“Most woodworkers are both fascinated with and in awe of chairmaking. Chairs are seen as the pinnacle of the woodworker’s art and impossibly complex to make.”
Jeff Miller, Chairmaking & Design, 2006
Whilst no one chair can cover all the approaches to chair making, this course covers many of the major challenges associated with chairs. Students will make a pre-designed full-size dining chair in 10 days and in so doing, experience multiple stages of chair design and construction.
Introduced on the full-time furniture makers program in 2023, this approach proved highly successful, and is now being offered as a stand-alone short course for those wishing to start their journey into designing and constructing chairs.
Course content:
Reading, understanding, and creating scale drawings
Appreciation of grain and figure when selecting and machining timber
Safe static machinery and power tool operations
Chair structure and joinery and its contribution to durability
Laying out and cutting accurate joints
Shaping and profiling parts
Jig and workshop aids for chairmaking
Planning and undertaking effective glue ups
Sanding and preparing parts for final finishing
Selecting and applying suitable finishes
Students will start by reproducing a scale drawing which will aid in the reading and comprehension of drawings; the aim being to assist students produce their own chair drawings in the future.
A cutting list for all parts is derived from the drawings and students will then make the components. The focus then moves to accurately laying out and cutting joints.
With joinery complete, the parts are shaped and profiled, often using custom made jigs and other workshop aids.
The course will also cover the need for a glue up strategy. Finally, time will be spent on the preparation of parts for finishing. Suitable finishes and how to apply them will also be covered.
Course Dates
13th - 24th May 2024
Course Fee
$2500 including all materials.
Tutor
Stuart Faulkner
If you require any further information or would like to enrol, please complete the form below or call (03) 545 2674.
“The course exceeded my expectations in every way. ”