215 – Greene & Greene Blacker House Chair

Video - March 3, 2014

The Blacker House was one of the Greene & Greene Ultimate Bungalows built back in 1907. The entire house, furniture included, cost about $100,000 US or $2.5M in today’s money. And because trivia is fun, did you know that the interior shots of Doc Brown’s house in Back to the Future were filmed inside the Blacker House? Exterior shots were of the Gamble House. Both are located in Pasadena, CA.

One of the most adored pieces to come out of the Blacker House is the living room chair. Many people have endeavored to re-create this chair and most put their own personal spin on it. One of my favorite variations comes from William Ng, owner of the William Ng School of Fine Woodworking. And it just so happens that William teaches a class on how to build his version of the chair, the only class of it’s kind. Since this project was on my personal bucket list, I took the opportunity to attend the class this past February and this video is the result of that effort.

Below on the left is William’s chair and on the right you can see the original, courtesy of Gamblehouse.org. William’s version conforms to modern standards for a dining room chair with a taller back and a comfortable seat height.

If you’re interested in building this chair, William offers this class a couple times a year. You can look at the latest class offerings here. And if the chair doesn’t fit the bill, take a look at all of the other great classes offered at the William Ng School of Fine Woodworking.

Resources

The William Ng School

Discussion

Scott Bonner March 3, 2014 9:23 am

Marc, As I was watching you reflect on your class during the last two minutes of that video, all I could focus on was the back leg of that beautiful chair and how close it was to the edge of the workbench. I kept wanting to reach out and pull it forward just an inch or two.

BE CAREFUL MAN!!

Thanks so very much for all you do!

Scott

Reply
George Barry March 3, 2014 9:26 am

That is a beautiful chair Marc…you did a wonderful job. Someday I hope to attend a class at William Ng School of Fine Woodworking but until then I will just have to live vicariously through you!! Thanks for posting the video.

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Tyler W March 3, 2014 9:32 am

Personally, I hate the Greene and Greene style, but that chair is impressive!
Honestly, after seeing the amazing amount of detail in it I’m really glad I don’t like the style-that’s way too much work! It also makes me wonder what techniques they used to make the original chair since they didn’t have a lot of the tools used!
Seriously, congratulations on an amazing finished product! Good luck keeping Mateo off of it!

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Jim B March 3, 2014 9:58 am

Enjoyed the video, actually very inspiring to me to investigate taking a class. Not specifically a class to build this chair, or even at the William Ng School of Fine Woodworking, but opened my mind to what learning opportunities it might provide that I can’t even predetermine. Thank you for taking the time and effort to share this ambitious endeavor with us.
You absolutely have to show us what you wind up with for a seat, as I’m sure you will. Also, an update pic of where and how it will be used daily. Seems a bit ostentatious to be a chair to sit just anywhere.

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Alex C March 3, 2014 10:20 am

Marc,
quick question…how come you used walnut plugs instead sticking with ebony plugs on the back piece near the inlay? As others have already said, this chair is seriously impressive…really nice work.

Thanks,
Alex

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo March 3, 2014 10:36 am
  
  Thanks Alex. It was just an effort to bring attention to the inlay as a separate entity from the rest of the ebony plugs.
  
  Reply
Dan H March 3, 2014 11:08 am

Marc, have been wanting to take this class from William and plan to do so within the next 1-2 years. Do he allow the students to make copies of his templates/jigs used for this chair? If not then what is your plan on how to make more of the same?

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- Marc Spagnuolo March 4, 2014 9:37 am
  
  You can measure and copy to your heart’s content. He wants you to be able to build the project on your own if you wish to. You will also go home with a copy of the full-size drawings.
  
  Reply
Shannon Rogers March 3, 2014 11:44 am

Nice chair and all but I’m going to go in a different direction and say nice editing job. Capturing good parts on film while taking a class is tough to do yet this came out great (almost store bought ;)

Did William comment on the crest rail in the original construction? Was it a bent lamination? I know the technique has been around a long time but I am not sure if the Hall bros did it this way or if they just used a thicker stock to begin with. What is the deviation from center to edge? Would 8/4 suffice and if so it makes me wonder if the lamination is really worth it when you consider all the carving you had to do anyway.

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- Marc Spagnuolo March 4, 2014 9:39 am
  
  Thanks dude. It was tough to remember to film. I actually missed a few vital parts but I’ll never tell! :)
  
  I actually don’t think the crest rail of the original had such a dramatic flare to it. This might be something that William (and others) added in to jazz it up a bit. So I doubt it would have been worth doing a lamination even back then. We started with 8/4 stock on ours. Here’s a link to one of the originals: http://gamblehouse.org/nnb/object/5192.html Even though it’s just a front view, it doesn’t appear to have as severe of a sculpted look. So my guess is they just carved it from a piece of 6/4 or 8/4.
  
  Reply
Dan Alpern March 3, 2014 11:49 am

Marc,
AWESOME! Thanks for sharing the process and your insight on the class and lessons learned. Really appreciated hearing that even a craftsman like you had some second thoughts about certain projects; it gives a noob some hope ;)

Reply
Tom Pritchard March 3, 2014 2:32 pm

Fantastic job. I can sure see how difficult it would be to mastermind such a project. I live about a 1 1/2 hours from Marc Adams school of woodworking. This is enticing me to consider such a class. As you say the knowledge of what you learn makes paying the price well worth it. Thanks for taking time to video and post. Having to have your mind in the project and videotaping at same time would have been far from my mind.

Reply
Alex March 3, 2014 2:55 pm

This is pretty impressive. I couldn’t quite share your enthusiasm for this chair design before I watched the video but I can now better appreciate the design (although probably not as much as you!). How did you polish the ebony splines? Hard works and time or did you you some kind of magic power tool potion?

Thanks for sharing your experience!

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo March 3, 2014 2:57 pm
  
  The video actually showed what I did using the drill method. Basically just sanded through 1000 grit. I don’t polish any further than that.
  
  Reply
  - Alex March 3, 2014 4:29 pm
    
    I meant for the splines that were glued on the chair, not the plugs.
    
    Reply
    - Marc Spagnuolo March 3, 2014 5:07 pm
      
      Same thing but by hand.
Treefrogfurniture March 3, 2014 10:05 pm

Great job on the video and beautiful chair. I’d like to second everything Marc said about the William Ng school, I spent a week out there a few years ago with Marc taking Darrel Peart’s class on his Aroura end table. The facility is top notch, the experience was great and his lumber room is amazing. Thanks again for such high quality content my friend.
Brad

Reply
Danny March 4, 2014 2:17 am

Marc, that is a beautiful chair. You should be proud of your results. I’ll bet you can’t wait to make the other three. Seriously, I can’t wait to see the seat. Speaking seriously, when are you going to put drawer fronts on your shop drawers?

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- Marc Spagnuolo March 4, 2014 9:27 am
  
  Soon! :)
  
  Reply
DavidC March 4, 2014 6:53 am

The chair looks awesome Marc. Sometimes the process of building something so beautiful is just a beautiful. Hope you learned a lot. So the question is: Would you do it again?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo March 4, 2014 9:28 am
  
  In the context of the class, yes! Doubt I’ll ever make one in my own shop though.
  
  Reply
Alan H. March 4, 2014 7:38 am

I cannot find my chart to convert Metric Tons to Butt Tons. Is this something that can be estimated? For some reason that little remark cracked me up today. Thanks for the laugh and the perspective on the chair and class.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo March 4, 2014 9:28 am
  
  I was always under the impression that a butt-ton was just shorthand for a metric butt-ton. :)
  
  Reply
Lance Surgeon March 4, 2014 8:13 am

Mark,

At the beginning of the video you are sitting on a steel stool. I have been searching for a wheeled stool for my shop and that looks perfect for my needs. Where did you get it?

The chair is great. I’ve added that to my bucket.

Lance

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo March 4, 2014 9:29 am
  
  That was a Sams Club purchase years back. If you shop there, you know how their stock can be quite hit or miss so I don’t know if they still carry it.
  
  Reply
Mokuman13 March 4, 2014 1:50 pm

Great job, so many details to consider and always keep in mind n this style. Question for you, I’m working on a small project right now involving cocobolo, birch plywood, and curly maple. I’m using the cocobolo as a edge strip to conceal the plywood edges. I’m also using it on one edge of my maple pieces. It seems to hold better on the plywood edge, but still comes off occasionally. On the maple though, it comes apart quite easily. Is cocobolo a naturally oily wood that is difficult to adhere to other woods? Is ebony like that also? And is there anything I can do to help the bond?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo March 5, 2014 8:23 am
  
  You actually answered your own question. :) Cocobolo does have a high oil content which can make it difficult to glue. Many folks wipe it down with acetone just prior to glueup. You might also consider using a different adhesive such as epoxy or poly glue.
  
  Reply
  - Mokuman13 March 5, 2014 8:03 pm
    
    Thanks marc
    
    Reply
Sean March 4, 2014 3:22 pm

Mark, great job on the chair!
At 4:20 you are using some type of router that i have never seen before. Care to shed some light on what that is exactly?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo March 5, 2014 8:21 am
  
  It’s called a Foredom rotary tool: http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ.....dwhispe-20
  
  Reply
Joey March 4, 2014 3:52 pm

Marc, you mentioned the router bit for trimming the splines was custom. Was that something you borrowed from the school, or did you have it made? Any info on where to get custom bits like this? Very nice project and video!

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo March 5, 2014 8:20 am
  
  This one is from Whiteside and they made it for William. He sells them in his store: http://shop.wnwoodworkingschoo.....ng-Bit.htm
  
  Reply
David Schattilly March 4, 2014 6:59 pm

I’ve been hearing about this chair and how your son made a bee line for it when he first saw it and how it is something you want to kind of hide away to keep anyone from damaging it. I can see why. I want to climb on it too! I don’t know what impresses me more, the skill you had in making it or the amount of patience you had to have to put that many hours into it and the persistence to get it done.

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Frank March 5, 2014 7:18 am

I love the Green and Green style, and am currently building my second Green and Green inspired project. This chair is absoultly amazing! Someday I would like to attempt a chair although maybe not as complicated as this one. Does William offer the printed plans seperately. This would make a great study on the geometry and design of chairbuilding to someone (like me) who cannot possibly afford to take this class.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo March 5, 2014 8:33 am
  
  Hey Frank. Unfortunately, I don’t believe he sells the drawings separately.
  
  Reply
Chris March 5, 2014 10:38 am

To say “beautiful chair” would be an understatement. During your project/class reflection, how tough was it to work your way around “needing” a JDS Multi-Router? After seeing how useful that machine is first hand, how long before justification is made for owning one?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo March 5, 2014 11:33 am
  
  Really good question. Well first, it’s important to note that anything we did on the multi-router can (in theory) be done with a regular router. Simply turn the multi-router on it’s side and re-imagine the jig to accommodate a vertical router with an edge guide. The multi-router just makes it much easier and with the included clamps, gives much more repeatable results. As for owning one, this project finally caused me to break down and buy one. But I honestly “justified” it LONG ago after I saw David Marks use it on Woodworks. The key difference is I am finally at a point in my woodworking where I feel like my work and designs will truly benefit from it. Getting something like the Multi-Router too early in one’s career might very well rob you of good fundamental learning opportunities.
  
  So when will it show up on The Wood Whisperer? Probably never. Ok let’s just say it will be absolutely minimal if at all. It’s pretty much on the same level as the Domino (probably worse due to the price) in that it doesn’t do the viewer any favors to demonstrate it unless they actually own one. So it will likely just be for my personal use and experimentation.
  
  Reply
  - Chris March 6, 2014 8:08 am
    
    Really great answer. Gave me a good chuckle this morning. I can see this tool being a crutch if added to a woodworkers quiver of tools too early in the development process. Lucky for me, I’m 99.9999999% certain I will never be able to justify the price tag for my shop so no robbing of learning good fundamentals here. I would imagine at your skill/business level of woodworking, the major benefit of a tool like the Multi-Router is the speed & repeatability of certain functions.
    
    Reply
Adam Palmer March 7, 2014 3:59 pm

Awesome job on the chair Marc! It is even more impressive after seeing the process it requires. I’m really looking forward to the Morris chair guild build coming up in May. I’m definitely considering plunging into my first chair project as a woodworker… I sure hope you’re not all chair’d out for 2014 after your class at W. NG.!

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- Marc Spagnuolo March 7, 2014 4:39 pm
  
  Oh I’m all fired up for the Morris Chair build now! :)
  
  Reply
Chester March 8, 2014 5:11 am

Marc –
After attending Darrell Peart’s school in CT last summer, I know exactly what you mean about “raising your level” and breaking the project down into its component parts. Of course William had all the jigs and some quite special equipment setups. I told Darrell last year that “It’s all about the jigs … and you have them!” I did learn some tricks from Darrell about creating the jig patterns from design files and I hope to use some of these tricks very soon. A funny quote from Norm Abrams (recently) is “I no longer build chairs.” Chairs are intimidating to all of us. Chairs endure stresses from use unlike any other piece of fine furniture. But you have shown that it can all be done if you break it down to the component operations. This was great. I think that Darrell also builds this chair but I don’t think that he does a class in it.

Reply
Chester March 8, 2014 5:42 am

PS –
Just like my end-grain cutting board … that … has never had a blade cross its finish … will you ever allow anyone to sit in it??? :-)

Reply
Adam Reed March 14, 2014 9:22 am

Marc,

I’ve been following your videos for years now. And it seems that this particular project has boosted your abilities to the very top of your profession. You are truly becoming one of the best woodworkers in the country. Keep it up and never SIT ON YOUR LAURELS. Had to throw that pun in there.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo March 16, 2014 7:55 pm
  
  Not sure I am deserving of those kind words but I certainly do appreciate it.
  
  Reply
Alex Trujillo March 25, 2014 8:06 am

Hello Marc!

I’m working with sapelli wood for a tabletop, the wood has a really nice stripped pattern but the wood grain is really interlocked, did you had the same problem? how would you stop the tearing of the wood? BEAUTIFUL chair by the way!

Reply
Ben December 25, 2015 8:45 pm

Hi Mark, did you get the seat finished and are there any photos of the finished product?

Reply

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215 – Greene & Greene Blacker House Chair

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