Mission Furniture: How to Make It, Part 2 Informative Summary

Overview:

This 1910 handbook, “Mission Furniture: How to Make It, Part 2,” by H.H. Windsor, serves as a practical guide for crafting stylish and functional furniture in the popular Arts & Crafts movement style. The book assumes a basic understanding of woodworking tools and techniques, offering detailed instructions and illustrations to build everything from a simple footstool to a complex China closet. It emphasizes using quarter-sawed oak for its durability and aesthetic appeal, providing detailed stock lists for each piece and highlighting the importance of well-seasoned wood for bending.

The book offers valuable insights into the construction methods prevalent in the early 20th century, including techniques for cutting tenons, mortise joints, and bending wood. It also covers various finishing methods, from simple oil stains and waxes to more elaborate shellac and varnish treatments. The book’s primary aim is to empower the reader with the skills and knowledge to construct beautiful and durable mission-style furniture in the comfort of their own workshop.

Key Findings:

The handbook emphasizes the importance of using well-seasoned, quarter-sawed oak for durability and aesthetic appeal.
The book promotes using tenons and mortise joints as the primary method of construction, providing detailed instructions for cutting these joints accurately.
It highlights the use of steam bending for shaping furniture parts, providing step-by-step instructions and guidance on the necessary equipment.
The book explores various finishing techniques, including oil stains, waxes, and shellac, tailored to achieve different effects like weathered oak or Antwerp oak finishes.

Learning:

Tenon and Mortise Joints: The handbook teaches readers to create strong and precise tenon and mortise joints, which are crucial for sturdy furniture construction. It emphasizes the use of accurate measuring and layout techniques to ensure a perfect fit between the two pieces.
Steam Bending Wood: The book provides detailed instructions on how to soften wood using steam for bending, a valuable technique for creating curved furniture elements like chair backs and table legs. It explains the importance of using the correct steaming time and bending the wood immediately after removing it from the steam box.
Mission-Style Furniture: The handbook offers a thorough understanding of the design principles and construction methods employed in crafting mission-style furniture. It emphasizes the use of simple, clean lines, functional elements, and natural materials, all key characteristics of this popular style.

Historical Context:

This handbook was written in 1910, a period when the Arts & Crafts movement was gaining popularity, promoting a return to handcraft and a focus on simplicity and functionality in design. The book reflects this movement’s influence by advocating for traditional woodworking techniques, using natural materials, and emphasizing craftsmanship over mass production.

Facts:

Oak is Durable and Beautiful: Quarter-sawed oak is preferred for its strength, resistance to warping, and beautiful grain patterns.
Steam Bending Makes Wood Pliable: Exposing wood to steam softens its fibers, allowing it to bend into desired shapes.
Tenon and Mortise Joints Provide Stability: These joints, properly cut, ensure that furniture pieces stay together strongly over time.
Mission Furniture Emphasizes Functionality: The style prioritizes clean lines, simple shapes, and practical design elements.
Fuming Darkens Wood Naturally: Exposing wood to ammonia fumes creates a rich, dark patina.
Pyrography Adds Artistic Detail: Burning designs into wood enhances furniture with intricate patterns and textures.
Cedar Repels Moths and Insects: Cedar wood is commonly used in chests and closets for its natural insect-repelling properties.
Cedar Requires a Special Stain: Mahogany stain can be used to enhance the natural red color of cedar wood.
Weather Oak Finishes are Popular: This finish creates a natural, aged look with a rustic appeal.
Antwerp Oak Finishes are Dark and Dramatic: This finish emphasizes the deep, rich tones of oak wood.
Paste Filler Enhances Grain: Applying paste filler fills the pores of wood, highlighting the grain pattern.
Shellac Protects and Enhances Finishes: Shellac creates a smooth, protective coating that enhances the color and depth of the wood.
Wax Creates a Lustrous Finish: Wax polishes wood, creating a natural, protective shine.
Multiple Coats of Varnish Enhance Gloss: Applying multiple coats of varnish creates a smooth, highly polished finish.
Oil Finishes Emphasize Wood Grain: Oil-based finishes penetrate and nourish wood, highlighting its natural beauty.
Bronze Castings Add Elegance: Bronze brackets and hardware add sophistication and durability to lamp stands and other furniture.
Leaded Glass Creates Intricate Patterns: Using lead strips to hold glass panes together creates beautiful, decorative windows and doors.
Art Glass Adds Color and Texture: Mottled or patterned glass adds depth and visual interest to furniture pieces.
Burlap Provides Cushion Support: Burlap fabric is durable and provides a firm base for cushions.
Spanish Roan Leather is Durable and Elegant: This type of leather is commonly used in upholstery for its durability and refined appearance.

Statistics:

1/4 lb. catechu to 6 lb. water: This ratio is used for boiling catechu, which can be used as an oak stain.
2 oz. of pearl ash and 2 oz. of potash in a quart of water: This mixture creates a potent oak stain that produces an ebon hue.
12 oz. umber and 4 oz. Venetian red to 20 lb. of filler: This combination is used to create a light-colored filler for mission oak finishes.
3/8 by 3-in. lag screw: This size lag screw is commonly used to reinforce joints in furniture.
1/4-in. bit: This bit size is used to drill holes for lag screws.
3/8-in. dowels: These dowels are commonly used for joining furniture parts.
1/2-in. square steel: This size steel is used to create a dowel-cutting tool.
1/2 by 3/4 by 3-1/4 in. finished oak: This size oak is needed for the chain attachment on the electric shade.
22-in. radius: This radius is used for the curved forms in steam bending chair backs.
1/2 by 2-in. slats: This size slat is used to reinforce the magazine table.
3/8 by 3-in. long nails: This size nail is used for attaching the copper band to the oil lamp.
1/2-in. oak: This thickness is used for the body of the oil lamp.
1/4-in. oak: This thickness is used for the feet of the oil lamp.
3/4 by 2 by 2-1/4 in. oak: This size piece of oak is used to support the mirror frame.
1/4 by 3/8-in. oak: This size piece of oak is used for the fillet around the mirror frame.
2 by 4-1/2 by 4-1/2 in. oak: This size piece is used to create corner braces for the oak couch.
1 by 1 by 3 in. oak blocks: This size block is used to support the slats in the oak bedstead.
3/4 by 3 by 32 in. birchwood: This size piece of birchwood is used for brackets on the extension dining table.

Terms:

Quarter-Sawed Oak: Oak that is cut radially from the log, producing a distinctive grain pattern with more consistent strength and resistance to warping.
Tenon: A projection at the end of a piece of wood that fits into a mortise to create a joint.
Mortise: A hole or recess cut into a piece of wood to accept a tenon.
Dovetail Joint: A strong and secure joint used in furniture construction, characterized by interlocking finger-like projections.
Lag Screw: A large, strong screw used for securing heavy pieces of wood together.
Cleat: A small piece of wood used for support or reinforcement.
Rabbet: A rectangular groove cut into the edge of a piece of wood to create a recess or joint.
Mitered: A joint created by cutting two pieces of wood at 45-degree angles, forming a smooth, flush connection.
Beveled: A sloping edge or surface cut at an angle.
Chamfered: A slightly rounded or beveled edge used to prevent splintering.

Examples:

The Oak Buffet: The detailed instructions and illustrations for building an oak buffet demonstrate the construction techniques and finishing methods for a classic mission-style piece.
The Hall Clock: This detailed build provides insight into constructing a sturdy and elegant clock with a detailed explanation of the wood selection, mortise and tenon joints, and finishing processes.
The Rocking Chair: This project illustrates the use of steam bending to create the curved back of a rocking chair, offering detailed instructions on the necessary equipment and processes.
The Curved Back Arm Chair: This piece highlights the use of steam bending to create a comfortable, curved chair back, offering a clear illustration of the process and necessary forms.
The Plate Rack: This project demonstrates the use of simple keys to hold the pieces together, providing a unique approach to creating sturdy and functional furniture.
The Magazine Table: This project showcases the use of brass angles to secure the tabletop to the legs, demonstrating a simple and effective method for creating a stable piece of furniture.
The Waste Paper Basket: This project utilizes dowel joints and simple screws for construction, demonstrating a straightforward method for building a functional and stylish basket.
The Oak Writing Desk: This complex project exemplifies the use of mortise and tenon joints, dovetail joints, and detailed drawer construction, demonstrating the skills necessary for building more intricate furniture.
The Oak Couch with Cushions: This project provides insight into crafting a comfortable and stylish couch, showcasing the use of corner braces, burlap support for cushions, and the importance of removing excess glue for a successful finish.
The Electric Shade: This project demonstrates the use of copper strips and art glass to create a unique and functional electric shade for the dining room, highlighting the artistic potential of mission furniture.

Conclusion:

“Mission Furniture: How to Make It, Part 2” offers a valuable guide for individuals who want to create their own beautiful and practical furniture in the Arts & Crafts style. The book provides detailed instructions, clear illustrations, and practical advice on woodworking techniques, finishing methods, and selecting materials. It emphasizes the importance of craftsmanship, using traditional methods and tools to create lasting furniture pieces. By carefully following the instructions and utilizing the knowledge gained from this handbook, readers can bring the elegance and functionality of mission-style furniture into their homes.

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