Wonderful to see the photo of Dave Sawyer and you. I was in the audience that week. I'd signed up for the conference on a whim but had no interest in Windsor chairs. You two looked like you were having so much fun I decided I needed to make a Windsor. In 2014 I got my chance. Elia Bizzari was here in Portland, OR at Rogowski's shop and I made a CA arm Windsor with him. It was such fun I resolved to make a settee. Some time later I saw you back presenting at Williamsburg. During the final day Q&A I asked you what special considerations went into a settee. Your reply was that there were none, but "watch the tapering of the center legs. They come in fast!"
Last year (2024) I got around to making a CA arm settee, using the kiln dried approach of your videos. Sure enough I'd tapered the outer legs and was starting the center legs. I was happily reaming away and suddenly I heard your voice in my head "They come in fast!". I immediately jerked the reamer out of the mortise and, sure enough, I was right on the edge of going too deeply. Fortunately, the angle was fine and I avoided having to plug and redrill the mortise. So, many thanks for living in my head for the last 10 years or so and saving my bacon. And thanks for sparking (with Dave Sawyer) an interest in Windsors in me and showing how to use kiln dried wood. I wish I'd met Dave. He seemed like a genuinely generous spirit.
Dave (Portland Or)
P.S. I'm enjoying very much your Chairmaker's Notebook.
it still focuses on chairs, but with more complexity and working with the materials differently, such as starting from boards instead of logs, plus, maybe rockers
Wonderful to see the photo of Dave Sawyer and you. I was in the audience that week. I'd signed up for the conference on a whim but had no interest in Windsor chairs. You two looked like you were having so much fun I decided I needed to make a Windsor. In 2014 I got my chance. Elia Bizzari was here in Portland, OR at Rogowski's shop and I made a CA arm Windsor with him. It was such fun I resolved to make a settee. Some time later I saw you back presenting at Williamsburg. During the final day Q&A I asked you what special considerations went into a settee. Your reply was that there were none, but "watch the tapering of the center legs. They come in fast!"
Last year (2024) I got around to making a CA arm settee, using the kiln dried approach of your videos. Sure enough I'd tapered the outer legs and was starting the center legs. I was happily reaming away and suddenly I heard your voice in my head "They come in fast!". I immediately jerked the reamer out of the mortise and, sure enough, I was right on the edge of going too deeply. Fortunately, the angle was fine and I avoided having to plug and redrill the mortise. So, many thanks for living in my head for the last 10 years or so and saving my bacon. And thanks for sparking (with Dave Sawyer) an interest in Windsors in me and showing how to use kiln dried wood. I wish I'd met Dave. He seemed like a genuinely generous spirit.
Dave (Portland Or)
P.S. I'm enjoying very much your Chairmaker's Notebook.
thanks David, what a wonderful story! Keep up the good work
Looking forward to it.
Thanks!
I’m excited for this, thanks for writing!
Very exciting! What new topic will your new book hold? Different process w/different Windsor Chairs ?
Jeff,
it still focuses on chairs, but with more complexity and working with the materials differently, such as starting from boards instead of logs, plus, maybe rockers
Awesome, I try to read just about everything you have accessible, I have learned so much from you, this is really exciting stuff!