The calm
Collecting red oak for future chairs
A couple of quick notes:
I’ve added a few classes towards the end of 2026. They’re up on my website for anyone interested in joining me in Waldoboro. The upcoming 2026 classes:
Stick chair, co-taught with Charles Thompson. August 10-15. We still have a couple open spots for those wanting to make a chair next month.
Hoop Stool: October 8, 9, & 10
Wooden Carrier: November 5, 6, & 7
Send me a message if you’re interested.
Second note:
Handworks is coming…less than two months away at this point. The full list of demonstrators and exhibitors is up on their website. There are plenty of door prizes. It’s shaping up to be another great weekend in Amana. I’m again sharing a space with Matt Bickford and his impressive planes.
The event is free. Handworks asks that attendees register ahead of time (to get a sense of #’s and in order to win the door prizes).
I don’t do many events, but Handworks has me excited to load my truck and drive to central Iowa. Please stop by and say “hello” when you’re at the event.
July is a month of completion and preparations. I’m back from a delivery to Vermont, with the hopes of painting the shop ceiling and hanging lights before the next class starts in August. There are also a handful of chairs and stools awaiting finish, sitting beside me while I type this. And, with stick and rocking chairs coming next month, I’m busy gathering materials and preparing parts.
I’ve added to my sourcing possibilities this year. As always, it’s Day’s Hardwood for kiln dried red oak boards. (It seems that no one buys red oak…there’s always gorgeous straight-grained sticks in the rack). And my logs come from a local log yard. I’m grateful they work with me. It must be more hassle than profit$ for them.
Added to the equation is a new lot and sawyer. He’s cut a few logs at this point. We select the best looking red oak on his yard and slab it (2” shy).
Why add the slabs to the mix? Equal parts convenience and body health. With the slabs, I cut parts to length, then follow the grain (either with the froe or the band saw, or both).
I love splitting logs apart and will continue doing so. But I feel it afterwards. My right elbow is developing a little pain. My hands, arms, and back are sore after the work (sometimes a good sore…sometimes not). Green woodworking is physical, from log to completed piece. The thought is to lessen the up-front impact; less wear-and-tear at the log so that I feel healthier on the shave horse and with a drawknife in hand. It’s a long-term play more than anything. I hope to keep doing this for a long time.
So I added the slabs to the mix. This year is the test to see how things turn out. Of course, I’m not the first chairmaker to work from wet slabs. Plenty of others work in similar fashion. Some wait a year or two, allowing the material to air dry (and shrink/distort less) before making their chairs.
I know there’s likely a green woodworker reading this somewhere thinking, “You might as well buy your furniture at Ikea if you’re not going to split the stock.”
Fair enough.
