North House Folk School - Courses, Classes, Workshops

Windsor Chair Classic: The Sack Back

Woodworking & Furniture Craft

Jeff Trapp

There is a certain elegance, function and beauty in a well-designed and constructed Windsor chair. In this class we'll be making a classic sack back Windsor chair. The sack back, besides being a favorite chair, is perfect for learning Windsor chair construction. There are two steam bent pieces and setting in the arm posts is a valuable skill. We will also learn how to use a number of traditional hand tools including scorps, drawknives, travishers, planes and spokeshaves. Students become familiar with sight lines, taper sockets, steam bending and riving. The emphasis is on traditional and time-honored techniques and quite frankly the only 'modern' improvement to traditional chair making may be today's glue. Legs and stretchers are pre-turned but lathes and turning may be demonstrated. Discussions may also include applicable Windsor chair painting techniques.

Dates

No classes currently scheduled

Course Details

Length in days:

Hours:

9am-5pm

Tuition:

$495.00 per student (May 1-Oct 31)
$495.00 per student (Nov 1 - Apr 30)

Materials:

$155.00

Levels:

Beginner to Advanced

Making it happen:

When should I enroll?
We can't hold classes without students! Decisions regarding course cancellations (as related to minimum enrollment) are made three weeks before the class starts--so if you've got a course in mind, plan ahead and sign up at least three weeks in advance! That way we'll know you're coming, courses are more likely to meet minimum enrollment numbers, and then they'll actually take place.
Also watch for the words "nearly full" next to course dates. When that notation appears it means there are only one or two spots left--so sign up soon!
Do you take last minute registrations?
Of course! Although it's important that courses meet minimum enrollment three weeks before their scheduled start dates, we know that life doesn't always allow for prior planning. As long as there are still spots left in a course we're happy to accept your registration last minute.
When will new course dates be posted?
New course dates are posted both in the spring and fall to coordinate with our course catalog release dates. All the new dates are opened for enrollment on the same day and at the same time, so that everyone gets a fair crack at a spot in the courses they're interested in. As that time rolls around we announce when the new dates will "go live" in our e-newsletter. (sign up here!)