Three day stool course

The three day stool course is new for 2025 and brings together many of the core fine furniture making skills. It is suitable for beginners as well as students with some woodworking experience.

Starting with simple hardwood ‘blanks’, you will be working primarily with hand tools, using traditional techniques to create a cross halving joint, mortice and tenon joints and a butt joint. The course also features dowel joints and the use of decorative wooden plugs.

We will look at the importance of really sharp tools and how to use a handplane correctly to achieve flat surfaces with adjacent square edges, a practice which is the foundation for good quality work. This is combined with how to mark out the joints accurately in order to achieve a snug fit. We will also discuss the relevance of grain direction and wood expansion and contraction and how to plan and execute your project with these important factors in mind.

Each day comes with specific targets to achieve to ensure that all of the students (a maximum of three) move to the next process together. If necessary I can help to speed up certain processes so that the ‘glue ups’ take place before the end of the relevant day. On day three you will shape the top using a circle cutting jig and fine tune the piece so it’s ready to apply a finish. Once it’s lacquered, the piece is yours to take home.