Balloon Back or Fan Back Windsor Side Chair
5 Days: Monday-Friday, January 13th-17th, 2025, 8AM-5PM
Tuition: $1,400
Ages: 16 & Up
Instructor: Luke A. Barnett
Instructional Delivery Method(s): In person
Prerequisites: None
Program Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Program Description:
Build a Windsor Balloon Back or Fan Back Side Chair with Chairmaker Luke A. Barnett. Students will join us for a 5-day class. Students can choose to build either a balloon back or a fan back side chair. You will learn both techniques in class. We will start with logs on Monday morning and finish with a balloon back OR fan back side chair on Friday.
Learning Objectives:
We will learn how to build a kiln and control the moisture content in the wood to get the best out of it.
We will sculpt the spindles and carve the seat.
This is a hand tool, intensive class. There will likely be additional hours needed during this class, expect to work late some days.
Students will learn how to rive the logs to get perfect straight-grained lumber. We will steam bend the balloon back and fan back bows.
At the end of the course, students will have created their own hand-crafted Windsor Ballon Back or Fan Back Side Chair from a log to last generations.
Gain an intimate knowledge of timber by starting with a log and exploiting the physical structure of the wood to obtain the perfect material. Mechanized machines are unable to obtain the same quality of the material.
Use descriptive geometry and/or trigonometry to solve for sightline and resultant angles in chairs. This methodology is also used in complex hip roof structures.
Utilize different species of wood to push wood beyond it quantified limitation laid out in the Wood Engineering Handbook.
Tool List: (We provide all the tools, but you are also welcome to bring your own)
Cordless drill w/ 3/8, 1/2, 5/8 Brad Point drill bits
Spokeshaves - round and flat
Travisher
Scorp
Drawknife
6-degree reamer
Folding rule
Japanese style flush cut saw
Large gouge - Pfiel 3/25 is perfect
Set of Lee Valley Dowel Cutters - 1/2, 7/16, 3/8
Attendance Requirements: Students must attend all days
Location: Sam Beauford Woodshop, 1375 N. Main St, Building 41, Adrian, Michigan 49221
Class Size: Minimum 4 Students, Maximum 6
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If you have any questions about this class, please contact the Administrative Office at (517) 759-3070 or email sambeaufordwoodshop@gmail.com.
AIA Advance Learner Preparation: None
AIA Approved Learning Units & Type: 40 HSW
AIA CES Program Approval Expiration Date: 11/08/2025
Official AIA CES Provider Statement: Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number 10009739. All registered AIA CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider or this learning program may be sent to AIA CES (cessupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3). This learning program is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.