How to use the natural grain direction to make my curved chair components? 

Using what I learnt from making this chair, I spent more time working out the angle and height of the back on the desk chair version. 

Which became apparent was an important factor in chairs. What also helped me get the best dimensions for my ‘Boomerang’ chair was making four different styled chairs prior to making the first ‘Boomerang’ desk chair.

I happened to have a few commissions come in to make dining tables and chairs when I first started my business.

Having felt I was fully ready, I started to make the first ‘Boomerang’ chair for my first exhibition at the Lighthouse, Glasgow with the Scottish Furniture Makers Association. 

I made the first chair from Burr Elm that had been air dried about 8 years before it was put in the kiln. This meant the wood was very stable and wood movement was at a minimum when machining the chair components. I included a vacuum formed chair back in the design and a 'Boomerang' shaped curved legs at the back. Plus front curved legs shaped and jointed into the arms.

Since the first chair, I have continued to adapt the construction and joinery details. Which included fine tuning the glue up stage of the arms and joinery to the back curved leg.

As a furniture maker you never really finish a design. There is always room to improve and I will continue doing this with my next chair and the following chair as well.