The Making of a Forged Iron Chair

A finished Café Chair

Chris Shea making a forged chair: A finished CafÈ Chair Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Original design sketch

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Original design sketch Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Full-scale shop drawing

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Full-scale shop drawing Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Chris Shea at the power hammer

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Chris Shea at the power hammer Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Steel pipe will become a chair leg

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Steel pipe will become a chair leg Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Partially forged pipe

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Partially forged pipe Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Shaping hot metal under mechanical hammer blows

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Shaping hot metal under mechanical hammer blows Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Partially forged chair leg

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Partially forged chair leg Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Steel bar for back frame of chair

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Steel bar for back frame of chair Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

The first chisel mark of a mortise and tenon joint

Chris Shea making a forged chair: The first chisel mark of a mortise and tenon joint Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Heating the steel in a coal fire

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Heating the steel in a coal fire Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Chiseling through hot steel

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Chiseling through hot steel Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

The hammer drives the chisel

Chris Shea making a forged chair: The hammer drives the chisel Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

The steel bar pierced through

Chris Shea making a forged chair: The steel bar pierced through Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Driving in a round drift

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Driving in a round drift Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

The drift shapes the mortise to accept a round tenon

Chris Shea making a forged chair: The drift shapes the mortise to accept a round tenon Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

The hot mortise ready for refining

Chris Shea making a forged chair: The hot mortise ready for refining Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Refining by hammer on the anvil

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Refining by hammer on the anvil Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

A mortise completed

Chris Shea making a forged chair: A mortise completed Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Mortised bar is bent to shape hot against a steel jig

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Mortised bar is bent to shape hot against a steel jig Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

The chair-back frame bent to shape and cooled

Chris Shea making a forged chair: The chair-back frame bent to shape and cooled Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

The central spine of the chair-back completely forged

Chris Shea making a forged chair: The central spine of the chair-back completely forged Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Frame and spine ready for steel ribs to be forged and fitted

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Frame and spine ready for steel ribs to be forged and fitted Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Trial assembly with ribs in place

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Trial assembly with ribs in place Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

All pieces ready for final assembly

Chris Shea making a forged chair: All pieces ready for final assembly Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

Heating a tenon with an oxygen/acetylene torch

Chris Shea making a forged chair: Heating a tenon with an oxygen/acetylene torch Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

All tenons and rivets must be hammered down hot to set each joint

Chris Shea making a forged chair: All tenons and rivets must be hammered down hot to set each joint Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image

The finished chair

Chris Shea making a forged chair: The finished chair Chris Shea making a forged chair: click to get larger image
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