Bent Wood Slats: Ash, Beech & Walnut
Straight and curved slats in ash, beech, walnut and zebrawood, solid or laminated. Sections from 4 to 18cm, thickness 0.8–4cm, bent radius up to 1:10. Available as press-curved slats for chair backs, arms and table aprons.
We produce bent wood slats for chair seats and backs — standard sizes and custom dimensions, in solid steam-bent or laminated construction. See our press-curved ash slats for a representative item.
Slats we manufacture
- Seat slats — curved seat boards for dining, garden and contract chairs; thicker sections with a shallow curve, carrying the sitter’s weight.
- Back slats — vertical and horizontal slats connecting the back posts; thinner sections following a deeper curve.
- Custom blanks — curved blanks for your own machining and assembly.
- Replacement slats — matched to originals for classic and garden chair restoration.
Specifications
| Materials | White ash, beech, birch, black walnut, oak |
| Dimensions | Standard sizes available; custom to drawings |
| Construction | Solid steam-bent or laminated |
| Curvature | Verified against the form before shipment |
| Finishes | Raw, sanded, oiled, stained or lacquered; weather-resistant options |
| MOQ | Low — from prototype quantity upward |
| Lead time | Prototype 7–15 days · bulk 15–30 days |
| Certification | FSC/PEFC materials available |
Why bend a slat?
A curved slat cut from solid stock has short grain at the shoulders — the exact points where the curve is tightest and the load is highest. A steam-bent slat carries the grain around the curve, so it flexes with the chair instead of cracking at the shoulder. For seat slats that carry weight season after season, that difference decides whether the chair is still serviceable in ten years.
Choosing species and finish
Ash is the default for seat and back slats: elastic, straight-grained and pale, it takes oil or stain evenly. Beech suits painted programmes and traditional café seating. Walnut is specified where the dark figure is the point of the piece. For garden and outdoor chairs we supply weather-resistant finishes on oak, larch and acacia as well as ash — send us the environment the chair will live in and we will recommend the combination.
Restoration and replacement programmes
Many of our clients use our slats to replace worn seat boards on classic chair models — Windsor-style seating, garden chairs, and contract seating whose original supplier no longer makes the part. Send us a sample or the original dimensions and we will match the curve, thickness and finish. Because common sizes are produced as standard items, replacement orders move faster than custom tooling.
Working with manufacturers
For production programmes we supply slats to your drawing at your specified finish, with dimensional accuracy within ±0.5 mm and inspection reports on request. Slats typically ship alongside our chair frames, chair backs and aprons for complete seating programmes.
Slat sizing guide
Slat dimensions follow the load and the curve. These are the ranges we produce most often; anything outside them is made to your drawing.
| Type | Typical length | Typical section | Curve |
| Seat slat (dining) | 350–550 mm | 8–14 mm thick | Shallow, along the length |
| Seat slat (lounge) | 450–650 mm | 12–20 mm thick | Shallow to moderate |
| Back slat (vertical) | 300–500 mm | 6–10 mm thick | Follows the back posts |
| Garden chair slat | 400–600 mm | 10–16 mm thick | Shallow, weather-resistant finish |
Common applications
- Dining and café seating — seat and back slats in ash or beech, oiled or lacquered.
- Lounge and occasional chairs — wider seat slats, often paired with upholstered frames.
- Garden and outdoor seating — weather-resistant species and finishes, including replacement slats for chairs already in service.
- Contract seating refresh — matched replacements for hotel and restaurant chairs whose original parts are no longer made.
- Classic chair restoration — Windsor-style and traditional seating rebuilt with matched slats.
Production consistency
For manufacturing programmes, the risk with slats is variation: a batch that differs in curve or thickness shows up immediately in your assembly. We hold dimensions to {TOL} after machining and verify curvature against the form before shipment, with inspection reports on request. Standard sizes are produced repeatedly, so re-orders are fast.
Ordering, packaging and shipping
Standard sizes ship from repeated production, so re-orders move quickly. Custom sizes follow the normal path: quotation, sample, production. Slats are banded and cartoned in bundles that support the curve, with corner protection at the bends — a slat that arrives with a kinked curve is useless to your assembly line, so packing is treated as part of the specification.
We ship globally, with regular programmes to the EU, US and Southeast Asia. Every shipment carries a full warranty against warping and cracking in transit and use. If a bundle arrives damaged, tell us and we replace it — the warranty exists to be used.
Working with restoration workshops
Restoration orders run on the same process as production, at smaller quantities. Send the original slat or a dimensioned photo; we confirm species, section and curve; you approve a sample; the balance ships. Because common sizes are produced as standard items, many restoration orders need no tooling at all — which keeps both the cost and the lead time down. For designs no longer in production, a single form is built and kept on file, so a second order years later produces the same part.
Frequently asked questions
Do you supply standard sizes?
Yes — common seat and back slat sizes are produced as standard items, and any other dimension can be made to your drawing. Standard sizes keep lead times short for replacement and restoration work.
What species are available?
White ash, beech, birch, black walnut and oak, with FSC/PEFC-certified stock on request. Ash is the default for seat slats; walnut is chosen where the colour is the point of the piece.
Can you supply slats for chair restoration?
Yes. Send a sample of the slats you need replaced and we will match the profile, curve and dimensions — a frequent request for classic and garden chair restoration, including designs no longer in production.
What surface finishes do you offer?
Raw, sanded, oiled, stained or lacquered; edges can be eased, radiused or profiled as specified. For garden and outdoor use we can supply weather-resistant finishes.
What is the difference between seat slats and back slats?
Seat slats carry the sitter’s weight and are usually thicker with a shallow curve; back slats follow the back posts and are often thinner with a deeper curve. Both are made the same way — bent to your drawing.
Do you supply slats for manufacturing, not just restoration?
Yes — production quantities for chair manufacturers, with prototypes in 7–15 days and bulk orders in 15–30 days.
Can you match the curve of an existing slat exactly?
Yes — from the original part, a sample or a dimensioned drawing. Curvature is verified against the form before the part leaves the workshop.
Ready to start your project? Send your drawings, samples or specifications to our team and receive a quotation within 24 hours. Request a quote or learn more about our factory.