{"product_id":"build-a-velda-side-chair-with-jeff-wyatt","title":"Build a Velda Side Chair with Jeff Wyatt","description":"\u003ch5\u003eClass Details\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003e5-day Class\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e9:00am to 5:00pm \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSunday hours are 9:00am to 4:30pm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClass Size: 5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHands-On Workshop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWe provide all tools and materials. If you have your own tools you want to work with, feel free to bring them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClass includes a lunch break. You can bring your lunch or eat at one of the restaurants in the area.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/highland-woodworking-atlanta-directions.aspx\"\u003eThis class takes place at our store in Atlanta.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eClass Description\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn this hands-on Windsor chairmaking class, we’ll build a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVelda Windsor Side Chair\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e while exploring the traditional methods, tools, and joinery techniques that have been used by chairmakers for generations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ll begin at the log, learning how to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003esplit chair parts from the log\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e rather than simply sawing them out. This gives us the opportunity to orient the grain for maximum strength and stability. We’ll discuss how different parts of the chair benefit from different grain orientations and how understanding the wood is just as important as understanding the tools.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTraditional hand tools will play a major role throughout the class. We’ll use the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003edrawknife, shaving horse, spokeshaves, and other traditional chairmaking tools\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to shape and refine the components. Modern tools will also be incorporated where they can improve efficiency, accuracy, or safety without taking away from the traditional approach.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA major focus of the class will be \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewood movement and joinery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. We’ll discuss how wood shrinks differently along the tangential, radial, and longitudinal planes and how that movement should influence the way we orient and join each component. These principles will then be put directly into practice as we build the chair, giving you a better understanding of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewhy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Windsor chair joinery works—not simply how to reproduce it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ll cover the preparation and shaping of the individual components, including the legs, stretchers, spindles, and other chair parts, followed by drilling, fitting, and assembling the chair using traditional Windsor joinery techniques.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThroughout the class, we’ll focus on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ereading the wood, choosing the best grain orientation, making strong mechanical joints, and developing the skills necessary to build Windsor chairs with hand tools and modern equipment working together.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhether you are new to Windsor chairmaking or already have experience with woodworking, this class is designed to give you a deeper understanding of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003etraditional craft, the reasoning behind the construction, and the techniques that make a Windsor chair both beautiful and exceptionally strong.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat We’ll Cover\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSplitting chair parts from the log\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnderstanding grain orientation and wood movement\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTangential, radial, and longitudinal shrinkage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTraditional Windsor chairmaking tools\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSteam bending parts \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDrawknife \/ shaving-horse techniques\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpokeshave techniques \u0026amp; sharpening \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStrategic use of modern woodworking tools\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShaping and preparing chair components\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTraditional Windsor joinery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDrilling (Mortis) and fitting components\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnderstanding and applying proper joint geometry\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChair assembly and fitting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eDeveloping an understanding of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewhy Windsor chairs are built the way they are\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe goal is not simply to leave with a finished chair, but to leave with the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eknowledge and hands-on skills to understand, build, and reproduce a traditional Windsor chair on your own.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eRecommended Reading\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.highlandwoodworking.com\/products\/chairmakers-notebook-by-peter-galbert?_pos=1\u0026amp;_psq=chairmaker\u0026amp;_psid=3a4aadf8a\u0026amp;_ss=e\"\u003eChairmakers Notebook by Peter Galbert\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Highland Woodworking","offers":[{"title":"Tuesday March 16 to Sunday March 21 2027","offer_id":52862257529114,"sku":"993928","price":1000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0904\/5167\/3370\/files\/Velda-Side-Chair-Jeff-Wyatt-01.jpg?v=1789226469","url":"https:\/\/www.highlandwoodworking.com\/products\/build-a-velda-side-chair-with-jeff-wyatt","provider":"Highland Woodworking","version":"1.0","type":"link"}