Chairmaking is the holy grail of greenwood working—just three days to get started but a lifetime to master. In this course, students will craft a bench using the techniques of green woodworking, utilizing freshly cut wood in shaping the components and in the joinery. We will witness the magic of shrinking wood and relative ease of working with hand tools. Legs will be shaped using a draw knife, spoke shave, and shaving horse. The seat will be from rough sawn logs, flattened and smoothed with hand planes. This project is a great introduction to hand tool woodworking. Students will learn how to cut tapered and compound angled holes for a stable bench seat. Students should expect to be standing for the majority of the sessions and should have moderate hand/grip strength.

Required Tools

All tools will be provided!  If you have a favorite draw knife, spoke shave or hand plane, you’re welcome to bring it