THE HANDY MAN’S CORNER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 10

THE HANDY MAN’S CORNER.

MAKING RUSTIC GARDEN FURNITURE.

Rustic garden furniture makes an appeal to all lovers of outdoor life. The first sketch shows a straightforward table and a comfortable armchair. Stress is laid on the comfort because in so many chains of this kind it is generally lacking! In this case comfort is assured by arranging the back so that it tilts backwards at a suitable angle, the seat thus being several inches higher at the front than at the back. Convenient dimensions aie: Height of seat at front, ISiii ; width, 18in • top of back to ground, 46in. These are not arbitrary sizes, and can be modified as desired. * But when making the seat it should be noted that these dimensions refer to the seat surface and the width and depth between the inner sides of Hie rustic work. The outside dimensions will, of course, be greater.

Commence operations by chalking on the floor of the workshop, or other workin;; space, a full size outline of the chair as seen from one side. Then select some clean, fairly straight poles of suitable sizes, say, 2in in diameter for the main uprights and cross bearers for the seats, and about in diameter for the rest of the work. Hunt out a nicely curved piece to act as the top cross member at the back. Cut the pieces to correct lengths and fashion the requisite joints. This is readily done with a sharp axe or billhook, —the kind known as a hand-bill being the best for the purpose. The easiest wav to go about the work with the joints is to form flat places on th? timbers where they are to be joined, and nail them securely together afterwards. A better plan is to make a keved joint, as shown in Fig. 3, by cutting a slot across the face of one part and making a tongue or

(Special for the Otago Witness.) protection, (as at B, Fig. 3) on the other, the whole being secured by a iin diameter, slightly tapered oak dowel peg as shown at A in Fig. 3. This peg is merely driven home' tightly through and into the two parts as shown. z -Another good strong joint is shown in ~4 (partly in section), where it will be seen that flat places are formed on

each part and the whole united by a stout brass screw. Proceed now to make your two side frames; next add the cross pieces and diagonal braces, as indicated in Fig. 1, and fill in the seat back with smooth round poles. The table is easily made, and is carried out on the same lines by making two side frames complete and

joining then with the cross pieces. The top is preferably made up of numerous narrow flat battens of ordinary timber; thus ensuring a level surface. The narrow gaps, too, permit rain water readily to drain away. Hie reclining chair or lounge, Fig 2, is something of a novelty in rustic garden .uiniture. It is easy to make, and is a peasant resting place. It is made of rour long stout poles, in diameter, fastened together a,s shown to form a hug flattened X shape Here again the best method of procedure ir, to make the two sides, fasten them together by the cross pieces ; nd diagonal braces, and to add the awning or sunshade at the head. Iwo cross pieces should be placed parallel to each other between the Lshapeo part at the centre, and lie secured by several bindings of strong copper wire, as this part has to take a good deal of strain. The end cross pieces should either be fitted into natural forked ends as shown or be secured by a stout hardwood peg. The seat is made with the staves from a disused barrel : they are fixed between two pairs of "ropes attached to the end cross members and are spaced bv blocks of square sectioned wood about 2|i.n long which are held in place (as shown at A in Fig. 2) bv a seizing or binding of wire or stout cord, flip staves are set with their curved surfaces downwards and are. slightly notched on then- top upper edges to ’ grip the ropes. They are firmly held bv the binding. as the spacer blocks should only be iibout half the thickness of the staves this arrangement makes a weatherproof, durable seat, nicely curved and very comfortable when covered with a rug or a few cushions. Stain or paint the woodwork as desired.