The Windsor chair has graced American homes since the mid eighteenth century, before there was even a “United States” to speak of. Rich in tradition and lore yet instantly recognizable for its clean lines and simple form, the Windsor chair is a classic project. Join David Abeel to craft a Windsor Comb Back Side chair, rooted in traditional design but using modern tools and tricks to make this project accessible to students of all levels. Students will practice layout and drilling for compound leg angles, mortise and tenon joinery, shaping and fitting a variety of locally indigenous wood species from the Great Lakes region: white pine, poplar, cherry, maple, ash and oak. Legs will be through mortised, glued and wedged. The finished chair will be engineered for comfort, portability, and strength and will complement traditional and contemporary settings. All students will take home a completed chair that is glued up, leveled and ready for paint or clear finish at home.

You will need the following tools for this class:

All required tools/materials are provided by your instructor and North House and will be available once the course begins.

Students are welcome to bring hand tools from home if they would like to incorporate them into their work. Draw knives, spoke shaves, hand planes, travishers would be examples.