Lost Art Press

Other Anarchist Designers

Posted on by Lost Art Press

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When I wrote “The Anarchist’s Design Book” during a five-year period, my hope was that my explanations of staked and boarded furniture forms would inspire other woodworkers to take up the tools and produce their own variations.

Lots of woodworkers have built the staked sawbench, backstool, chair and worktable. And, in the boarded category, I’ve seen a lot of bookcases, tool chests and six-board chests during the last two years.

My favorite response to the book, however, has been among those who took the designs in the book and pushed them further. I truly think that staked and boarded forms have few limits. You can make almost anything you need for your house with these techniques. And (here’s the best part) these techniques are extraordinarily fast – rivaling the pocket screw and Domino in the speed department.

If you’d like to see how others are approaching these pieces, here are some links.

Brendan Gaffney, the new managing editor at Popular Woodworking Magazine, has been churning out staked projects for his new apartment in Covington, Ky. Check out this entry that discusses his pieces. I like how he modified the chairs with a lower crest, clipped the corners on the worktable and added a splash of color to the set.

Greg Merritt at Hillbilly Daiku has been turning out some fascinating variations, including his sewing table, his version of the staked stool and a side table with an underhung drawer. Greg pushed the aesthetic of these designs with his pyrography, color and additions of rope.

Jason Thigpen at Texas Heritage Woodworks is currently working on a staked armchair (so am I). We are taking totally different tacks, and I can’t wait to see how his comes out. You can see a lot more examples of these forms on Instagram by following the #stakedfurniture hashtag.

Also exciting to see: People teaching classes based on these designs and their adaptations.

If you have links to other people who have adapted these designs, post them in the comments below. Your link might just inspire someone else to pick up the tools.

Final note: I like to mention every now and again that my designs are “open source.” Use them however you please. Make copies or change them. Sell your work. The only “no-no” is reproducing the book and selling it….

— Christopher Schwarz, editor, Lost Art Press
Personal site: christophermschwarz.com

P.S. There will be a third book in the “anarchist” series. But it’s too soon to discuss it (no it’s not “The Anarchist’s Birdhouse”).

17 thoughts on “Other Anarchist Designers”

  1. So I take it that if someone wants to write a anarchist bird house book, you would not object, or might that be a book you plan on writing later? Would birdhouse measurements be done with “custom” proportions to better fit the birds? What are the appropriate woods and colors that the birds would like? Yes, a anarchist birdhouse book sounds very much needed. Can’t wait to see whats next.

  4. I’m pretty sure it won’t be The Anarchists Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder.

  5. I like the hashtag #stakedfurniture on instagram. Its like having a centralized depository of recent works in the “genre”.

  8. Kitchen Table, 40″ dia. 10/4 Pine top, 4 White oak tapered legs with conical tenons. Legs and top edge turned on a lathe. Hand Stenciled by my wife. Finished with garnet shellac (flake) and Polyurethane.

  13. I’m only half way through the book. I’ve purchased the tenon cutter and the reamer. It’s only a matter of time now.

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