Evolution of a Chairmaker

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Evolution of a Chairmaker - Brian Boggs

Рет қаралды 9,316

4 жыл бұрын

I have begun producing digital content for woodworkers worldwide who cannot attend classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This COVID-19 video series will be accessible by all, provided for free for those who wish to continue their woodworking education during this time.
In our first video (which can be accessed by clicking here), I lecture on how I think about chair design and woodworking in the larger sense and where that thinking comes from. I use three very different versions of ladderback chairs made over a 38-year career to help explain why I work the way I do, why I design the way I do, and why I think all this is important. I hope you and yours will enjoy the story and the information, and maybe even take inspiration to elevate your own efforts in the design arena.
Most of our videos will focus more on techniques I have developed over decades of furniture making. Some of these will be great methods to adopt in your own shop. Other methods might be less of a fit to how you are set up, but will help you think about how to improve what you do in your shop.
Due to our interest in getting this material out and available as soon as possible, we are shooting these with our own cameras and doing little editing. These videos will form the framework for a longer-term interest in creating high quality instructional videos professionally filmed and made available for sale. We welcome your comments on how we are doing. If there is a particular technique you are interested in learning about from me, please let me know. Your comments and requests will impact and improve the new content.
For those that want to support us in this effort while we spin off these quick and rough free videos, your contributions will be greatly appreciated. I hope you will join us in whatever capacity befits your situation. All are welcome at the table!!
I wish you all the best in your woodworking exploration. Stay healthy and creative!

Пікірлер: 18

@toonybrain 3 ай бұрын

There is an added blessing whenever an artist takes on another vocation: furniture designers/makers, plastic surgeons, etc. Your inquisitive, creative mind has taken chairs to the next level. Brilliant.

@MikeyDonna Жыл бұрын

My son, who is deceased, was a Cabinet Maker , also built some custom furniture. He had a saying that he used when asked how he did something. I have no idea where he got it or if it was original , but you just broke what he would call rules. It goes like this, “Never show fools or children unfinished work” . Thanks so much for breaking all the rules of chair making ! Mike

@robertberwick3514 Ай бұрын

I like the discussion on grain orientation, and moisture content in chair building. Interesting!

@boggsbench 23 күн бұрын

Thank you. If you enjoyed this you might enjoy our new educational newsletter that we just started. You can sign up for it at www.lessons.boggsbench.com/

@yannisvaroufakis9395 2 жыл бұрын

I'm absolutely new to hand tool woodworking. I've collected a whole bunch of hand tools and have some power tools also, like a band saw, planer and contractor's table saw. I also have the Lie Nielsen spokeshave named after you! Haven't sharpened or used any of the hand tools yet. My inspiration for getting into woodworking, and for focusing upon chair-making in particular, stems from my inability for many years now to find an appropriate matching set of chairs for my antique federal design dining table. My cousin in Europe has almost the identical dining table, and a set of magnificent matching chairs. I'm on a mission to duplicate them, or to make my own design based upon them. The sheer complexity of design that marries aesthetics, bio-ergonomics and structural engineering knowledge that elevates chair-making above all other areas of woodworking fascinates me. I just recently discovered you, having watched last week for the first time an old episode of the Woodwright's Shop with Roy Underhill featuring you and your chair designs. You are amazing! Where do I begin learning this most difficult craft? Can you suggest any resources that will guide me to get started? Do you offer any courses or videos in chair-making?

@sheslop888 8 ай бұрын

Learning to sharpen your tools, is a good place to start. 😊

@DerekRoff 4 жыл бұрын

Brian, you've been one of my inspirations for more than twenty years, since you gave our local woodworking club an amazing presentation. I've always admired your combination of innovation and tradition. Your abilities, knowledge, and design skills are showcased magnificently in this video. Thank you.

@JMAWWorks 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Brian. So much excellent info here. And quite an innovation in your new seat design for sure. I always appreciate you walking through your thought processes as it provides insights for application in my personal work. Thank you so much for sharing your years of experience with those of us without such a dedicated investment of time in the craft.

@colinellicott9737 3 жыл бұрын

Love the passion, artistry, and technical symbiosis. Thx

@Timothylaing 4 жыл бұрын

Signor Boggs, thank you so much for sharing this. I love the thought you put into your work. You are an inventor and designer and sharing this with others is inspiring. Video quality was really good and an improvement on the two web casts.

@victorbondarenko3940 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Brian, very interesting material. 👍🏻

@unitwoodworking5403 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for useful tips and detailed information. I wait for the next.

@BlackbeltWoodcraft 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Brian!!

@sunster6691 Жыл бұрын

Brian, Very impressed with your design and attention to detail. When I say detail, I'm not just talking about the physical manifestation of your chair, but your detailed knowledge with respect to wood science, physics, metallurgy ( cutting tool edge development), and history of your craft which are clearly imbibed in your final product(s). When I see the evolution of your chair making, your latest version reminds me of the inherent sculptural harmony of Brancusi's "Bird in Space", but applied to a utilitarian object we humans have long used, enjoyed, struggled, and evolved with since first making use of a tree stump to sit our arses down upon. I found it interesting that you state: (14:18 mark) " I want to make the best Ladderback I can possibly make". That is a hugely broad endeavor...and seems a profound commitment to undertake. Shouldn't there should be a set of criteria that accompanies working toward such a goal --and to ultimately use as a gauge against the final product?. Are you the final judge of accomplishing that goal...or do you leave that assessment up to your end users and admirers? In other words, what would make your ladder back "the best" to you or others? Would it be the most beautiful, the strongest, the longest lasting, the best performing in all climates, the most comfortable, the most profitable, the most efficiently made, the most valuable, etc.? Or possibly a combination of any/all of those-- and more? I didn't hear you speak to this aspect of your endeavor in your presentation and really wish for insight into this aspect of your craft. Could you possibly comment on those questions? Best, Sonny