by Elia Bizzarri | Apr 2, 2017 | Chair Stories, Chairmaking Tools and Supplies, Craft Films | 0 Comments
I first met Curtis Buchanan 15 years ago this month. My father drove the five hours to Jonesborough, TN and dropped me, a 17-year-old homesick boy, off for a week. Curtis had a student that week. I split logs and listened in on the class. I couldn't imagine I would...
by Elia Bizzarri | Mar 18, 2017 | How-To, Kiln | 0 Comments
We have talked about kiln temperatures and kiln heaters, now onto kiln construction. Size The primary use of a chairmaking kiln is to super-dry tenons. It's nice to be able to set bends in a kiln too. This requires the kiln to be large enough to fit the bend while...
by Elia Bizzarri | Feb 9, 2017 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies, Classes, Craft Films, How-To | 0 Comments
Over a decade ago, a customer told me he used a dowel plate to cut the tenons on his spindles. "That won't work," I...
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 | 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 | 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...
by Elia Bizzarri | Mar 7, 2016 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies | 0 Comments
Last week a local tree guy offered me a beautiful Northern Red Oak log, straight, clear, and no twist. He said it was 18" in diameter, which is the first time I can remember anyone underestimating the size of a tree: the butt log was 24" in diameter at the small end....
by Elia Bizzarri | Feb 14, 2016 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies, Classes | 0 Comments
BEVEL BUDDY Several years ago a student sent me a .PDF file of a template for accurately setting a Sliding T-Bevel to any angle between 0-55 degrees. It was made by Wisconsin chair-maker Steven First, who has generously allowed me to post it on my links page. Similar...
by Elia Bizzarri | Dec 8, 2015 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies, Classes | 0 Comments
Classes in My Shop I have created a survey for you to help pick next year's classes in my North Carolina shop. There are four chair options (Fan Back, Loop Back, Continuous Arm and Comb Back) and seven different potential dates. In a couple weeks, I'll pick next...
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