Whether you heat your home or cabin with wood, or just carry it to the backyard bonfire pit, the steam-bent firewood carrier you'll make in this course is fantastically useful (and quite pleasing to the eye). By following a pattern developed by chair-maker Dave Sawyer, students will learn the techniques of preparing green wood using hand tools exclusively. Once sized, the main bow will be steamed until flexible and bent over a form to dry overnight. The second day will be spent shaping the cross braces, assembling the carrier, then scraping the surface. The elegant beauty of this project is that although only a small amount of wood is used, this carrier will easily haul up to 50 pounds of firewood. This project is an excellent introduction to some of the processes used by chair-makers, and allows students to make a beautiful utilitarian object that will last a long time. To best use our class time, the process of preparing our material by splitting and riving billets out of a freshly cut ash log will happen in the evening prior to the course (Friday 6pm-8pm). Students are encouraged to attend the Friday evening work session if they are able and/or interested, but it is not a requirement of the course and there are no charges associated with participation.

Required Tools

• Sturdy, close-toed shoes

• Leather gloves

Optional Tools

• Bring these if you have your own favorites- drawknife, spokeshave, hand drill, scrapers

This course is part of Winterers’ Gathering 2022! Plan to stick around for a weekend filled with northern stories, films, and more. The event begins on Thursday, November 17 and concludes on Sunday, November 20.