Products From The Mind of Chris Wong
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Being able to cut a dovetail joint using only hand tools has become recognized as a level of achievement. But there are other reasons to learn how to cut joinery by hand besides proving yourself and, for me, the biggest reason is being able to deal with unique situations. The joint below on the left … Continue reading Why I Value the Ability to Cut Joints By Hand
Recently, I have been thinking a lot about chair designs. Last week, I wrote about my wishes for a modern chaise longue sofa and that got me thinking about why I liked that particular form. I decided that it was partly due to my admiration of the elegant form, and my appreciation of the function. … Continue reading Purpose Helps Define a Design
On June 30th, with other projects in the shop wrapping up, I realized that I had three weeks until Port Moody Celebration of Wood Woodfair. I knew that I wanted to have some new work for the show and got the idea to design a chair. That night I started prototyping. Previously, I posted a review … Continue reading Three-Week Chair, Prototype #4
On June 30th, with other projects in the shop wrapping up, I realized that I had three weeks until Port Moody Celebration of Wood Woodfair. I knew that I wanted to have some new work for the show and got the idea to design a chair. That night I started prototyping. Previously, I posted a review … Continue reading Three-Week Chair, Prototype #3
On June 30th, with other projects in the shop wrapping up, I realized that I had three weeks until Port Moody Celebration of Wood Woodfair. I knew that I wanted to have some new work for the show and got the idea to design a chair. That night I started prototyping. I posted a review of … Continue reading Three-Week Chair, Prototype #2
On June 30th, with other projects in the shop wrapping up, I realized that I had three weeks until Port Moody Celebration of Wood Woodfair. I knew that I wanted to have some new work for the show and got the idea to design a chair. That night I started taking some measurements, and the … Continue reading Three-Week Chair, Prototype #1
One of the most common questions I am asked is how I flatten the large pieces of wood I often use in my work. This table top, for example, is approximately 45 inches wide and 96 inches long. Machinery is Not the Answer Perhaps one of the quickest ways to surface a board is to … Continue reading Flattening Big Pieces of Wood
This table is for sale and has just been added to my Gallery. It is one piece which almost never happened. An Odd Start, If You Could Even Call it a Start A few years ago, my wood guy, Dave Kilpatrick, stopped by unexpectedly. From his trailer, he unloaded a live-edged slab of maple roughly … Continue reading Some Ideas Require Great Patience and an Open Mind
One of the questions I am frequently asked is how I achieve such smooth, even surfaces. Planing and sanding are two methods of removing material and smoothing surfaces. Each technique is completely valid and has its advantages and disadvantages. When deciding which to use, consider the following. Plane when: you want to achieve a flat … Continue reading Sanding vs. Planing
Some of my recent designs have involved complex angled joinery, such as the base of this table inspired by a sketch by Vic Hubbard. I was having a hard time visualizing in my head how the joinery would work, so I built a prototype to help me understand. Since it's only a prototype to explore the mechanics … Continue reading The Value of Prototyping
