Author: robert@insidepassage.ca

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for a wonderful week in the Dovetails and Tool Making program (Inside Passage School of Fine Woodworking). You have shown me how to take a hobby, which I have always enjoyed, to a new level, to something that is now so much more. Your teaching was informative and your words inspirational. Please pass on my gratitude to everyone who had a part in creating such an extraordinary place.

Guest Faculty Program 2007 Brian Newell from left Jay T. Robert, Tadi, Stan, Jesse, Gary, Paul, Henry, Kevin, Rich, Brian, Rick, Gary, Jason, Cody, Brian & Ian.

Rick cuts his compound curved panel substraight on the bandsaw. This is Rick’s second program at the school and has already set to putting what he has learned into practice.

A skew plane that Robert made in the early nineties and gave to Brian several years ago when they were classmates at the College of the Redwoods.

Rich shapes the convex side of his substraight. This is Rich’s second program at our small school. He has sent several woodworkers our way and we are grateful for his patronage. We look forward to his next visit.

Brian shaping his solid core substraight. Brian has a mind for curves and an amazing family. Mia his eldest was born while he and Robert were in school at the College of the Redwoods.

Finn finishes off as Jay T and Nikki watch on. Jay T is a fine craftsman and possesses wonderful hand skills. His wife Nikki is also an artist. Her work is available at www.buyolympia.com Finn is a sweet young man and appears to be following his father’s footsteps.

Brian and Gary discuss the surface of Gary’s substraight. This is also Gary’s second visit. It was nice in this class to be surrounded by so many like-minded woodworkers. Despite what one might think, Brian’s class did not conflict with what we do but rather complimented what we offer at the school.

Jay T cleans up the concave surface of his substraight with a gouge. The methods taught by Brian were ingenious yet surprisingly simple.

Cody and Brian rough out the concave surface of Cody’s concave substraight. Cody was one of our first resident craftsmen; this was the second guest faculty program he has attended at our school. Always a pleasure.

Jesse, always a treat to have around. I had the opportunity to work with Jesse a few years ago and he has been a wonderful source of students ever since. He is getting married in a few weeks. We wish he and Melissa many years of happiness.

Paul and Stan at the bandsaws. The bandsaws saw a lot of use during Brian’s program. Paul is from Whitehorse Yukon and this is his third program at our school. He has a shop in Whitehorse and is doing fine work. We will look forward to his next visit.

Brian and Jason discuss Jason’s panel exercise. Teaching moments like this are often the ones that are fondly remembered.

Brian explains his bag on bag method of veneering panels. Innovation has played a large role in Brian’s success as a craftsman.

Form and compound curved substraight. The layers are cross-bonded and extremely strong and surprisingly stable.

Brian routes a spline to connect panels. Brian enjoys his work and it shows.

Brian Newell tests panel. Much of Brian’s work is research and development. He talks about momentum, ideas for the next piece coming while he finishes his current piece.

Rich’s completed parquetry panel in Macassar ebony. After discussion and demonstrations, students had the opportunity to put newly aquired skills to use.

Brian and Gary set up mockup compound curved cabinet. Brian shared with the group his simple yet effective sleds used for cutting the angles on these compound curved panels.

Brian wraps up the week with an informal discussion about the state of craft. Brian was well received by all our students. His organic teaching style was relaxed and entertaining. We look forward to his return.

Artisan A – Hand & machine Tools from left Ian, Robert, Stan, Nick, Bart, Doug, Juan Carlos, Henry & Kevin.

Kevin adjusts the knives on the jointer. Kevin, who is originally from Zimbabwe will be joining us for Plane Making and Surfaces this coming week.

Nick gets some fine shavings of his wooden smoother. A nice young man and aspiring craftsman from Sechelt.

Artisan B Plane Making & Surfaces and Artisan C Dovetails & Tool Making from left Ian, Kevin, Jason, Stan, Bart, Robert, Juan Carlos, Henry & Doug.

Doug checks the ramp of his wooden smoother for square. Doug is an Instructor at British Columbia Institute of Technology. We enjoyed very much having Doug with us for four weeks.

Bart shapes his wooden smoother. Bart is from Belgium and joined us four three weeks of programs this summer. Hopefully we can encourage him to return someday for another visit with his family.

Henry cleans up his half lapped dovetails. One of two six week Artisan Program students in our first session. Henry brought with him a great deal of experience as a cabinetmaker and has developed some very fine hand skills while at the school. Henry also took part in Brian Newell’s program immediately following the Artisan Program.

Stan cleans up his half lapped dovetails. Stan and his wife Barb joined us from Santa Barbra California. This was Stan’s second visit to our school and in addition to the six week Artisan Program Stan took both guest faculty programs this summer. Stan and his wife are dearly missed. I am often looking for his warm smile at his bench. We look forward to his next visit.

Ian demonstrates drawer fitting. Ian has developed into a fine teacher and is in the process of setting up his shop in Roberts Creek just down the road from our school. We will watch with anticipation for the fine pieces that will come from his shop.

Artisan D Joinery from left Stan, Nerissa, Robert, Kevin, Juan Carlos, Henry, Ian & Doug.

Nerissa with her doweled cabinet. Nerissa has returned for her second three-week stint at the school. Nerissa has set up a large Artisan Cooperative in Whitehorse Yukon.

Stan routes a groove for his panel. Stan really embraced the sensible balance between the use of hand and machine tools at the school. It is without hesitation that I would describe Stan as a true Krenovian.

Henry cleans out the rabbit for his frame & panel back.

On the Thursday evening teachers, students and alumni traveled to North Vancouver for the opening of the show “From the edge of the Forest”. We enjoyed a lovely meal at a small Greek restaurant before attending the opening. As a teacher, one gets a great deal of satisfaction watching the public praise student’s work. Jacques who was in attendance received well-received praise for his lovely piece. Lael was unable to attend as he was on a fishing boat in the ocean of the Alaskan coast. Lael will be setting up shop this fall. We were grateful to have these two fine craftsmen at our school and look forward to watching their progress. Jacques, if time permits will be joining us for the Journeyman Program in the spring.

From left: Jacques, Claire, Bruce, Kevin, Ian, Nerissa, Stan, Henry and Doug.

Artisan E Veneers & Curves and Artisan F Hardware & Finish from left Juan Carlos, Mark, Kevin, Robert, Stan, Federico, John, Michael, Henry, Nerissa, Bruce & Ian.

John planes the concave surfaces of his coopering exercise. John is a fine young craftsman from Minnesota here on a scholarship from the fine guild there.

A floor full of shavings what a great environment!

Michael trims his form for the curved veneer exercise. Michael and his partner, who is a weaver, are from Olympia Washington. Michael will be the first student to take part in our Resident Artisan Program this fall a program with a great deal of flexibility where the student is intimately involved with his or her own education. See our programs page for more details.

Robert demonstrates setting up the bandsaw for cutting veneer. Even a small saw if well tuned and set is capable of amazing results.

Mark shapes the convex of two of his staves during coopering exercise. Students now have the benefit of a wooden coopering plane; which Ian made for our student cabinets. Mark is from Vancouver Island and was joined by his wife for his first visit. Mark his since returned for Delightful Details with Garrett Hack.

Hinges and hardware underway. In Artisan F Hardware & Finish, students have the opportunity to make wooden latches, consoles and pulls. They are also introduced to brass work where they fabricate straight and “L” hinges. Furthermore they are exposed to the simple yet effective finishes used here at the school.

I had the opportunity to spend 12 weeks in the winter of 2003 at a course Robert was teaching. I can easily say the experience would have paled in comparison had Robert not been the head instructor. His overall woodworking knowledge and unfaltering commitment to craftsmanship was unprecedented and infectious to all his students throughout the three months. I was excited to hear he had the good fortune to open his own school and look forward to taking a course as soon as I have a chance. I’m confident that as well as a fantastic school, Inside Passage will foster a “community” of craftsmen.

Lael’s first piece, a wall cabinet in pear, red cabruva and Mendocino cypress. The use of graphics in this piece is outstanding. The workmanship is exquisite. The hardware, including hinges and wall hanging brackets, are shop made.

Lael’s second piece, a cabinet on a stand of hemlock, yew, Port Orford cedar, western maple & red cabruva. Lael utilized the prismatics of the hemlock in the parquetry band, which wraps three sides of the piece. The NK drawers are fit with let go with pulls of red cabruva. As finding clean pacific yew can be a challenge, Lael chose to veneer the legs, which are of a solid core and are attached to the rails using twin mortise and tenon construction. Lael has been a treat to have here at the school. His wife is flying down to join him for the drive home to Alaska where Lael will be fishing for the summer before setting up shop and begin independent work as a craftsman. We will enjoy watching this talented you man on his journey.

Ian’s sideboard completed in the fall of teak, beech, eastern maple and bocote. This piece was purchased by an Inside Passage Alumni from Germany and will be featured in the Furniture Society exhibition in Victoria. Ian is nearing completion of his rocking chair (waiting on upholstery) in Indian rosewood, which will be submitted for the jury process later this summer at the Northwest Furniture Gallery in Seattle. Ian has taken on an extended role at our school. He now teaches two and a half days per week in both the Craftsman and Artisan Programs.

Jacques’ first piece, a cabinet on stand of english brown oak, wenge, bocote, spalted curly maple, London plane, Imbuya & brass (shop made hardware). This lovely piece will also be heading down to Seattle for jury consideration.

Jacques’ second piece, a cabinet with integrated legs of doussie, spalted curly maple, Port Orford cedar and brass (shop made hardware). Jacques will be returning to Inside Passage in the spring to take part in our Journeyman Program before returning to the Maritimes to set up shop on the east coast. Jacques is a fine craftsman and was a huge help in the final days of the program assisting his fellow students. He will be sorely missed. He and his partner Claire are heading down to California to visit friends including Todd Sorenson, one of our Journeyman Craftsman and of course JK.

Federico’s cabinet on a stand completed in the first semester of claro walnut, wenge & Spanish cedar. This piece was purchased by an Inside Passage Alumni from Germany and will be heading to the Furniture Society Exhibition in Victoria.

Federico’s second piece, a compound curved parquetry table top cabinet of macassar ebony, wenge, Port Orford cedar, western maple & holly. This piece, which photography cannot possibly do any justice, involved a huge learning curve. Federico has begun to find his voice. We look forward to watching Federico’s skills continue to develop as he, along with other alumni, set up bench space at a cooperative shop opened by Stephen Esdon, one of last year’s graduates. Stephen joined us this past week where he shared his insights on setting up a shop and business, which was well received by all.

Scott King’s first piece, a treasure box for his daughter Isabella of European beech, Spanish cedar, Douglas fir & red cabruva. This special little cabinet is full of details. The workmanship is superb and covers many of the skills covered in the first semester of the program.

Scott’s second piece for his wife Kathy, a side chair of Narra & Danish cord. A challenging first chair very well done in a lovely wood from our friends at Gilmer Wood Company in Portland. The surfaces were finished primarily with a chair scrape, made earlier in the semester. Scott and his family will be returning to the Barbados where Scott will be setting up shop and commencing independent work. It has been a pleasure having Scott and his family here at the school and we will be sad to see them leave.

Juan Carlos’ first piece, a tabletop cabinet of pear, bubinga, maple, ambonya burl & Post Orford cedar. Juan Carlos’ architectural background is evident in his work. Back in Venezuela he did much of his work with simple tools. Juan has developed exceptional hand skills and we are pleased that he will be joining us for a second year of study. He and his wife Beatrice are heading down to California to visit friends including JK.

Juan Carlos’ second piece underway. This piece is an attempt to use some of the innovative methods he has used in his sculptures in a Krenovian wall cabinet. This piece will receive two small drawers in the bottom before heading down for the jury process in Seattle. Juan will remain at the school for part of the summer before returning to Venezuela for a short break before the Craftsman Program begins in September.

Steven’s second piece, a tabletop cabinet for his mom of Claro Walnut, Pacific Yew and Spanish cedar. A lovely piece, which shows the dramatic improvement in skill and knowledge since his arrival at the school. His first piece is being photographed and will be posted on our students web pages coming soon. Stephen has returned to his family in Powell River where he has a shop underway.

Juliette enjoys her homemade birthday cake made for the occasion by Robert.

While waiting for his upholstery Ian has been busy making a press table and ten coopering planes for the Artisan Program. The coopering planes are soon to see use in our very popular Artisan E Veneers & Curves offered twice each summer.

Scott burns the midnight oil to complete the weaving of his chair seat the night before the open house at 2:15am. The final push for a deadline gives students the taste of the life of an independent craftsman.

Scott and his lovely family enjoy his finished piece, a chair that is comfortable as it is beautiful. Scott tells me that he slept well that night, well deserved.

Ian assists Robert with the final demonstration for the year, slip seat upholstery.

Robert’s chair in wenge with shaping underway. This chair will receive weaved hickory bark seat. It will be shown along with student work during the upcoming Furniture Society Conference Show in Victoria.

Back of Scott’s Chair in Narra with joinery complete and shaping underway. Scott will complete the shaping in the next few days before moving onto prefinishing and assembly. Scott has done a fine job with both the workmanship and grain graphic selection and has learned a great deal in this rather demanding first chair.

Federico’s compound curved parquetry cabinet with doors fit and dialed in. Since this picture was taken the center rabbit for the doors has been done and the drawer compartment is underway. I have been unable to photograph this piece and do it any justice; it has to be seen to truly appreciate this inspiring piece finished in polish and wax.

Jon’s shop made rosette installed. Neck shaping and interior bracing is underway.

The back of Jacques’ cabinet of doussie and spalted maple glued up. Since this photo was taken the shelves and the access door at the top have been installed. The front doors have been fit and he is mocking up handles. Come by our open house and see this and other new work by our students.

Juan Carlos’ hinges nicely fit in top of curved cabinet. Juan has since moved onto finishing and assembly. We are very pleased that Juan will be joining us for a second year of study.

Interior of Lael’s cabinet complete with shelves and NK drawers of yew and western maple. Lael’s entire piece is made of locally harvested woods. Earlier in the program JK suggested mocking up stands once cabinets were nearing completion. Lael has learned the benefit of this, as the stand will be much higher than he originally intended. The design and workmanship of this piece is everything a teacher hopes for his student.

Steve’s cabinet glued up with drawers underway. Steve has done a wonderful job stretching what was a small piece of claro walnut into a fine cabinet. Although he did have to go through a pile of yew destined for firewood to find suitable material for the interior of the cabinet.

Lael’s cabinet with doors fit. Notice the attention to detail as parquetry pattern wraps around the edge of door and side of cabinet. So little yet so much.

Cole’s boxes assembled. This piece incorporates both solid and veneer construction as well as extensive metal work well underway. Cole has really embraced the metal work aspect of our program.

Juan Carlos’ layout for hinges. As the top, bottom and sides of his cabinet are curved, Juan Carlos needed to make and install double offset “L” hinges. As the top and bottom curves and angles are not consistent (intentionally), each set of hinges were slightly different.

Lael & Jacques play foosball on the deck. The foosball table was donated by Gary Kent and the Roberts Creek Cohousing and has provided our students many hours of intentional distraction.

Robert’s upcoming lectures will deal with slip seat upholstery and passage doors. The following week we will have our annual “Life after School” discussion.

The Benchroom This Week…

April 14, 2007

 

Federico’s compound curved parquetry cabinet dry fit. Federico is now finalizing surface preparation and finishing and has moved onto the interior drawer unit. A lovely piece filled with delightful details.

Jon shapes the neck for his classical guitar. The soundboard rosette has been installed and the sides bent. Jon’s musical background will be a tremendous advantage when it comes to the final adjustment of his instrument.

Scott’s twin mortise and tenon chair joinery underway. The chair is made of Narra, a lovely plank which was brought back from Gilmer’s in Portland during our fall wood run and features a Danish cord seat.

Lael’s parquetry cabinet dry fit. The parquetry and workmanship of this piece is exquisite and has been submitted for jury approval for the Edge of the Forest Exhibit taking place in North Vancouver this June.

Steve’s cabinet dry fit. Steve has done a fine job working through the many facets of this piece which includes shop sawn veneer, dowel construction and shop made hinges.

Ian’s chair dry fit. Ian is awaiting the leather upholstery work to be complete before moving onto final assemble. Ian will be submitting this piece to the Northwest Furniture Gallery in Seattle, a place he has previously shown for jury selection.

A detail of Jacques’ Cabinet’s shelf to side and back joinery. The rails are splined to the sides. The legs are then doweled to the sides. The shelves are splined to the side rails and these units are then doweled to the legs. A lot of work goes into furniture of this quality.

Juan uses a spoke shave to flush off his applied edges on the curved sides, top & bottom of his wall cabinet of bubinga and pear. We are pleased that Juan will be joining us for as second year of study.

Claire, Jacques’ partner recently took part in the April Fools’ half marathon here on the Sunshine Coast. Claire tutors Robert and Yvonne’s daughter Tadi who was there to cheer on her favorite teacher. Federico also took part in the run as part of his training for the upcoming Vancouver marathon which takes place in May.

Juan’s cabinet dry fit. Juan used the vacuum press and a form to bend the sides of Italian bending plywood prior to application of backed in edges, veneers and then applied edges. Juan has since moved onto the doweling of the carcass, the veneered back and the back panel, which you will have to wait to see in an upcoming issue of Benchroom this Week.

Todd in his final week demonstrates California French Polish, a method he learned while training with Ejler Hjorth-Westh. We are very grateful for Todd’s involvement with this year’s program. He is a fine craftsman and teacher and we look forward to his next visit. We have begun selecting craftsman to take part in next year’s craftsman program which consist of both graduates from both Inside Passage and the College of the Redwoods. The Journeyman Program provides our students with the opportunity to study with woodworkers who are working at our craft professionally.

Scott’s narra chair dry fit. One of Scott’s goals this year was to get an introduction to compound angled joinery, a chair was a logical place to start. After a thorough mock up, which included mocking up the Danish cord seat weave pattern, Scott hit the ground running and is well into his joinery.

Steve’s hinges underway. In the first semester Steve used butt hinges for his box so this has been a bit of a refresher in hinge making and installation. The following images show; his hinges underway; placement for installation; and a fine job of installation.

The benchroom is a busy place with many of our students preparing work for a number of shows being held in Vancouver and Victoria in conjunction with the upcoming Furniture Society Conference being held in Victoria.

Juliette presents her spice box complete with hand sewn spice pouches and lovely carved spoons. Juliette has decided to use the remainder of her time here making planes which will foster her enjoyment of handwork.

Jacques showcase cabinet dry fit. This piece is being juried for the Edge of the Forest Show being held this June in North Vancouver. We will release details in upcoming issues of Benchroom this Week.

I have always been impressed by people who have been doing woodworking since they were kids. I thought that this was the only way to become a talented, successful cabinetmaker. I didn’t discover woodworking myself, however, until I moved to Canada in my early thirties. This paradigm kept me from developing a career as a furniture maker for quite some time. But the desire to become a cabinetmaker did not go away. As time went by, it was becoming more evident that enhancing the inherent beauty of wood was very fulfilling for me.

In 2003, I realized the time had come for me to face some of those old fears and circumstances led me to discover a course offered in Ontario where Robert Van Norman, as resident-instructor, was at that time the driving force behind a twelve-week intensive artisan cabinetmaking course.

Robert is able to translate his craftsmanship and passion into a thrilling experience for all students. He is an inspiring teacher and a warm person. He gave me confidence in my ability to accomplish fine work and helped me explore and discover my own personal sensitivity towards materials and form.

I have taken several classes from Robert and in each one I have been thoroughly impressed with the caliber of his teaching and his craftsmanship. Robert is a patient and competent instructor with a talent for understanding what his students want to know when they ask a question. Robert inspires me to put forth my best effort in my projects and not to settle for “good enough”. I very much look forward to taking classes from him in the future.

Jim Krenov’s lecture this week dealt with a number of areas which directly related to work underway at the school. He began with applied edges and talked about the considerations including graphics, dimensions and shaping. He then talked about process of mocking up stands for a cabinet and emphasized the importance of grain graphics. In our work, craftsmanship and the careful selection of grain is often what differentiates what we do from other craftsman. Jim has emphasized this point in many of his lectures this year.

Todd’s mockup underway of easy chair. Todd has since moved onto arms and the crest rail. When designing a chair the craftsman has to be conscious of all of the aspects of making fine cabinets with the added concern of ergonomics and perhaps a greater degree of structural integrity.

Todd demonstrated the process of making drop pulls this week. Shown are some notes and the beginnings of a drop pull. Drop pulls ad a formal element to any work, and while they are not suitable for every piece they are but just another option.

One of Lael’s door panels awaiting the inlays which have been positioned to ensure correct prismatics. The parquetry for this piece uses conventional and inlay methods. The panels have undergone several processes to get to this stage. Lael has returned to Alaska to be with his wife Catherine over the spring break.

Steve sorts through his claro walnut and yew veneers. Steve has to stretch is claro walnut veneers and has had to saw up a lot of yew to find appropriate interior veneers. A fine example of the workmanship of risk. Steve, with many of our students, has enjoyed having Todd at the school and are taking full advantage of another set of eyes.

Lael uses the mechanical press to set in his inlays for his parquetry. The mechanical press with fixtures can be used for curved work, it excels with flat work especially when having to do small pieces such as the inlays in his parquetry.

Juliette checks the fit of the joinery for her frame. Juliette used a thorough mockup which included the joinery in poplar before moving onto the imbuya which will later receive a figured imbuya panel.

Jacques uses a spline to attach rail to veneered panel. With the joinery complete, each piece will now undergo surface preparation and refinishing prior to glue up. Joe Amaral, one of Roberts former classmates was consulted on the finishing of the spalted maple which has the reputation of sucking up finish. A thinned down epoxy will be used as a sealer coat followed by polish or shellac with perhaps a few coats of wax. Jacques has a sample panel underway which works with our “Don’t commit until you have to.” approach.

Cole flushes up baked in edges on one of his substraights. Cole’s final piece incorporates nearly all of the aspects covered in the craftsman program including joinery, selection of material, solid and veneered construction and metal work.

Ian dry fits one last time before he begins a series of glue ups of his rockers side frames. The sculpted components are pre shaped and will be later refined following assembly. Exceptional work in a demanding wood.

Jacques uses a simple jig to size his shop made hinges. Our students are required to make the hardware for their first piece, many enjoy the process and have continued making the hardware for their second pieces. There is a quiet satisfaction knowing one has done all the work in a piece. Jacques has been an enthusiastic student taking full advantage of the after hours access to the school and has made significant progress as a craftsman since arriving at the school.

Juan Carlos’ substraights with baked in attached and applied edges chosen. Not shown are the forms that were made to bend the substraight. Curves add significant work and a larger material waste factor. The subtle curves and panel detail of this piece are well worth the time involved.

Scott celebrates his birthday with a cake made by Jacques. It appears Jacques’ talents extend beyond the benchroom. As is tradition the person who celebrated their birthday last is responsible for brining the cake.

Scott begins to look for parts for his chair in part of his plank of narra over five inches thick. One of the special planks that was brought back from Gilmer’s in October. Scott finished his cabinet a few weeks ago and has hit the ground running with every intention of having his chair complete for our year end.

The Benchroom This Week…

Mar 09, 2007

 

JK’s Lecture this week began with a thorough review of cabinet and card scrapers. Jim then introduced NK drawer construction which will be demonstrated later this week and discussed the possibilities and considerations for hung drawers. Jim’s talks continue to inspire the students and faculty of our small school.

Lael cleans up the edge of his parquetry panel. Lael is submitting this piece for jury consideration in the upcoming “From The Edge Of The Forest” Objects made of indigenous British Columbia wood show which takes place June 15 to July 14, 2007 at the Cityscape Community Art Space 335 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver British Columbia.

Jacques presents his first piece to the class. Jacques finished this piece some time ago and is already well into his second, a veneered showcase cabinet of doussie and spalted maple.

Juan Carlos presents his first piece to the class. Juan has moved onto a curved veneer wall cabinet with an amazing frame and panel door. Beatrice, Juan Carlos’ wife made “arapas”, a Venezuelan specialty for
the presentation which were amazing.

Scott presented has cabinet on a stand to the class and is already nearing completion of his chair mockup. This piece covers many of the methods covered in the first portion of the program with the only exception being coopering. His first piece titled “Isabella’s Treasures” was made for his daughter who he and his wife Kathy adopted almost a year ago. The cabinet is nicely done with many lovely details to be discovered. We have enjoyed having Scott and his family here at our school.

Federico’s compound curved cabinet in macassar ebony and wenge dry fit to trace the curve of the door on the top and bottom for shaping. Federico has since completed the veneering of his parquetry back panel and has made the custom hinges for this deceivingly complex piece.

Steve edge joints his yew veneer for the interior of his claro walnut cabinet on a stand. Steve had to go through a lot of yew to find suitable material for his piece. He also had to be very careful to get enough claro walnut veneers and edging for his piece out of his plank.

Jacques assists Ian with the dry fitting of his chair enabling him to determine placement of stretchers. The workmanship of this piece is spot on and I know Ian is anxious to begin the shaping after all the intense joinery has been complete.

Jacques preparing the port orford cedar surfaces of the back panel interior of his showcase cabinet. Jacques and a few others continue to take full advantage of the extended shop hours available to our students.

Head piece veneers of Jon’s guitar, with hand cut joinery for sides complete. So many of the methods we use in fine furniture making is transferable to instrument making.

Todd Sorenson, guest teacher from the College of the Redwoods has been a welcome addition to the shop. His sound knowledge of the material and his fine abilities as a teacher has been a pleasure to experience. We are grateful that Todd will be joining us for the next six weeks.

Lael edge glues the inlay squares for his parquetry cabinet of hemlock, yew and port orford cedar. This piece even in its early stages is stunning. Lael has a fine eye and good hands.

Cole put aside the dovetails for the time being as he works out his substrates for the veneered portion of his traditional Japanese hibachi. Cole is incorporating most of the methods covered thus far this year in this piece.

Scott assembles his chair mockup. Scott has really hit the ground running on his chair mockup no doubt at least in part by having our guest teacher, Todd Sorenson here from California.

Juliette uses her block plane to square the ramp of her coopering plane prior to running the slot for cap screw. Plane making, like many of the things we do encourages a sensible balance between the use of hand and machine tools.

Juan Carlos’ curved panel substrates out of the press. Juan has begun the process of applying his baked-in edges. We are pleased that Juan Carlos will be joining us for a second year of study.

Todd sits in Scott’s mockup. Todd’s extensive work with Ejler Hjorth-Westh has been a tremendous asset as we have several chairs on the go in the shop including one that Todd is currently in mockup stages of building.

The Benchroom This Week…

Mar 04, 2007

Jason leads a walkaround. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jason for giving me the best week I have had since I began teaching; a full week of woodworking. Teaching has become a passion for me however if you are not practicing what you teach, sooner or later you run out of things to talk about.

Federico’s parquetry back panel of macassar ebony and wenge prior to edge gluing. Federico has begun making the custom hinges for his cabinet which will allow the the doors to swing on his compound curved cabinet.

Lael’s parquetry door and side veneers ready to be laid up on substraights. Lael has had to become very creative not only with his piece but with how he is working his material. Lael has a good aptitude for this craft and it has been a pleasure to watch his progress as a craftsman.

Ian’s upholstery frame for his rocking chair showing tapered laminations with compound angle, twin-tenon joinery. There are many lessons in this chair, almost a shame to cover up all this joinery and tapered laminations with leather upholstery.

Scott’s cabinet nearing completion will be presented to the class this coming week. Scott will be taking on a chair for his final piece where he will appreciate having Todd Sorensen at the school who is here taking part in our journeyman program. Todd is a two year graduate of the College of the Redwoods’ Fine Woodworking Program where he has also taught on occasion. Todd has also worked extensively with Ejler Hjorth Westh who is know for his chair work.

JK’s lecture this week primarily dealt with chair making, a subject he humbly claims to know little about. The lecture was informative, inspiring, thought provoking and as always, entertaining. With Jason here this week Robert managed to complete the joinery for his chair and gave him something to talk about.

 

Juliette uses a file to soften the corners of her dovetailed box made of imbuya. Carving, a developing passion, continues to occupy much of her time at the school.

Steve uses a negative template to search through his shop-sawn claro walnut veneers. Steve’s cabinet will be made of a very sweet piece of curly claro walnut and some lovely local yew.

Cole chops a set of tails for his traditional Japanese hibachi of teak which will later be lined with copper. This week, in between cutting some fine joinery, Cole managed to make a pair of Chinese scissors. Cole’s
innovation and enthusiasm for tool making has been exciting to watch.

Jon planes the scarf joint for his guitar neck of Spanish Cedar. Guitar making has much in common with fine furniture making including a sensible balance of hand and machine tools. JK talks fondly of George Bolin a resident craftsman at Carl Malmsten’s School where he trained. Jim later on was instrumental (excuse the pun) in changing the life of one of his students, Jack Bogdanovich who has generously sent us a complimentary copy of his new book “Classical Guitar Making: A Modern Approach to Traditional Design”.

Jacques celebrated his 26th Birthday this week. With his veneers laid up on substraights, Jacques has begun searching for the rails for his cabinet. Jacques took full advantage of having Jason here last week and continues to make fine progress on his piece.

Juan Carlos’ completed cabinet of pear, bubinga and plum. Juan has since moved onto a curved veneered wall cabinet. In addition to having a good eye Juan has great hands and it shows in his work.