SIX DAY CHAIRMAKING COURSE

The course is set in a charming outdoor summer workshop, and is taught by professional chair maker, Jason Mosseri. You will learn how to select a suitable green Ash log, cleave it into parts, and, using a wooden spring pole lathe, “turn” these parts into legs and stretchers. Then, using a shave horse and drawknife, you will make your spindles. Bows and crests will be steamed and then bent onto simple forms. Whilst these are all drying in the wood fired kiln, participants will be taught how to carve a seat using an Adze and a Travisher. Finally, after drilling the mortices and turning the tenons, we will frame the chair.

At the end of the six days, you will leave with a strong, elegant chair made by your own fair hand! Working in a lovely woodland setting for a week will give you the opportunity to settle into the tranquility of nature, and to deeply relax. Frequent tea breaks are encouraged, and the kettle’s always hot!

The two basic chairs that I teach, use all the above techniques, and are achievable with no previous experience. If you are experienced, and are seeking to improve and hone your skills, you can chose to make a more complicated chair, just let me know your ideas in advance.

“What a fabulous week’s woodworking in the woods. From the first minute the pole lathes began turning the experience was an utter delight, shared with a very special group of fellow enthusiastic novices. The course was immaculately constructed and, testament to your approach so were our end results; beautiful.”

– Seb