Comments on: Roorkhee Chair: First Look

By: Kippy

Kippy — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 16:05:46 +0000

I’m waiting with bated breath then for your October issue. It’ll be better than Christmas! I’ve been looking EVERYWHERE to learn how to make Roorkhee chairs.

By: hutchjo

hutchjo — Thu, 31 May 2012 03:14:52 +0000

On second thought, try . . .
http://www.rudrasmussen.com/range/easy-chairs/the-safari-chair/

By: hutchjo

hutchjo — Thu, 31 May 2012 02:55:59 +0000

Canvas?

Take a look at http://www.rudrasmussen.com/range/easy-chairs/the-safari-chairs

WOW!!!

As with Chris’s chair, excellent attention to detail.

By: Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick — Sun, 27 May 2012 16:30:52 +0000

Eventually, we _may_ offer that one article in our store (ShopWoodworking.com), but not until it’s been printed in the magazine (you’ll find it in the upcoming October issue), and after that issue has been off the newsstand for a while.

By: Beowulf

Beowulf — Sun, 27 May 2012 02:41:17 +0000

I am brand new to this forum. Is there a way to buy individual plans for the Roorkhee chairs.

By: Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick — Thu, 24 May 2012 03:59:55 +0000

Palouse, the article will include everything you need to build the Roorkhee chair (or five if them!) — step by step instructions, drawings etc, and patterns for the leather (or canvas). It’s slated for the Ocotber issue. (And it’s a remarkably simple build.)

By: forgotmylogininfo

forgotmylogininfo — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:41:13 +0000

I would love to see those Kenya style folding chairs. I didn’t have much luck finding them on the internet. They have to be better than todays store bought junk.

By: hobomonk

hobomonk — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:56:13 +0000

I love my Kaare Klint Roorkhee chairs, circa 1950′s. I passed them to a daughter that needed furniture for her apartment. They have canvas seats and backs, and the buckled straps. The loose round mortise and tenon design serves two purposes: easy assembly/breakdown and it allows the chair to adjust on uneven ground.

We currently use our Kenya-style folding safari chairs, which owe their lineage to the original Roorkhee chair. Very British, these too. I miss Africa.

I’m looking forward to your article. It’s time to make some new chairs for future campaigns, be they proper safari’s or Kentucky camping treks. Besides, I’ve got some real Roorkhee’s to compare with your design.

Press on regardless.

By: bsrlee

bsrlee — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:21:17 +0000

The buckled straps seem to be a ‘modern’ invention, either because the manufacturer hasn’t got the point or is trying to save a buck.

The original chairs in several books had canvas/webbing seats made of a single piece that looped around the opposing rails and were tightened with laces a bit like a corset, and there were TWO of them, one running front to back and the other side to side, which ment that when you sat in one the seat(s) pulled the rails together & held the whole thing together. Even the back was a loop of canvas with two slots for the pivots and lacing to adjust the tension.

The brass studs used to adjust the arms are the same shape as the adjustment studs on a Sam Browne belt – also invented in the Indian Army. If you look at original photos you will see that these are ‘slouching’ chairs, for sitting in at ease like an Anirondack chair not a dining chair (they had campaign versions of those too).

No buckles which could easily ‘get out of order’ on the march, everything could be repaired or replaced out of the ordinary gear carried with a military column on campaign.

By: d_lamb@shaw.ca

d_lamb@shaw.ca — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:11:31 +0000

Great job Chris! I’m looking forward to the article(s). I can’t quite make out the joint on the cross-bracing to see how it can be both folding AND supporting (and not fold up on you when you sit!) Also, as a frugal man of Scottish descent, I could see making the seat and back out of a canvas rather than leather – it costs less, weighs less, and weather’s better outdoors…