Dining table chair, reclaimed materials

[Resolutionuk]

Hello, I would really appreciate some feedback please. I made a dining table few weeks back and I posted a question regarding wood shrinkage, which was evident due to it being made of reclaimed materials, which is my preferred choice of material.

I made my first ever dining chair, which is at varnishing stage currently. I have purposely made it to allow for wood shrinkage and immfairly happy with my attempt. Three more chairs to go which I'm going to design slightly different as I want to build a catalog different styles. It sits level on the floor with no uneven foot wobble. There is no movement in the material and joints. Feels extremely solid. I'm no lightweight and I've stood on it doing my best booty shake to prove to myself it won't wobble at the joints and legs and it hasn't. A worry I had was the 5 degree angle on the rear legs and if the balance would be any good, but it also seems steady as a rock so I'm very happy.

Would love your more experienced feedback please, on design, changes that could be suggested and any tips that would be helpful. I'm new to this game at this level and I'm teaching myself, but I am hoping to make some business from this new adventure which is why I'm looking for feedback to either boost my confidence or help point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance

 

[morturn]

I personally like the look of that chair, however the first most important question is, how does it feel to sit on?

Once you get a good base to start, you can then develop your ideas.

 

[John15]

For strength your chair would benefit from lower side rails and the use of mortice and tenon joints.

Hope that helps,

John

 

[Resolutionuk]

I personally like the look of that chair, however the first most important question is, how does it feel to sit on?

Once you get a good base to start, you can then develop your ideas.

It feels good. I'm gona do a couple more designs only wood, and another with cushioning and fabric.

 

[Resolutionuk]

For strength your chair would benefit from lower side rails and the use of mortice and tenon joints.

Hope that helps,

John

Mortise and tensions will go in as I develop in skills, good pointer though. I considered the lower side rails to strengthen. It's a lap joint which isn't visible on the rear and is holding very well but the next ones are likely to have the side rails

 

[Resolutionuk]

Is a mortise that strong? The wood I'm using is a reclaimed softwood and approximate dimensions of each piece are width 65mm depth 16mm. Isn't that abit small for a strong mortise joint?

 

[Resolutionuk]

After varnishing, one coat left.

 

[timbo614]

I hope you don't mind me saying so but I prefered the look before the varnish. It has a sort of "bleached" look like it had washed up out of the sea.
What is the wood being reclaimed from?

 

[Resolutionuk]

I hope you don't mind me saying so but I prefered the look before the varnish. It has a sort of "bleached" look like it had washed up out of the sea.
What is the wood being reclaimed from?

I'm happy with positive n negative comments. If I didn't have both I wouldn't be able to improve my work. It's a clear satin varnish so don't think it's had a massive impact. More to the fact I think it's about six hours difference in daylight and the varnished picture is indoors so the exposure and white balance should be completely different resulting in what we see in the photographs I'm guessing, although it is aliitle darker from the varnish. My reclaimed wood store is a mass of wood from all backgrounds, pallets local and inported, barn cladding, telegraph poles etc. Anything I can get my hands on ready that's suitable and reusable. I'm pretty sure the majority of this stuff on this kind of project is imported pallet wood.