in one hand.
I’m assembling six Roorkhee chairs this weekend to send out to customers and shot this short video for them – and for you – to show you how I assemble them.
I’m sure someone out there has an even faster or classier way to do this. If so speak up.
— Christopher Schwarz
For more on campaign furniture, see Chris’s article in the August 2012 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine.
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I just got the newest issue just for this plan! I wanted to ask about wood choice. I have access to walnut locally and would rather not use oak or the much pricier mahogany. I wondered if walnut would be a viable option.
I was pleasantly surprised by the Blue Grass Music in the background. Wonderful choice. Don’t hear that too much up in Michigan. Keep it up Chris !
I don’t mean to be a negative nancy, but that’s an awful lot of steps to assemble a portable chair. Is there an intermediate level of breakdown for storage after you’ve put it together the first time, so that it’s not so involved to set up afterwards?
I see that in the video you are assembling a chair with the belt straps on the seat support (like the last pic in the article) vs. the 2 leg straps in the main article (and cover picture). Is it just a case of one being easier to make, and the other easier to assemble? Or is there much of a difference?
Happy Canadian Thanks Giving! (We celebrate early because by late November it’s just way too cold to be thankful for anything…)
I must be missing something. I thought that by the time you had dismounted and walked into your tent, your chair, along with all of your other furnishings, would have been assembled and arranged “just so” by your manservants, no?
-Steve
Been meaning to ask, what kind of vise is that on the end of the bench? I saw a similar one the other day at a flea market…you like?