This workshop will be an intensive investigation into the design and construction of dining or desk chairs. Making a unique, comfortable, strong and attractive chair is a wonderful challenge and is considered by most to be the pinnacle of woodworking. This course will give you both the anthropometric data (critical human dimensions) required to design comfortable chairs and a simple and effective step by step approach to successfully building chairs even if they incorporate compound curved members and seemingly complex joinery. Participants will develop their own chair design with Michael’s guidance during the class and will then fabricate a full size mock up that can be sat in and evaluated.

The history of chairs will be covered in a slide presentation. Demonstrations on how to make scale models, full size mock ups and jig making for chairs will take place throughout the week. Straightforward methods of upholstering chair seats and backs will be also be covered. Michael will bring examples of several chairs that he has made and will discuss what inspired the designs and how he employs an organized sequence of jigs to fabricate his chairs. The “Getting to Know Your Bandsaw” class on August 15 and the “Using Jigs to Advance Your Woodworking Skills” class on August 16 are ideal classes to take in addition to this 5-day class.

Class fee: $950

Materials fee: $100

Class size limited to 10