Customer Reviews

The Chairmaker's Workshop: Handcrafting Windsor and Post-and-Rung Chairs

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are few woodworking books that cover a subject as well as this one. It isn't so much the depth of the coverage, but the completeness with which this book gives you the necessary information to cover the projects in question.

The book deals with tools, techniques, and has plans for just the chairs the average person drawn to this subject will want. That may sound fairly typical, but take tools. We don't just get a few pictures and lines per tool, we get information on how to build tools like a travishers, shaving horse, how to grind drill bits, or sharpen the specific tools the chairmaker will use. You get all the information you will need, and none of what does not apply to the subject. Drew is a retailer, teacher, tool designer, even takes tours to tool makers, so when he tells you about tools that's it.

Every part of the book has that kind of focus and concision. There are instructions on a workbench, but it isn't the usual kind, but obviously a chairmaking bench. I have a cabinetmaker's bench, and don't need one for chairs, but if you did, it's there.

Drew is an authority on certain chairs, and they're covered here. He isn't perhaps as much of an expert on Windsor chairs. But he brings all the necessary info into the book. I have a set of plans from Dunbar (the authority), but these plans leave all the critical measurements out. To get those, you have to take a Dunbar course. But the dimensions are here, and there is a chapter on how to develop your own plans, with an exhaustive table of angles that you can apply to any design. No nonsense, no holding back.

I wish more woodworking books were like this one. All the necessary information, on a prime topic. No necessity to bring together 5 other books to cover related topic. A large number of detailed plans for the most important pieces. As technical or as direct as you want. This book has book-depth information, with magazine like style (meaty sidebars) and currency of information.

The author holds nothing back, even though every word he writes might take away from his opportunity to sell you a tool, or a course. He just tells it straight regardless.

A masterpiece.

Drew Langsner has written the definitive book on traditional chairmaking. The plans are clear and careful. -- John Alexander, author, "Make A Chair From A Tree."

This is Drew Langsner's best book to date. His book makes chairmaking something that any woodworker can accomplish. The illustrations are easy to understand. Many of the secrets of chairmakers are revealed. My favorite woodworking book.

Woah, what a book. I don't really know where to begin or what I can add to the many other fine reviews here, they that convinced me to buy this book.

I don't even like Windsor chairs, I think they are kind of ugly, I've seen too many cheap country furniture knock-offs, they make me kind of sick. Some - very few - are stunning. There are a few good ones in this book, and in other books I have on furniture history.

Why I bought this book was for the techniques involved, and reading the other reviews I was convinced it would be worth my money.

AND IT WAS - AND THEN SOME.

I have many, many books on woodworking and it is rare that I am surprised by something new, old or different that I did not know, but this book is so incredibly thorough and covers so many things - well - it blew me away. I am very impressed.

If it introduces a tool, it tells you how to use it, make it, even with plans. It details everything every step of the way. I can't be bothered counting all the things it tells you but I would have paid the money just for info. on building a shave horse and designs for one chair and a bowsaw.

Also, it is a BIG book. Tall, wide, and THICK, 300 pages makes it quite a thick book. PACKED with information, not waffle.

I hope my rambling review helps convince you it is worth it, the other reviews here have more detail, I really just wanted to add my vote. I think everyone gave it 5 stars. I'd say it probably should be on every woodworkers' bookshelf.

Langsner's new book is not just a bunch of pretty pictures. He takes you step by step through the process of making several different chairs. Best book on Windsor chairmaking available.

This book is an excellent introduction to making chairs. It is an incredibley thorough and clearly written book. I highly recommend it.

I thumbed through this book in a store. It is amazing. It has so much detailed information. Not only does is show you how to build a few different chairs, it shows you plenty of techniques that would be useful in other areas of woodworking. There are lots of sidebars on making tools, a chapter with tips for sharpening various tools with strange profiles, it even goes into great detail on how to split up big logs into the various pieces one needs to make a chair.

The only reason I didn't buy it was that my lunch hour was over, and the checkout line was way too long. I'll get it tonight on the way home from work.

This is the best book on chairmaking. Period. Everyone knows that, which is why the price for the used books is so high. Go to Drew Langsner's website for Country Workshops and you can get the updated author's reprint for a very reasonable price.

While you're at it, sign up for one of his classes. I learned more about furnituremaking and craft in one week at Country Workshops than I have learned over the past ten years reading every woodworking book in the library.

Without a doubt one the best books on traditional chair making I have ever seen. From the tree to the living room !!

AN EXCELLENT BOOK WITH LOTS OF DETAIL AND TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION. THIS BOOK IS GREAT NO MATTER WHICH TYPE OF CHAIRS YOU ARE
BUILDING, AND IS COMPLETE WITH DETAILED FULL SCALE PLANS.