[Arymanth]

Hi all, I'm back! For those who remember me, I'm still working on my spica chairs, and I've come up with some good designs, I just need a little help with some details. The chair I'm working on now has two solid sides with 1x2 strips nailed/glued to them to attach the back and front of the seat. (Here's a picture of one of my other chairs to show you what I mean:

I had been using wood screws for this, but I'm thinking about using bolts to make them easier to take apart to make them more portable. (I thought the screws would eventually strip out if it gets taken apart too often) Do you think this would work? Is there a special kind of bolt/washer/nut that I should use?

Any advice is appreciated!

Stephanie
mom to six sensational kids!

 

[TexasTimbers]

How about bed rail fasteners?

Take a look here and see what ya think. I think I would like these better than bolts. Make sure you use the male halves on the weight-bearing side of the chair so the child's weight will keep them nice and tight while he/she is in it.

 

[MinConst]

How about using T-Nuts and bolts. Cutting the bolts so the don't protrude past the T-Nut. You can still use countersink head screws.

 

[Arymanth]

How about using T-Nuts and bolts. Cutting the bolts so the don't protrude past the T-Nut. You can still use countersink head screws.

I'm going to go look at some of these today, I think they will be just what I was looking for!

THANKS!!!

Stephanie

 

[jacksimpk]

I would use European camlock/dowel hardware. Its the same thing that manufactures use to make put-together furniture from Ikea or walmart. It consists of a metal dowel that screws into a 5mm hole and a cam the fits in a 15mm whole in the meeting member. You fit the two sides together twist the cam and it tightens. It takes some extra tools and a little practice but you can make layout template for things like your chairs and crank them out fast. Also you won't have screw heads on the outside.

http://www.hafele.com/us/products/9061.asp -

It looks like amazon carries the dowels

http://www.amazon.com/Hafele-HF-26227029-Minifix-Connecting-11mm-24mm/dp/B000K2BO1C/ref=sr_1_7/104-5747495-6549535?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1186976250&sr=1-7

and the Cams

http://www.amazon.com/Hafele-HF-262...95-6549535?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1186976250&sr=1-5


There are a bunch of fancy jigs and stuff for mass production. But realy all you need is a 5mm and a 15mm bit and a good drill jig so your holes are square.

 

[jacksimpk]

crap the pictures didn't paste in - forget the links with

 

[Arymanth]

I would use European camlock/dowel hardware. Its the same thing that manufactures use to make put-together furniture from Ikea or walmart. It consists of a metal dowel that screws into a 5mm hole and a cam the fits in a 15mm whole in the meeting member. You fit the two sides together twist the cam and it tightens. It takes some extra tools and a little practice but you can make layout template for things like your chairs and crank them out fast. Also you won't have screw heads on the outside.

http://www.hafele.com/us/products/9061.asp -

It looks like amazon carries the dowels

http://www.amazon.com/Hafele-HF-26227029-Minifix-Connecting-11mm-24mm/dp/B000K2BO1C/ref=sr_1_7/104-5747495-6549535?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1186976250&sr=1-7

and the Cams

http://www.amazon.com/Hafele-HF-262...95-6549535?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1186976250&sr=1-5


There are a bunch of fancy jigs and stuff for mass production. But realy all you need is a 5mm and a 15mm bit and a good drill jig so your holes are square.

Hey, I've seen those before! That's a great idea! I'll keep those in mind as I get more experience and some better tools. I'm still a very green beginner, (I've only been doing woodworking for about 6 months now) but I'm learning a lot as I go. :smile:

Thanks for the tip!!!

Stephanie

 

[TexasTimbers]

I was thnking of quick and easy knock down. I like those Rafix fasteners. I have bought cheapo furniture in the past for kids rooms etc that had them. They worked great.

 

[jacksimpk]

Yeah Rafix/Minifix fittings are great especially for mass production. My problem in the past as been getting them. Lowes will sell you one for like $1.15. Taking advantage of people that loose parts to premanufactured furniture. I was really happy to find them on Amazon for 8-10 cents. They have several styles some that can be put together vertically instead of putting the dowel through the hole like you usually see. I've been planning on building an entire closet insert out of cedar plywood edged with solid cedar. That why I looked them up. Then I can use all the standard closet baskets racks and stuff without having to buy the crappy cabinet members. Wish I had time hahaha! European build entire kitchens from 32mm system. Its not great for everything but in the right application the hardware is the bomb.