Elia Bizzari - Hand Tool Woodworking

I taught a Wheelbarrow-making class with Peter Ross (left) in the beginning of October, and Roy Underhill (right) stopped by for lunch. Peter and Roy have known each other since the ’70s; together they are a non-stop show of knowledge and humor.

I’ve spent the last couple months in new role: contractor for my mother’s new addition to allow her to age-in-place gracefully. I’m not much of a contractor, so this has been a bit of a stretch; but it’s now dried-in and roughed-in, and I’m getting a chance to breathe again (praise be!). Just in time too, for I have an apprentice coming this week, which is exciting. More about that soon. And more videos too: I have all kinds of ideas for things I want to share via video. But first, a new class, while there’s still time for you all to register for it:

LOOP BACK SIDE CHAIR, January 11th to 16th, 2027 More info and registration on my Loop Back Classes page.

I’ve been having a field day.  Last weekend I started researching a long-promised post about pole-late treadles. In the process, I discovered that the internet can translate just about any book. That set me off translating Latin, German, and French books on pole-lathes from the 16th- to 18th-centuries.  It takes some effort, but it’s much easier than learning another language.  I’m sure an expert human would be better, but it’s pretty good: I compared a human-translated section to my internet version and the gist was mostly the same.  You’ll be hearing more about these translations – and pole-lathe treadles – soon.  

In the meantime, I’ve decided to book one more class this year from November 16th to 21st, on Curtis Buchanan’s loop back.  I’ll be booking more classes for early 2027, including some 18th Century Chairmaking classes.  But I’m also overseeing the construction of an addition on my mother’s house to help her age in place; I’m not sure how much time that’s going to take, so I’m posting just this one class for now (I may even need to leave this November class for an hour or two to meet contractors, but if so, I’ll have someone cover for me). More info and registration here.

I’ve been working on a series of chair orders for the last month or two.  It’s always a good time in the shop, especially when I have sets of chairs to work on as I do now.  I love getting into a rhythm, assembling a set of undercarriages, then the backs.  What is often a heady job becomes rote.  Fun!

Before I began working on the sets, I made a one off: a birdcage side chair.  It’s one of the most technically demanding chairs I build, and the paint job is no exception.  Luckily, this time I had a new tool that helped a lot:

Video Link