Making a sofa (what wood to use / preventing warping)

[Esprit242]

Hi. I'm looking to make my own sofa. The thing that Is that the designs that I've made has a thin base (the sofas in the images have the same thin base) and I feel like the wood will warp really quickly. Is there a certain wood that won't warp? Or am I just underestimating the strength of wood.

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

Those bases in the photos don't look thin to me. I would guess the timber started life as 2 inches thick, so might be something like 1 3/4 inch thick when planed, certainly no less than 1 1/2 inch, which is thick enough for the sofa. Almost any timber would do at that thickness.

Mike.

 

[Racers]

They don't look very comfortable to me are you sure that's what you want.
The backs look to low, they would be o/k for a waiting room but not for sitting on for a while.

The edge gives you the look you want, the rest can be thicker or constructed differently.

I have made all my settees so I can understand why you want to make your own, but comfort is paramount.

Pete

 

[Racers]

I posted this on another site about sofas

I have always made my own settees this is the latest one.



We also have a 3 and half seater as well, the frame is all hard wood and its clad in Pippy Oak.




The arms are removable as its impossible to get a bid settee into the lounge due to the layout of our house.

Pete

Frame of the 3 and half seater.



Pete

 

[DTR]

Nice sofas, Pete. In the photos the seat looks like it's level; does it have any cant / rake / slope / downhill-iness?

 

[Racers]

Thanks Dave.

Yes the seats are level I would put a slope in them if I did them again.
The seat base is wider than the seat cushions so you do get support for your legs.

Pete

 

[Esprit242]

They don't look very comfortable to me are you sure that's what you want.
The backs look to low, they would be o/k for a waiting room but not for sitting on for a while.

The edge gives you the look you want, the rest can be thicker or constructed differently.

I have made all my settees so I can understand why you want to make your own, but comfort is paramount.

Pete

It would be going in my bedroom so I'm not too concerned about the comfort. It's just for when family or friends are visiting so they don't have to sit on my bed. I might think about making one with a higher back

 

[JohnPW]

The edge gives you the look you want, the rest can be thicker or constructed differently.

Yes, there could be a lot of bracing or reinforements that doesn't show at normal viewing angles.