In the making of these chairs, the wood is worked green because it yields more predictably and shaves easier. Ring porous hardwood has shrinking properties which are used to advantage. The rungs are shaved and dried before shaping the tenon and inserting it into the mortise in the green post. Jaros has invented tools to expedite the work and waste less material while using the same methods employed by the Shakers 150 years ago.
Riven wood is rendered from the stem of a tree by splitting the log along the grain with wedges.
A riving is a bundle of fibers, the stongest unit of wood you can get from a tree. Rivings are matched and oriented according to the specific design requirements of each chair. You can often find matching growth rings in each of the four chair legs. Chair parts are shaved to shape with drawknives and spokeshaves while held on a shaving horse. Certain parts are steamed and bent to a shape that provides comfort.