CHR300E23 Make a Dining Chair with Michael Fortune

For many woodworkers, chair-making seems daunting. It represents a big jump in skill development and is a fantastic learning opportunity.

Chairs are subject to tremendous physical stresses, but they must also be comfortable and attractive if they are to be useful. To meet all of those needs, there are several important details that must be considered.

In designing a chair, the woodworker must balance aesthetics with utility, always considering the interplay between style and strength. The best solutions produce both satisfying proportions and sturdy joints.

But how do you get there?

Master furniture-maker Michael Fortune leads this special six-day course on chair-making, in which each student will build their own chair based on of Michael’s tried-and-true designs.

Michael will guide us through his design process, as well as possible design variations and construction techniques. You will emerge from this class with an appreciation of the factors needed to make a good chair, including ergonomics, joint strength, comfort, size, and shaping.

The finished chair will be a welcome addition to any room as an occasional chair or, if you are adventurous, you can practice your newly acquired skills in your own shop by making a whole set.

You will learn:

• How to design a chair based on intended use
• What factors to consider when designing a chair
• Joint design and construction
• Lay out and make compound cuts
• Chair shaping
• Cutting patterns on the bandsaw
• Cutting compound tapers on the table saw
• And more!

Prerequisite: Fundamentals I or equivalent.