Though I have been to England six times for work, sightseeing and research, I’ve never been asked to teach there (my wife says it must be because of my German last name). I love the country, and it has inspired a lot of my books and writings, from the Nicholson workbench in “Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use” to “Campaign Furniture.”
So I am particularly pleased to announce I’ll be teaching two courses this July that have been organized by The New English Workshop, a group of woodworkers who are deeply concerned with handwork. The classes will be taught at the workshop at Warwickshire College in Leamington Spa. For Americans not familiar with England’s geography, that’s in the center of the country, a little southeast of Birmingham.
On July 21-25 I’ll be teaching The Anarchist’s Tool Chest, a traditional English chest that’s an intensive course on dovetails, handwork-based case construction, cut nails and bench planes. I won’t lie, the pace of the course is not leisurely, and it usually requires a couple of long days, which oddly always end up at a pub afterward.
During the class we build the carcase, lid and skirting of the chest. The internal structures are up to you at home. But we look at lots of examples so you’ll know what to do when you get home. I have been working out of a traditional tool chest since 1997 and have yet to find a better way to protect and organize your tools.
On July 28-29 I’m teaching the Dutch Tool Chest, a lightweight, portable and surprisingly durable chest. This is the chest I travel with and I am always pleased with how much the chest can carry and how easy it is to work out of. This chest is built using dovetails, dados, rabbets and lots of cut nails. It takes two long days, but we usually get everyone’s chest assembled and ready for hardware.
The organizers tell me the courses are already half full. If you are interested in attending or getting more details, visit The New English Workshop web site.
There are some other interesting components to these classes I’ll be discussing in the coming months, including the fate of the two tool chests I’ll be building during the classes. So stay tuned.
This trip is also an opportunity for me to do some research on campaign furniture, Gillows of Lancaster and a few other things I have brewing.
— Christopher Schwarz
My place on the Anarchist’s Tool Chest course is all booked. Looking forward to it!
Kieran
I’m booked onto the Dutch Tool Chest course, as a 40th birthday present to myself 🙂
Looking forward to it.
Ed
Snap! I’m booked in to the same course as a 50th birthday present to myself.
That sounds like a good enough reason to drink some celebratory beers
I would love to attend your class there. I spent two years there in the Midlands back in the 70’s and would love to go back and visit, but at 595 L plus materials , travel and lodging, I’ll wait to see you on this side of the pond !
While I certainly understand the “bomb proof” reasoning behind the dovetails, I have to wonder why an adequately nailed six board chest would’t also serve the test of time. Certainly not as sexy, but it seems to be a viable option, no?
Love to attend but accomodation costs a real killer. If we are not all in the same hotel half the fun is gone. How else would we be able to drink beer?
Beautiful teaching space. I am sure it will be just excellent and look forward to your reporting.
Just curious. When you make a very long trip like this do you take your tools? Is so what how do you transport them.
I take my tools in a Pelican. I don’t take much, however.
Ah, the pelican, the pelican. His beak can hold more than his belly can.
Great to see you visiting the UK to teach.