LEARN THE CRAFT OF LADDERBACK CHAIRMAKING
Each class will take you, step-by-step, through the process of hand crafting a ladderback /post & rung chair. This year in addition to the Brian Boggs designed Berea line of chairs Jeff Lefkowitz’ 2-slat ladderback chair will be offered. Each class covers every aspect of making a ladderback chair, beginning with lumber selection all the way through final assembly using hide glue.
All classes are 7 days, Sunday through Saturday except where noted
Students go home with a finished chair
Students shape the parts, assemble the chair and weave the seat
Class size is limited to 3 students unless notedAll classes are 7 days unless noted otherwise
Cancelation Policy:
Each class reservation requires a deposit (50% of Tuition). Please note, when you reserve a class, you are committing to pay the full tuition regardless of whether you attend the class. If you are unable to attend for any reason, I will try to fill the spot and will return your money when another student fills it. Early notice will help ensure that your spot fills. My classes are limited to 3 students to ensure personal attention, but that means that it’s important that all students are attend or give time for another student to have a chance to attend. Full tuition payments must be received 8 weeks prior to the start of the class or the spot may be offered to someone else.
Intro to Ladderback Chairmaking: Lefkowitz 2-slat side chair
a wonderful 2-slat side chair developed by Jeff Lefkowitz is both comfortable and functional. The class includes all aspects of chair making including steam bending, hand shaping, drilling compound angles, assembly and weaving a seat. the seat can be woven with either Shaker tape, split reed or hickory bark (when available)
High Back Sack Back
make a contemporary or traditional version of this copy of a late 1700’s New England high sack back. its extremely comfortable and functional. The class incorporates all aspects of chairmaking including steam bending. riving and shaping parts, seat carving and assembly
Berkshire Rocking Chair
A medium sized rocker that is both comfortable and functional. The class includes all aspects of chair making including steam bending, hand shaping, drilling compound angles, assembly, installing and balancing rockers and weaving a seat. the seat can be woven with either Shaker tape, split reed or hickory bark (when available)
Boggs Berea Rocking Chair
Designed by Brian Boggs this large rocking chair developed during his years in Berea, Kentucky. The class includes all aspects of chair making including steam bending, hand shaping, drilling compound angles, assembly and weaving a seat. the seat can be woven with either Shaker tape, split reed or hickory bark (when available)
Intro To Windsor Style Chair Making
Learn the Craft of Windsor Chairmaking
Classic Windsor side chair that incorporates all aspects of Windsor chair building. The class focuses on hand tool skills and green woodworking techniques.
This class will take you, step-by-step, through the process of hand crafting a Windsor Fan Back chair. It covers every aspect of making a Windsor style chair, beginning with lumber selection, chairmaking tools, hand shaping parts, working with compound angles, all the way through final assembly.
The building of this Windsor chair will be primarily with hand tools. (all turned parts will be provided) with a concentration on the making of a strong chair joint.
Intro to Ladderback Chairmaking: Jenny Alexander style ladderback
Each SEVEN day class will take you, step-by-step, through the process of hand crafting a ladderback /post & rung chair. This year in addition to the Brian Boggs designed Berea line of chairs the Litchfield Hills ladderback chair will be offered. Each class covers every aspect of making a ladderback chair, beginning with lumber selection all the way through final assembly using hide glue.
More information at: Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking, Manchester CT, Class Schedule (schoolofwoodworking.com)
Intro to Fan Back Windsor Chairmaking
Classic Windsor side chair that incorporates all aspects of Windsor chair building. The class focuses on hand tool skills and green woodworking techniques.
This course will take you, step-by-step, through the process of hand crafting a Windsor Fan Back chair. It will cover every aspect of making a Windsor style chair, beginning with lumber selection, chairmaking tools, hand shaping parts, working with compound angles, all the way through final assembly. Concentration will be on the making of a strong chair joint. The building of this Windsor chair will be primarily with hand tools. (all turned parts will be provided.)
LEARN HOW TO
Use hand tools: drawknife, spokeshave, reamer, scorp and scraper
Steam-bending
Layout and drill compound angles
Use of tapered mortise and tenon joints
Use moisture content and grain orientation to make a long-lasting joint
Assembly using hide glue
Boggs Berea Rocking Chair
Building the 6-slat rocking chair is the ultimate achievement for woodworking fans of Brian Boggs. Beautiful and comfortable, it’s a chair you’ll want to sit in every day. And, it’s a chair you’ll want to pass down to your children.
This seven day class will take you, step-by-step, through the process of hand crafting a Brian Boggs designed Rocking Chair. Because class size is limited to three students, you get personalized instruction and can work at your own pace. Every process is broken down into small, manageable steps so that you can concentrate on mastering one task at a time before moving onto the next. Whenever a new process is introduced, especially for hand shaping, you are given the opportunity to practice on spare material before working on your actual chair part. In addition to showing you how, I always explain why, so that you will understand underlying concepts and how each step fits into the big picture.
In this advanced class you’ll build on the skills you acquired in the introductory class. Because of the complexity of this chair the rear legs and slats are steam bent and most parts are rough milled prior to your arrival (these tasks are described in detail in the manual if you want to build this chair in your own shop). This allows you to spend all of your time working on the many parts of this chair — shaping the curved rear legs and slats, mortising for slats and rungs, shaping the arms and runners, assembly with hide glue, and installing and balancing the runners.
LEARN HOW TO
Hand shape curved and straight parts using a drawknife, spokeshave and scraper
Prep and turn the front legs
Shape and install the arms
Work with angles and curved parts
Use moisture content and grain orientation to make a long-lasting joint
Assemble using hide glue
Sharpen chairmaking tools
Weave a seat
REVIEW HOW TO
Select lumber and mill parts for chairmaking
Steam bend the rear legs and slats
Windsor Contemporary Fan-back
This course will take you, step-by-step, through the process of hand crafting a Windsor Fan Back chair. It will cover every aspect of making a Windsor style chair, beginning with lumber selection, chairmaking tools, hand shaping parts, working with compound angles, all the way through final assembly. Concentration will be on the making of a strong chair joint. The building of this Windsor chair will be primarily with hand tools. (all turned parts will be provided.)
LEARN HOW TO
Use hand tools: drawknife, spokeshave, reamer, scorp and scraper
Steam-bending
Layout and drill compound angles
Use of tapered mortise and tenon joints
Use moisture content and grain orientation to make a long-lasting joint
Assembly using hide glue
To ask questions or register for this class call 203-837-6369 or contact me via e-mail
Intro to Ladderback Chairmaking, JA style chair
American chairmaker David Douyard is coming back to teach at the Field & Found Chairmakers Workshop in Red Hill, Victoria.
To coincide once again with the Lost Trades Fair, David is travelling to Australia to teach a 6 day masterclass in Greenwood Appalachian ladderback chair making where 6 students will learn how to make a Jennie Alexander style ladderback chair using traditional green wood-working techniques. Starting with a log on day one and finish weaving a seat by day 6.
Opening the Field & Found workshop again and to have David back in Australia to teach these wonderful little JA ladderbacks is such an exciting way to kick off 2024. Following the completion of the class David will be demonstrating alongside over 150 other artisans at the Lost Trades Fair in Bendigo on the 9th and 10th of March.
All tools for the week are provided, however feel free to bring your own to use if you like.
Both classes come with cottage accomodation offerings on the Birch Creek farm, places are limited so be sure to book in quick!
Perch Stool Class
January 13 - 15: Perch Stool, Ct Valley School of Woodworking, Manchester CT, Class Schedule (schoolofwoodworking.com) 8 students - Full
Of the registration fee, $500 is non-refundable. To cancel registration, email david@daviddouyardchairmaker.com If cancellation is received at least 30 days prior to start of the class, registration fee can be applied towards another class if available. Refunds and credits are not available for cancellations less than 30 days prior to start of class.
I have read and understand the cancellation and refund policy for woodturning classes. I agree to this policy.