by Elia Bizzarri | Jan 15, 2017 | Craft Films | 0 Comments
I just stumbled upon this old Folkstreams video for the second time - it's well worth watching. A poplar or basswood log and five tools: scribe, ax, adz, drawknife and a knife. No work-holding devices, but a neat way to hold the shovel using his feet...
by Elia Bizzarri | Jan 1, 2017 | Antique Chairs | 0 Comments
I just started a fun job. A customer wants two copies of this early 19th C. barstool. I love getting to spend time with old chairs like this - there is so much to learn. Last week I turned the turned parts and bent those that get bent. The new and...
by Elia Bizzarri | Dec 27, 2016 | Chair Stories | 0 Comments
This week I shipped a Fan Back and a Birdcage Side Chair to Rene in California. Here's the story that went along with her chairs (I'll get back to some how-to articles soon): My Grandmother was a hands-on sort of woman. She was an artist and drew medical...
by Elia Bizzarri | Dec 10, 2016 | Classes | 0 Comments
Classes in My Shop I have added several classes to my 2018 schedule (more info on my teaching page): LOOP BACK SIDE CHAIR, January 22nd to 27th, 2018 – $1200 – FULL CONTINUOUS ARM SETTEE, February 19th to 24th, 2018 – $1400 – FULL (returning students only) CONTINUOUS...
by Elia Bizzarri | Nov 9, 2016 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies, Finishing | 0 Comments
We've painted the red coats on our rocker in a few previous posts, so it's time for the black: Make sure you spoon the foam off the top of the paint. I do this every time I mix up paint. Some brands of paint have more foam than others. I'm trying to keep...
by Elia Bizzarri | Oct 15, 2016 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies, How-To, Kiln | 0 Comments
Part two of my three part kiln series. Kilns can be heated in two different ways. The heat source can run all the time, so that the temperature of the kiln is relative to the temperature of the air in your shop. Or the heat source can be controlled by a thermostat -...
by Elia Bizzarri | Sep 18, 2016 | Antique Chairs, How-To | 0 Comments
The last time I saw Jennie Alexander was 15 years and two months ago. She was John then and I was a 17 year old kid. I spend three weeks living in Baltimore learning to build a 17th century joint stool and learning to think like a lawyer. I visited Jennie on my way to...
by Elia Bizzarri | Aug 21, 2016 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies, Classes, How-To, Kiln | 0 Comments
A kiln dried tenon, an air-dried mortise, no glue and a sloppy fit: wait overnight and the tenon will swell so tight that you can't budge it. At least that is true where I live - I don't know what happens in the desert. Temperature How hot does your kiln need to be to...
by Elia Bizzarri | Aug 7, 2016 | Craft Films | 0 Comments
I thought you all might like to see a fun, short video Roy Underhill and I did after we filmed a TV show last week: Bentwood Firewood Carrier FailHappy Woodwright Wednesday! Who's ready for some fresh video? It's blazing hot out there, so why not get a jump on winter...
by Elia Bizzarri | Jul 27, 2016 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies | 0 Comments
A year ago, teaching at Roy Underhill's school, a student was struggling to get his rocker bottoms beveled so they would touch the floor evenly. I said half-joking, "We need to add a outrigger onto the plane to ride on the other rocker." I was teaching in Portland...
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