The Philadelphia Invitational Furniture Show

Lily Cabinet by Tom Lederer

Held this weekend, The Philadelphia Invitational Furniture Show is one of the longest running craft furniture show in the US.

"The PIFS features a great range of work reflective of the diverse creative directions present in the field of artisan-made furniture. There will be shaker and arts and crafts influenced wooden furniture, historically based Grandfather clocks as well as contemporary timepieces, modern functional-sculptural pieces in metal and wood, table top accessories, wall art and much more. The price points also span from the affordable impulse purchase to works suitable for long-term investments as future heirlooms."

FWA artists Tom Lederer and Michael Brown will be at the show, be sure to stop by and see their beautiful work in person.

More of Toms work can be found in his gallery-
www.finewoodartists.com/gallery/lederer/tom_lederer.htm

More of Michaels work can be seen in his gallery-
www.finewoodartists.com/gallery/brown/michael_brown.htm


The Philadelphia Invitational Furniture Show
Saturday, March 27, 11am-7pm
Sunday, March 28, 11am-5pm
The Philadelphia Cruise Terminal at Pier 1
Philadelphia Naval Business Center (PNBC)
5100 South Broad Street (South)
Philadelphia, PA 19112
215-387-8590
215-387-8591 fax
info@pffshow.com
http://www.philaifs.com/

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Q A with Furniture Maker Andrew Pitts

Andrew Pitts is a self taught furniture maker, working out of his shop in Heathsville, Virginia. With over 35 years experience, he kindly answered some of our questions.

What is my favorite wood and why?

I can say Cherry is clearly my favorite wood, seconded by Red Oak. Both these woods grow locally in Virginia, and I use a lot of windfall wood I mill with a Woodmizer sawmill and dry in a solar kiln, so it is somewhat plentiful. Cherry looks great, works well, and the combination of cherry and red oak in the same piece, well, I just really like it!
 
Do I have a favorite tree?
 
Hmmmm ...  I live and work in an eastern Virginia hardwood forest and I really like just being among the trees here. For milling and making lumber, I like the tall straight trees that grow in the forest. Tulip Poplar comes to mind, not a true poplar but a member of the magnolia family, I believe. These grow like an arrow and are the tallest trees in our forests, and they mill and dry great! For peace and quiet I love the tall pines, but I am not a softwood artisan (except for the occasional cedar) so I just like to see and smell the pines and keep it at that. Although I love the grain of small pieces of American Beech, the trees themselves are too full of sucker branches that mar the wood with knots and cause drying defects, so beech is not my favorite milling tree, but as gnarly as beech can be, I have never seen one fall in a hurricane so they are good protection. The oaks in the forest are majestic, although the mighty oaks are real targets for wind storms as the roots dont go too deep. I guess Im giving a bad answer to the question, because I really like all the trees - like people, they each have their own personalities!

What pieces that you have crafted from wood are you most proud of and why?

Another tough question to answer. Dont we love all our pieces? They are our "children", after all. Lately, I have moved from doing mainly rectilinear work to using a lot of curves - using bent laminations and such. So, I am partial to the really graceful pieces such as my Shadows of Night cabinet, where the ebonized legs sweep the bent laminated upper cabinet away. I also like that I could do some carving in the doors, making a Chesapeake Bay wetlands scene. The same can be said of Chest of Drawers sans sides, which also uses a curved leg structure but as the name suggests has no sides, but simply drawers with all the joinery exposed. But some of my more "square" work is also nice, as the beauty is in the details. Take, for instance, the Roll Top Desk with walnut as the main wood but cherry trimming it out and a red oak tambour (there is that cherry and red oak combo I like so much). The desk has few curves, but is still delicate and nice and I am very happy that I was commissioned to make it.

Chest of Drawers Sans Sides

What is the hardest piece you ever made from wood and why?

I would have to say that Chest of Drawers Sans Sides was the most technically difficult piece to build, because just does not have any square corners! All the joinery had to be figured out at weird angles ... ditto with the drawer dovetails. I think the second most difficult piece may have been my jewel chest, of which I made two. These use drawers that are pie shaped and pivot on a steel rod. The drawer sides are curved bent laminations of holly, and the dovetails had to be cut on the curve - a first for me - and then the swing of the drawers had to be made smooth. And above all, the piece had to be made so when the humidity changed the parts would not all lock up or come out of alignment. Both cases have been through several summers and winters, and all is still well!


More of Andrews work can be seen in his gallery here-
http://www.finewoodartists.com/gallery/pitts/andrew_pitts.htm

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Furniture Plans Arbor Swing Plans Garden Swing Design Garden Teak Table Plans Dinning Table Set Plans Garden Chair Plans

Furniture Plans: Arbor Swing Plans - Garden Swing Design

Garden Teak Table Plans - Dinning Table Set Plans - Garden Chair Plans

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SW100: Arbor Swing Plans

Oversize: 9 7 1/2" x 6 8 1/2" x 7 7" (height)

Total volume of lumber: 26594 inches3 (= 15 6/16 feet3)

Units: Inches - fractions

Furniture Plans: Arbor Swing Plans - Garden Swing Design

Garden Teak Table Plans - Dinning Table Set Plans - Garden Chair Plans

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SW101: Garden Swing Plans

Oversize: 10 x 4 6 7/16" x 6 11 1/2" (height)

Total volume of lumber: 12754 inches3 (= 7 6/16 feet3)

Units: Inches - fractions

Furniture Plans: Arbor Swing Plans - Garden Swing Design

Garden Teak Table Plans - Dinning Table Set Plans - Garden Chair Plans

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GT100 - Garden Teak Table Plans
Oversize: 11-3 13/16" x 8-2 13/16" x 3-6 3/16" (height)
Total volume of lumber: 14122 inches3 (= 8 3/16 feet3)
Units: Inches - fractions

Furniture Plans: Arbor Swing Plans - Garden Swing Design

Garden Teak Table Plans - Dinning Table Set Plans - Garden Chair Plans

...

GT101 - Garden Teak Table Plans

Oversize: 10-11 15/16" x 8-7 15/16" x 3-7" (height)

Total volume of lumber: 16936 inches3 (= 9 13/16 feet3)

Units: Inches - fractions

Furniture Plans: Arbor Swing Plans - Garden Swing Design

Garden Teak Table Plans - Dinning Table Set Plans - Garden Chair Plans

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DS100 - Dinning Table Set Plans

Oversize: 7-7 1/2" x 7-9 11/16" x 3-6 3/16" (height)

Total volume of lumber: 9623 inches3 (= 5 9/16 feet3); Wooden Board: 38 ft2

Units: Inches - fractions

Furniture Plans: Arbor Swing Plans - Garden Swing Design

Garden Teak Table Plans - Dinning Table Set Plans - Garden Chair Plans

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GC100 - Garden Chair Plans

Oversize: 4-6 3/4" x 2-2 1/2" x 2-11 3/8" (height)

Total volume of lumber: 2614 inches3 (= 1 8/16 feet3);

Units: Inches - fractions

Furniture Plans: Arbor Swing Plans - Garden Swing Design

Garden Teak Table Plans - Dinning Table Set Plans - Garden Chair Plans

...

GC101 - Garden Chair Plans

Oversize: 3-7" x 4-10 1/4" x 2-10 3/8" (height)

Total volume of lumber: 2907 inches3 (= 1 11/16 feet3);

Units: Inches - fractions

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Detailed Plans for Construction
(PDF, Excel file: Units: Inches - fractions
printed on A4 or A3 size paper)
28$ FREE DOWNLOAD at:
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Box link:
https://app.box.com/s/npyr32dgrh9c1dvdjvulmcnzouqzovcz

or Dropbox link:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7kuafdnxt39dzz2/AADGUnTt3na89KdZ4Ps7Q_y4a?dl=0

or Google Drive link:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0CDo6ffOvQLdlZHd2tyU3VmMVE&usp=sharing#list
...
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Furniture Plans: Arbor Swing Plans - Garden Swing Design

Garden Teak Table Plans - Dinning Table Set Plans - Garden Chair Plans

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M210 Chicken Coop Plans Construction How To Build A Chicken Coop

M210 - Chicken Coop Plans Construction

How To Build A Chicken Coop

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Principles of design:

"Sustainability"_"Insulation"_"Ventilation"_"Easy to Clean"

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Units: Inches - fractions

It can comfortably hold 20 - 25 chickens

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Total land occupancy area: 21 3 3/4"x8 10"=188.26 ft²

Total height: 10 3 1/4"

- Chicken Cage: 6 5 1/2"x6 5 1/2"=41.71 ft²

- Nest boxes for 4 hens: 6 5 1/2"x1 10 1/2"=12.109 ft²

- Chicken Run: 12 4"x6 7"=81.194 ft²

- Construction area: 142.958 ft²

Total volume of wood: 279044 in3 = 161 ft3

...

Dimensional lumber sizes:

4x4: 4"x4" (Nominal)=3 1/2"x3 1/2" (Actual); 

2x4: 2"x4" (Nominal)=1 1/2"x3 1/2" (Actual); 

2x2: 2"x2" (Nominal)=1 1/2"x1 1/2" (Actual); 

1x2: 1"x2" (Nominal)=3/4"x1 1/2" (Actual);

1x1: 1"x1" (Nominal)=3/4"x3/4" (Actual); 

1x6: 1"x6" (Nominal)=3/4"x5 1/2" (Actual); 

1x10: 1"x10" (Nominal)=3/4"x9 1/4" (Actual); 

1x12: 1"x12" (Nominal)=3/4"x11 1/4" (Actual); 

Plywood 3/4" thickness actual=1" thickness nominal

...

The functional component - the build step guide - Table of Contents:
Concept design
Building foundations
Building Post
Building Frame
Building Floor
Building Interior wall
Building Nest Boxes

Building Perches
Building Chicken Run
Building Roof, Fiberglass insulation for roof
Building Fiberglass Insulation for Wall
Building Exterior Wall
Building Door, Window, Vents, Clean Out-Lid

Building Litter Tray
Building Chicken Ramp
Building Chicken Run

...

M210 - Chicken Coop Plans Construction

How To Build A Chicken Coop

...

Detailed Plans for Construction

(PDF, Excel file: Units: Inches - fractions

printed on A4 or A3 size paper)

19.96$

(Buy Safely with www.paypal.com)

See the instructions to buy products at:

Payment Instructions and Guarantee

...

Link to download certainly appears at Step 4: When you complete the payment.

Please click "return to frankvanhnguyen@gmail.com" to go to the product download page

...

Whether you download the product on my automatic system payment?

I will send you a download link by email as soon as I see you have paid! 

I want a way to make sure that you will download the product!

...

Thank you for holding this design!

When completed your work. Please send photos to us.

We will give you gifts to express gratitude

Please frequently visit our Blog for seeing new design and get the design useful and free

Step by step instructions for specific, detailed, easy to understand, easy to build.

This is a perfect guidance of an architect has over 10 years experience designing.

Ive worked hard to get this design. I did it after hours, evenings, weekends.

I made ??it some weeks. So I loved it. I am very grateful to you if you love it.

I am very happy if it is useful to you. 

I am very grateful to you if you comment on it so I completed it, so I better do the design in the future, for you ...

And I was very happy and thankful when youre holding this design, tracking my work and are reading these lines!

Wish you all the BEST! :)

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Thank you very much!

Let keep track my work to get alot of Free and Useful Plans

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M210 - Chicken Coop Plans Construction

How To Build A Chicken Coop

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M200 Chicken Coop Plans Chicken Coop Design How To Build A Chicken Coop

M200 - Chicken Coop Plans Construction

Chicken Coop Design - How To Build A Chicken Coop

M200 - Chicken Coop Plans Construction

Chicken Coop Design - How To Build A Chicken Coop

...

Principles of design

Durability & Comfortable

"Durability"_"Insulation"_"Ventilation"_"Easy to Clean"

...

Units: Inches - fractions

...

It can comfortably hold 15 chickens
Overall size: 6 2" x 4 7 1/2" = 28.5208 ft² for Chicken House
6 2" x 1 6 1/2" = 9.5069 ft² for Nesting Boxes for 4 Hens
12 1 1/2" x 6 3 1/2" = 76.2865 ft² for Chicken run
Construction area: 113.5417 ft² (Area for Foundation)
Maximum height: 9 10"
Total volume of lumber: 93116 inches3 (= 54 feet3)
Total area of plywood: 394 feet2 (= 12 1/2 plywoods with 4x8)

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Dimensional lumber sizes: 2"x4"(Nominal)=1 1/2"x3 1/2"(Actual);

2"x2"(Nominal)=1 1/2"x1 1/2"(Actual); 1"x1"(Nominal)=3/4"x3/4"(Actual); 

1"x4"(Nominal)=3/4"x3 1/2"(Actual); 1"x2"(Nominal)=3/4"x1 1/2"(Actual);

1x10: 1"x2"(Nominal)=3/4"x9 1/4"(Actual); Plywood 3/4" thickness (Actual);

...

The functional component - the build step guide - Table of Contents:

1.0 - Concept Design

2.0 - Building foundations

3.0 - Building Frame for chicken house

4.0 - Building Floor

5.0 - Building Nest boxes

6.0 - Building Interior Walls: Plywood 1/2" - 3/4" thickness

7.0 - Building Perches

8.0 - Building Roof Beam 1 - (chicken house)

9.0 - Building Insulated Foam for Roof

10.0 - Building Insulated Foam for Roof: 1 1/2" thickness

11.0 - Building Exterior Wall

12.0 - Building Door, Windows, Vents

13.0 - Building Litter Tray.

14.0 - Building Chicken Ramp

15.0 - Building Frame for Run

16.0 - Building Roof Beam for Run

17.0 - Building Roof

18.0 - Building Door for run

19.0 - Materials List For Woodworking
20.0 - Thank you!

...

M200 - Chicken Coop Plans Construction

Chicken Coop Design - How To Build A Chicken Coop

...

Detailed Plans for Construction

(PDF, Excel file: Units: Inches - fractions

printed on A4 or A3 size paper)

19.96$

(Buy Safely with www.paypal.com)

See the instructions to buy products at:

Payment Instructions and Guarantee

...

Link to download certainly appears at Step 4: When you complete the payment.

Please click "return to frankvanhnguyen@gmail.com" to go to the product download page

...

Whether you download the product on my automatic system payment?

I will send you a download link by email as soon as I see you have paid! 

I want a way to make sure that you will download the product!

...

Thank you very much!

Let keep track my work to get alot of Free and Useful Plans

https://www.facebook.com/FrankVanhNguyen

https://www.facebook.com/homegardenplans

https://google.com/+FrankVanhNguyen

https://www.youtube.com/FrankVanhNguyen

...

M200 - Chicken Coop Plans Construction

Chicken Coop Design - How To Build A Chicken Coop

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