Build a Six-Slat Ladder Back Chair with Jeff Wyatt

Build a Six-Slat Ladder back Rocking Chair with Jeff Wyatt

Class Details

• Thursday - Wednesday, October 24-29, 2025 from 10:00am to 5:00pm (Note: class may run longer or shorter)
• Class Size: 3
• Extremely Hands On Class. We recommend having at least an intermediate level of woodworking experience.
• Note: There is a $800 material fee to be paid to Jeff on the day of the class. Total cost of the class is $1,800
• See note below about what to bring to class.
• This class takes place at our store in Atlanta.

Class Description

The 6-slat ladder back rocking chair is a chair you’ll want to sit in every day, it’s a chair you’ll want to pass down to your children.

This class will take you, step-by-step, through the process of hand crafting the Appalachian Rocking Chair.  

Every process is broken down into small, manageable steps so that you can concentrate on mastering one task at a time before moving onto the next. Whenever a new process is introduced, especially for hand shaping, you are given the opportunity to practice on spare material before working on your actual chair part. Because of the complexity of this rocking chair the rear legs and slats are steam bent and most parts are rough milled prior to your arrival. This allows you to spend all of your time working on the many parts of this chair — shaping the curved rear legs and slats, mortising for slats and rungs, shaping the arms and runners, assembly with hide glue, and installing and balancing the runners.

Key points about the course:

• Focus on hand tools: Primarily using hand tools like drawknives, spokeshaves, scorps, and scrapers.
• Joint emphasis: Mastering the tapered mortise and tenon joint.
• Steam-bending techniques: Learn how to steam-bend wood for curved components.
• Assembly with hide glue: Utilizing hide glue for joint construction.
• Grain and moisture awareness: Understanding how to use grain orientation and moisture content to create a long-lasting chair.

Skills you will develop:

• Lumber selection.
• Hand shaping parts with drawknives and spokeshaves.
• Layout and drilling compound angles.
• Steam-bending techniques.
• Creating tapered mortise and tenon joints.
• Proper use of reamers, scorps, and scrapers.
• Assembly with hide glue.

Please bring the following items with you to class:

• Pencil
• Combination Square
• Tape Measure
• Dial Caliper
• Comfortable Eye Protection
• Dust Mask
• Any of your personal woodworking tools you would like to use

For your safety, be sure to wear closed toe footwear and remove all jewelry before class.

Find Jeff Wyatt @copperjohn_woodworks on Instagram

Class Cancellation Policy

Highland Woodworking reserves the right to cancel any class. Full refunds will be issued in that event. Students withdrawing from this class must notify Highland Woodworking 14 or more days prior to the beginning of the class to receive full credit or refund. No refund or credit will be issued with less than 14 days' notice.

Additional Information

Meet the Highland Woodworking Instructors