Child’s Chair Made from Solid Hinoki Wood

The child’s chair is now complete — at least in its temporary form. I happened to receive a single solid board of hinoki (Japanese cypress) from my parents, and while thinking about how best to use it, I decided it might be meaningful to turn it into a chair. While researching children’s chair designs and standard dimensions, I discovered a project called “Kimi no Isu” (“Your Chair”). I felt that creating something in that spirit would be a wonderful keepsake for my first child, so I allowed my design to follow that direction.

Process:
Since I don’t have many tools at home, most of the work was done using only a handsaw, a knife, and a grinder. I cut the seat and four legs from the large hinoki board. Originally, I also made a wooden backrest, but when I tried attaching it, it didn’t quite feel right. So, as a temporary solution, I used some leftover leather to create a simple backrest — and with that, the chair was completed for now. It’s perfectly functional as is, but someday, when the feeling is right, I may remake the backrest from wood.

Materials: Hinoki (Japanese cypress), cow leather, epoxy adhesive / two-part putty
Production period: About one month, working in small bits of spare time
Remaining tasks: Fine sanding, carving the child’s name on the underside of the seat, finishing with beeswax oil

(Reference) “Kimi no Isu — A Chair Made Just for You”
http://www.hokkaidolikers.com/articles/2188