by Elia Bizzarri | May 22, 2018 | Classes, How-To | 1 Comment
One of my students filmed this short video during his week in my shop building a Continuous Arm Windsor chair. It's fun for me to hear some of the random things I say during a week in the shop. Maybe you'll enjoy it too... I just had a cancellation in my August...
by Elia Bizzarri | May 9, 2018 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies, How-To | 6 Comments
The following are my thoughts on drill bits for Windsor chairmaking. Bear in mind that I have used some of these bits (augers, bradpoints, etc.) daily for 15 years and other bits I have used infrequently. In these reviews, I am comparing well tuned examples of...
by Elia Bizzarri | Apr 18, 2018 | Craft Films | 1 Comment
If I was a farmer I would grow chairs. A couple years ago, Curtis Buchanan sent me photos of chairs by the company Full Grown. I think they are brilliant: Apparently it takes seven years to grow a chair, exponentially less than it takes to grow the trees I...
by Elia Bizzarri | Mar 28, 2018 | Chair Stories, Chairmaking Tools and Supplies | 1 Comment
Teresa bought a Comb Back Rocker, a chair I built with my friend Don a couple years ago. Here’s a story about her chair: I put the finishing touches on the Comb Back Rocker, and set down my brush. “Brush; Comb...” my mind set off, as my father’s does, on a caper of...
by Elia Bizzarri | Mar 16, 2018 | Antique Chairs | 2 Comments
My girlfriend Morgan and I went to an estate sale last weekend that had several early 19th C. Windsors, including this settee. I love looking at old chairs - there's so much to learn. It's pretty big, 60 or 70" wide. The seat is too deep for comfort...
by Elia Bizzarri | Feb 5, 2018 | Chairs For Sale | 1 Comment
My photographer recently sent me a bunch of photos, including picture of some new tables I've been working on. I've never put any of my work up for sale on this blog, but I have a number of tables floating around the house, so here goes: A walnut-topped...
by Elia Bizzarri | Feb 1, 2018 | Chair Stories, Classes | 3 Comments
Last month Leo bought a Velda's Arm chair, a chair I made at Anderson Ranch with the class I was teaching there. Here's a story about his chair: Imagine spending a hard day's work shaping a single piece of walnut, then putting it in a piping hot steam chamber....
by Elia Bizzarri | Jan 10, 2018 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies, How-To | 5 Comments
Nearly any wood will work for a Windsor chair seat. It depends on how much work you are willing to do and how heavy a chair you want to move every time you finish dinner. I refuse to use anything but the highest quality and most easily worked materials available. In...
by Elia Bizzarri | Dec 30, 2017 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies, Craft Films | 4 Comments
With the holidays, a new girlfriend and huge quantities of tool orders, I have been delinquent in my blog posts lately. This year saw a huge growth in my business, with Seth Elliott starting to help me make tools, refurbish drawknives and sell rivings. I wasn't...
by Elia Bizzarri | Nov 19, 2017 | Chair Stories | 4 Comments
My student Christophe from Australia commissioned three Pete's Stools with white oak legs and butternut seats. Here's the story about his chairs: I like the log yard when it is quiet, and the three-man crew is waiting for trucks to arrive. At those times, Junior...
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