Hand Tool School Semester 6

In Production Now

Thanks for your patience while I remodeled my shop
In keeping with my philosophy that every 3rd semester should be dedicated to review, this semester is all about the projects. Let’s take our skills and just build stuff.

Last year the membership voted and decided that we would build a guest bedroom suite. I say specifically a “guest” bedroom suite because typically this does not include a chest of drawers. Those can be a major project with a lot of lumber and parts and from a time perspective and financial perspective it isn’t feasible to add that into the mix. So we will cover the other elements of the guest bedroom:

The Bed

This low post bed design derives from a Southern colonial idea with “neat and plain” that also is reminiscent of Shaker lines yet it includes subtle decorative touches that dress it up too and harken to the Sheraton style. It is a queen sized bed but I will discuss the designs changes that may be encountered when matching other sizes as well as construction surrounding the use of a box spring and without. We will strengthen our milling skills but up the ante with long bed rails and a wide headboard. It is entirely constructed using mortise and tenon construction and the introduction of bed bolts so the bed can be disassembled and moved. I’m still deciding whether to turn the posts or go with a pencil post design but I will cover both construction methods during the build.

Side Table

This can be made singly or as a pair to flank the bed. This piece is the anomaly in our bedroom suite. Again drawing from the Sheraton style this table has plenty of storage and an impossibly delicate leg. We will saw our own veneer and really dress up the bow front drawers and top with something special. The image shown at right is merely the inspiration for the piece and while the legs will be similar I’m changing the body completely. The asymmetrical 3 drawer arrangement draws from Shaker built in furniture and the work of Garret Hack. Add to that veneered bow front drawers and there are several challenges inside and out that will be reminiscent of a full blown chest of drawers project. I may even throw in some inlaid banding as long it won’t make the design too busy. It is much higher style than the other pieces but I think it will make a great contrast to the rest of the pieces in the room and a nice focal point for the whole suite.

Blanket Chest

What better place to sit and put on your shoes or place your guest’s luggage than a blanket chest at the foot of the bed. This design is taken directly from Pennsylvania 18th century style but dialed back to a more rural take. Higher style versions of this would have used more mouldings and ogee feet along with Mahogany and locking hardware. Our design will be simpler and in Cherry to match the rest of the suite. Dust off your dovetail saw as this classic design is all about the dovetailed corners. Breadboard ends on the top add a mortise and tenon challenge and the decorative plinth is the perfect place to show off our moulding and curve cutting skills with an elegant bracket foot and moulding.

Wall Mirror

What guest room isn’t complete with a mirror for your guest to use to ensure they are pretty each morning. Since my first visit to Colonial Williamsburg I have wanted to build one of these mirrors. Some are quite large and others really small. My design will settle somewhere in the middle so it doesn’t make too strong a statement in the room. Using very little stock, a mirror is a great opportunity to practice mortise and tenon joinery and air tight miter joints. I’ll throw in some delicate curves and fretwork detail and some creative moulding work just for fun. A mirror in any colonial room would have shown great wealth and often the frame would be very ornate. This style comes directly from Southern Colonial America.

A New Twist

Finally this semester will be a little different from the previous as once all building and filming is complete, these projects will be available for sale individually (though the better deal will be had by purchasing the whole semester). Due to popular demand, I am giving this individual format a try. More details on that when these projects come available.

Semester 6 Price: $150

includes lifetime access to all the lessons and projects plus live session archive and the tool library.