by Elia Bizzarri | Jul 27, 2020 | Classes | 2 Comments
In the last three weeks, I have learned more about USB ports, bitrates and internet hotpsots than any chairmaker should ever know. Having tested everything to the best of my abilities, I am now ready to run my first class, this Saturday, August 1st,...
by Elia Bizzarri | Jul 20, 2020 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies, Classes | 26 Comments
P.S. If you are getting this via a e-mail account that doesn't show photos, the first image contains the post text - you can view it on my blog
by Elia Bizzarri | Jul 7, 2020 | Classes | 1 Comment
I miss this scene. A group of excited students show up on Monday morning and experience green wood for the first time. Like everyone else, my teaching has completely dried up. I'm lucky that I have a diverse means of income; tools and chair parts are...
by Elia Bizzarri | Jun 30, 2020 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies | 7 Comments
The last few months have been a time of innovation for me. I've been working on a new tool to produce - a handled scraper for cleaning up chair seats. Right now I'm trying to bend the handles out of walnut, which isn't real easy. I've also been...
by Elia Bizzarri | May 3, 2020 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies | 0 Comments
For your entertainment and edification, here are some more British Pathe woodworking videos. If you watch one, watch the tennis rackets - it's a pretty neat look at a mechanized shop that was still using a froe and drawknife. Turners making chess pieces in Hungry in...
by Elia Bizzarri | Apr 23, 2020 | Spoon Bits | 0 Comments
Last summer Gramercy sent me some of their new spoon bits to review here on the blog. I've never gotten free stuff from a company before, but I guess there's a first for everything. Don't worry, I'm still as opinionated as ever. Anyway, the next thing I...
by Elia Bizzarri | Apr 15, 2020 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies, Spoon Bits | 7 Comments
How do you get a spoon bit to keep from wandering? What's the best way to prevent tear-out with a spoon bit? We are all victims of a post-industrial mindset and we all ask these questions. But these questions miss the point. Lets look at some photos...
by Elia Bizzarri | Apr 7, 2020 | Chair Stories | 0 Comments
Last Friday I delivered a Velda's Rocking Chair to Patricia. It's the first time I'd left the house in two weeks and it seemed like quite the adventure, even though it was no more than twenty minutes away. I started building the chair at Curtis Buchanan's...
by Elia Bizzarri | Mar 29, 2020 | Craft Films | 4 Comments
For your education and enjoyment, here are three short films of woodland crafts from British Pathe, a huge library of vintage films: This short English video shows the making of trugs. I love the shot of the steam box. What on earth is the thing made out...
by Elia Bizzarri | Mar 21, 2020 | Steam Box | 2 Comments
Do you really need a steam box? Boiling parts in water serves the same purpose as steaming and requires a simpler set-up with fewer heat-loss issues. ‘Chairmaking in High Wycombe’ references boiling of chair bows and I have bent table legs, shaker boxes and hay forks...
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