David Charlesworth, one of the most influential woodworking writers and teachers of the last century, died on May 22, 2022, after a long illness.
Though he was a professional furniture maker by trade, Charlesworth was known worldwide for his three books and multiple long-form videos, which explored the details of furniture and sharpening technique in exquisite detail.
He is perhaps most known for his “Ruler Trick,” a simple sharpening hack that greatly shortens the time required to set up and polish a handplane’s blade for use.
No matter what technique Charlesworth studied, he brought a methodical and open-minded approach to the task, as opposed to an historical approach. As a result, Charlesworth’s research nearly always resulted in discovering new and better ways to perform old tasks.
Charlesworth studied furniture making with Edward Baly, the founding member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen. In 1973, he began working as a professional craftsman, and later he turned his attention to writing and teaching. Charlesworth was a frequent contributor to Furniture & Cabinet Making magazine in the UK, and many of his best articles were compiled into his first book, “David Charlesworth’s Furniture-Making Techniques” (1999, Guild of Master Craftsman).
During his long career, which focused on the fine details of sharpening and hand-tool use, Charlesworth developed the “ruler trick,” which was first widely broadcast in his 2004 DVD with Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, “Hand Tool Techniques Part 1: Plane Sharpening.”
Today the ruler trick is used by millions of woodworkers, and is still debated by some (personal note: It works fantastically). For many woodworkers, this small trick was an entree into Charlesworth’s other work, including his instructions for shooting planes, secret mitered dovetails, drawer making and knuckle joints.
Charlesworth’s influence on the craft of woodworking cannot be overstated. So many woodworkers and woodworking instructors have been influenced by his books, videos and methods. In fact, his influence is so widespread that many don’t even realize they are using modern techniques he developed for jointing board’s edges and faces, for example.
Charlesworth mostly taught in the UK and Europe, but occasionally traveled to the U.S. to teach classes and make videos with Lie-Nielsen Toolworks.
That all ended in 2016, when Charlesworth was hospitalized for respiratory problems while teaching a class in Germany. He then stuck close to his workshop in Devon with his wife, Pat. Though he would occasionally venture out to some of the UK woodworking shows.
I first met Charlesworth through Thomas Lie-Nielsen, who helped arrange for Charlesworth to teach a dovetail class at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking in 2006.
It was Charlesworth’s first trip to the U.S., and when he got off the plane late at night, we took him to the only place that was open, a Texas Roadhouse. We told Charlesworth that all the waitresses were going to be charmed by his accent. He thought we were pulling his leg. (If I recall correctly one of the waitresses tried to sit on his lap at one point.) Charlesworth was most bemused by all the peanut shells on the floor.
That weekend Charlesworth spent the entire weekend cutting a single set of dovetails to the absolute rapt glee of his students. In his methodical manner, Charlesworth went over every single detail of the joint and showed how to make it without leaving anything to chance.
During a subsequent visit to the Indiana school, he and Lie-Nielsen volunteered to help me and John Hoffman move a huge Nicholson-style workbench into Hoffman’s basement. We’d all had a few drinks that night, and the workbench almost killed Charlesworth, Lie-Nielsen and myself before crashing into Hoffman’s basement wall, destroying it.
While I have many funny stories about Charlesworth, my favorite is about his fingernails. Charlesworth worked with waterstones, and his fingernails were often long and packed with slurry and other workshop grunge.
Many people noticed his fingernails. Charlesworth had written a few articles for my magazine, Popular Woodworking, and I had to stop the art director from cleaning up his fingernails in Photoshop.
During one of his visits to Indiana, Susie Adams (Marc’s wife) decided to take Charlesworth out for a manicure to do something about his fingernails. Instead of being insulted, Charlesworth was both gracious and delighted.
The last time I saw him in person was at the Cressing Temple woodworking show in the UK. We chatted for hours and discussed how to get all three of his three woodworking books back into print (we failed).
As we parted, Charlesworth again invited me to visit his workshop in Devon. It was something I’d always hoped to do, and it will stand as one of my bigger regrets.
— Christopher Schwarz
P.S. If your life has been similarly touched by Charlesworth’s please leave a comment below. I know that his family and friends would love to hear it.
Thank you for sharing.
I never met Charles but he was one of those people that taught me so much you almost felt like you did. Rest easy.
Amen to this.
Well @#$%. I’ve watched some YouTube videos of him, pretty sure I have at least one of his books around here – seemed like a top shelf class act. sigh
As a young woodworker learning the craft only from internet videos, I came to cherish Charlesworth’s contributions to online instructional content. He was warm, inviting, and explained techniques in such a way that made them simple and easy to understand and implement. The ruler trick is one of my favorite woodworking videos of all time simply because of Mr. Charlesworth. Rest in peace, and thank you for sharing your joy for the craft with the world.
I was never more disappointed than when David was not able to attend the 2016 Woodworking in America Show sponsored by Popular Woodworking Magazine. I was sad for him and the lost opportunity to meet him in person.
I met him a few times, at shows and once at his lovely workshop, he was always very giving of his time and was always very helpful, when it came to his work he set the bar very high, a true perfectionist, if you want to see how to do it properly watch any one of his dvds. RIP David.
I am so sorry to hear about David’s passing. I have followed him for the 5 or so years now. I have watched his video about 10 times and learn something new each time. Thank you David for you did for the woodworking community, I know you are woodworking up in heaven now.
We had the pleasure of meeting David at the Lie-Nielsen introduction of their bench chisels many years ago. It was a joy watching him sharpen a chisel and cut dove tails while explaining every step and the reason for it. He answered everyone’s questions that they were embarrassed to ask in public during the many smoke breaks. Never used my Leigh jig since.
We had lovely weeks in Devon with David and Pat, my husband attending David’s courses and me walking miles in the beautiful Hartland. David’s easy style, generosity of knowledge and endless patience has resulted in my husband renovating tools and creating some wonderful furniture in our home. Deepest condolences to his family.
I could never find a way to do the secret mitered dovetail; until David showed me in his video. That changed how I approached joinery in general but especially this one.
I learned a lot from watching his various videos. Most of all I really liked his voice and the way he explained things. He was kind of like the Bob Ross of woodworking, it just made you calm and relax and you thought you could do it.
The BobRoss of woodworking. Perfect.
I do feel that he was an influential friend, though I knew him only through his books and videos. He is missed.
David’s work was a big influence on the way I approached writing and teaching what I knew (and very occasionally discovered) about woodworking. I feel grateful for having found his books and only wish I had gotten to know him in person.
Just by coincidence I was traveling this weekend. Haven’t grabbed a WW book to read in years. I felt the urge to take some reading material with me and grabbed “David Charlesworth’s Furniture-Making Techniques: A Guide to Hand Tools and Methods Paperback – February 1, 2007” which I bought and devoured back around 2008. Got back to the hotel room late Saturday night and was binging on it. RIP… He was a great teacher.
As woodworkers, blades will be sharper, joints tighter and the pieces we make so much better thanks to David’s generous teaching. Thank you.
I have his books, and most of his videos. He has really been the bridge between the Charles Hayward era and the present. I’m not sure there is anything nicer I could say about him. Except that now I, too, would have liked to sit on his lap.
Please let us know if someone sets up a scholarship or something similar in his name.
The woodworking community has lost a giant – Rest in Peace
I started my journey in woodworking in 2007 and through Lie Nielsen a few years later was introduced to David through his videos. To this day I can honestly say that each time I sharpen a plane blade or do any hand joining I think of David. Although I never met him in person, for some reason the man seemed a brother to me and I religiously strived to master those lessons he taught.
I am deeply saddened to hear of his passing. But who knows, at my age I may yet be able to meet the Master.
God speed David.
I learned how to sharpen my planes properly because a friend lended me a DVD of David Charlesworth. Mes condoléances à sa famille et tout ceux qui l’ont connu de près.
Hi Pierre
I am writing a tribute for David’s funeral on Monday. Might you be able to email me so I can ask you a few questions, to info@quercusmagazine.com? Thanks. Nick
If you like sharpening as much as I do, which is a lot, the ruler trick has been part of your repertoire for some time. RIP David, you earned it.
I,too, am truly saddened to hear of David Charlesworth’s passing.
Alas, I never got to meet him – I was actually checking his course schedule for 2020 against my own calendar on the day in March 2020 when the first lockdown was announced here in Belgium, so ecided to put off until a later date the signing up for one of his classes, and had just started harbouring those ideas anew when I saw this.
However, although I never had the good fortune to meet him, in particular his videos were a huge influence on me when I first tried my hand at hand tool woodworking. I like them all very much, but my absolute favourite was, and is, the one on precision planing. While I would never even pretend to aspire to his level of skillful meticulousness, I so much appreciate just that aspect of being meticulous and (for my own part at least trying to) knowing what you do and why at each step of the process. In fact, earlier today, before I had heard the sad news, I was edge jointing some parts to be glued up into a panel, and was thinking about having watched Mr Charlesworth explain how to go about just that while doing my best to apply his lessons on the subject.
So it is with much gratitude for his sharing of skill and knowledge, and deep regret that he is no longer amongst us that I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathy and sincere condolences to those near and dear to him.
He will be missed. A great craftsman and from his video’s seemed to be a warm hearted person.
His ruler trick made me a better craftsman.
With the passing of David Charlesworth, we have lost another of our great handtool woodworking teachers. I am fortunate to have several of his books and DVDs and have always enjoyed his precise and methodical way of doing a woodworking endeavor, so endearingly persnickety.. No exacting detail was ever left to chance or one’s imagination.
I was aware of his compromising chronic respiratory problems in recent years,
Thank you LAP for notifying us, your readers.
My thoughts are with his wife and family, and I thank you David for all you taught me. .
I am heartbroken.
I went to Hartland three times to learn from David, and each visit gave me such happy memories – and copious notes! Someone else has mentioned hearing his voice whenever they sharpen a blade, and it’s true. He is unforgettable.
He would occasionally get exasperated with me when I didn’t quite understand what he was explaining, but like all the best teachers, he would still try to find a different way of getting the point across, sending me off to the bookshelves to find a bookmarked page with just the right diagram. Then he’d inspect my work and send me off to try again to deliver the perfection he expected. It was so satisfying to work with him.
His workshop was an Aladdin’s cave of nifty jigs and tools; the drawer containing examples of every honing system known to man was great fun, as were the racks of fancy sharpening stones which all got ignored in favour of a couple of favourites. The extraordinary system of pulleys and levers that operated the gates in his dust extraction system was glorious – Heath Robinson would have been proud, but it worked like a dream.
My last week, in October last year, was spent constructing the finest little drawer I think I shall ever make, and will never use. I believe I was his last ever pupil; I had him all to myself for the week, but it was mostly spent drinking tea, telling tales and reflecting on what had been and what was to come. I didn’t get the drawer quite finished, and I wept as I drove away from Hartland, because it was clear just how unwell he was.
What a fighter! He defied his doctors’ expectations, and kept teaching for as long as he could, because it was his passion and his gift. I am so glad I met him, and so grateful for all he taught me. Rest easy, David, you wonderful, wonderful man.
What a wonderful account and insight. That is my deepest regret I never got to get over to do one of his courses. Children and family always put it on the back burner. The last visit sounds very moving.
David is both the reason that I own a 5 1/2 and the reason I feel comfortable using a single plane (in my case, a no7) for most tasks. He is missed already.
It is odd how the padding of a teacher I know only through books and videos still hits home. I do admire the meticulous approach and pace of his teaching. If any of our lives leave small bits of magic like the ruler trick behind, they will have been lives well lived. Farewell my teacher.
What a fabulous article Chris,
Being located in Australia, far away from Europe and the Americas it’s not often that one of the older stalwarts of the furniture and cabinetmaking world manage to impart their influence as they tend to have the gift of immunity of social media. But Dave has left such a lasting impact on many amateur and professional woodworkers alike here – down under.
The way he delicately handles his tools, with body movement so deliberate and effortless as a testimony of his mastery at using tools as an extension of his body. His utmost pride and care in ensuring his tools were as sharp as the work they produced. His calm and almost therapeutic verbal delivery.
I would say it’s not too far from the truth that Dave almost resembled a modern day messiah at the workbench, with his trademark biblical mane of hair.
It is sad to hear of his passing, but like Alan Peters and those before them, juggernauts like Dave will always be remembered by future generations. It was fantastic that Lie Nielsen produced videos of his techniques and teachings and as such the younger folks to come will be able to easily access them at the click of a finger.
Cheers Dave for everything!
Rest in Peace. Saddened by this news. He was one of the people I watched these years past. I loved his interview with Tom Fidgen. Long live the ruler trick.
He showed millions of craftsmen like me how to work to a precision that was second nature to him. Thank you David .
He was a world class craftsmen and we will miss him.
Absolute legend.
Although David had long since stopped writing for F&C by the time I picked up the baton as editor, it didn’t stop him calling up now and again – mostly to critique my articles. He steered me in the right direction on many occasion and talked me out of writing some real stinkers once or twice. I enjoyed having him in my corner. A great coach and true Gentleman.
I had the great privilege of attending two week long courses at Davids’ workshop in Hartland, Devon.
I had experiences with stress and anxiety in the years prior to these courses but being in the workshop helped me realise a sense of peace.
I first completed the plane preparation and sharpening course. It was revelatory and that childish excitement I experienced at the first whisps of shavings was joyful
A perfectionist in his craft, a teacher and a truly gentle man.
I am grateful to have these memories
Thank you David
I do better work and have a deeper understanding of what I do because of David’s insight. I use what he shared every time I’m in the workshop and this is a sad loss. Thanks David, you will be missed.
Like many others i was lucky enough to attend a couple of courses with David, I can honestly say he was one the best teachers of any skill I have ever come across, endlessly patient, open to discussion, and would happily sit and answer any of the thousand and one questions that I and the others had.
In both cases I know I walked out of his workshop in Harland immensly more knowledgeable than when i walked in.
David was also wonderful to meet at various woodworking shows, and would happily chat away with former students, or anyone who had questions or thoughts, and was not only immensly knowledgable but also an advocate for those wanting to learn.
On a personal level he was affable, charming, endlessly knowledgeable on an amazing range of subjects, and when he found out we shared a common family connection to railways we spent hours talking about that over a beer.
As i say, I only knew him as a student, and follower of his work, but he will be deeply missed, and my deepest condolences go to his wife Pat
So sorry to hear about his passing. I’m proud to say that I have a couple of his DVDs and through them he’s taught me how to properly sharpen plane knifes – something that I thought was intimidating prior to Charles. Loved his instructional style. Deepest thanks to Charles and my most sincere condolences to his family.
Social media is jammed full of wacky woodworkers screaming for attention. It’s all crazy projects and goofy videos.
In contrast, David’s videos are focused on teaching skills in a humble manor. Thanks David! You will be missed.
I never met David Charlesworth in person, and knew him only through having seen a few of his videos. I have a great appreciation and affinity for his measured and meticulous approach to his craft and his teaching of it. I especially like when, after methodically completing some part of a very difficult bit of joinery, he silently studies the near-perfect result for a few moments before looking at the camera and saying, quietly, “I’m very pleased with that.” Indeed. RIP Mr. Charlesworth
I am saddened to hear of his passing. His contribution to our craft is monumental. His calm, quite and thoughtful videos have been an inspiration for me and countless others. Thank you David Charlesworth.
I first “met” David via his books. They were revelations to me. David’s thoughtful approach and obvious joy helped me make sense of woodworking and its many pleasures. I read parts of the books so often, my copies fell apart. When David’s videos came out I enjoyed those as well. I will forever be grateful to David.
I watched so many videos of David teaching over the years he practically became a fixture in my house. So much so that my wife nicknamed him Treebeard after J. R. R. Tolkien’s character in “The Lord of the Rings.” It would seem that David’s unique charisma and mannerisms were not lost even among non-woodworkers.
On more than one occasion over the years I sent him emails asking him to clarify a point in either one of his books or videos and without fail I would get a response. He was a dedicated teacher, incredibly generous with his time and literally everything I know about using a chisel I think I learned from him.
Watching David work a component for a piece was in some ways daunting because I knew there was no universe in which I could do work like his. Even on the rare occasion when impatience didn’t get the better of me and I would come remotely close to that elusive thing called “satisfaction” I would somehow find a way to dent the work, drop it on the floor or screw up usually by ignoring one of his wise admonishments. Yet on the other hand the sense that maybe I did it a little better this time than I did last time thanks to what this guy is teaching has over the decades consistently kept me inspired to try again. Thank you David!
It was a dream of mine to visit his workshop in Devon and take a class and I regret not making that happen.
Rest in peace.
So sad to hear of his passing. I never had the opportunity to meet David, but through his books and videos his techniques, passion, and attention to detail are part of my daily work habits. RIP
David’s books and videos were quite eye opening for me. His teaching methods have helped me many many times and like other truly great teachers you can always “hear” his voice when you are doing something that he taught you. The world is a little more dim with his passing but very rich for his having been among us for a while.
Watching Davids videos was like staring at a picture of the Studley tool cabinet. Every moment was well spent and you walk away a better craftsman for the time spent. If nothing more than inspiration was gained it was time I will treasure. Very sorry for his family. Also envious that you got a chance to be near him and to know him. God’s speed. RIP.
I have, and will always remember those long flowing locks every time I put the ruler down on my stone. Rest easy, David. You taught so much to so many!
Every time I touch my water stones as I prepare to sharpen a tool I thank him for what I learned from him. Goodbye my teacher.
I never got a chance to see David in person, but his books and LN videos have been enormously helpful. Many subtle things I learned from him are so obviously valuable that they have become part of how I work wood, without even thinking about where they came from. Whenever I successfully plane the face of a board, joint an edge, or use a chisel with precision, I am indebted to David. RIP
I was fortunate to do two short courses with David in 2005 and 2006.
I have a picture above my workbench from the second course and it is a quiet reminder of my time there and how generous he was with his wealth of knowledge which was free for the asking.
I will always remember him as a man who tried to answer our questions as deeply and as honestly as possible. He shared his gift.
A kind and gentle man.
We first met David over 20 years ago at one of the big woodworking shows. Following my retirement, I was interested in one of his courses to sharpen up my limited skills and thought a weekend in Hartland would do the trick. In the event I went there for about 4 months, which became a life-changing event. He was patiently able to bring out and develop skills of which both I, other students, and friends were unaware.
We have always maintained contact with David and Pat. His legacy for us is the many family heirlooms brought about by his unique teaching skills. We will always be grateful and he will be sorely missed.
He was a teacher of men of the arts under the ultimate teacher of us all! Jesus, he will be greatly missed and honored for his woks may God bless him! Thank you David for what you have given us all!
Like Mary above, I was fortunate to have David all to myself in October 2018 for a mortise and tenon course. At that time, he was on oxygen for most of the day and we had to stop every so often to fill his backpack. But, like Mary, we talked about everything and anything, sometimes remembering that at 3 o’clock we better do a tenon! We played with all the toys he’s amassed over the years. He has an incredible collection of sharpening jigs for instance. Every tool imaginable. He gave me a tour of every nook and cranny of the workshop, with explanations of treasures from the past. Talking about some of the truly incredible work of past students from the long course. A magical time for me with a man who loved to tell tales. That was the last time I saw him and I’m grateful to have been able to attend 4 courses over the years.
But he’s not gone. He’s still around in his DVDs. We can hear and see him. We can still learn from him. We can tell others about his techniques and philosophy. He made a difference. Like Rob Cosman does, whenever we describe the ruler trick (and I asked him “did you really invent it?” He said he did, and remembers the moment the light bulb went on..) we must say the “Charlesworth Ruler Trick”.
“Never with chisels please”.
David was my oldest friend. I was five years old when my mother told me that I had received an invitation from a boy at school. I remember being ushered into their huge house by his sister, Diana or “Dinie”. We lived comfortably at home but, young as I was, I immediately sensed that the Charlesworth household was something completely different. His parents, however, were always lovely with me, as was Dinie who seemed almost like an adult but was at that time, I think, only about 13, and Paddy too, the eldest.
David – no, sorry, it was always “Davie” in those days, and I was always “Stevie” – was only four, a full year younger than me, but he was always the boss. From time to time I would come up with a good idea and he would always give me credit for it, telling his parents at tea time, which was a daily ritual.
I can’t remember when we first started making things together, but it was certainly pretty early. I think I was 8 when I received a treadle fretsaw for Christmas, a huge excitement, and he had one at the same time. I still have mine and use it occasionally. Davie’s, too, is still with us, in the loft of his workshop.
It was mostly model boats in wood in those days, also plastic kits of aircraft, but by 12 we branched out into more daring things. We made lead soldiers in moulds sold by a home foundry in a terraced house in Southall. This we did in my house, my mother supervising us melting lead on her gas cooker.
Then there was the cannon episode. We used to buy 6 inch lengths of brass rod, sold as curtain rail, laboriously drill out the barrel by hand, then a little touch hole, empty black powder out of squibs (12-year-olds were allowed to buy them at that time) and…BOOM! A lot of fun until Davie got a lump of metal lodged in his leg and had to have surgery to get it out.
So, of course, cannons were forbidden. But by this time we were hooked on metal work. We bought a tiny lathe and started building steam engines from castings by Stuart Turner. It was then that we learnt about micrometers and verniers, precision, which, of course, David carried forward with him through his life’s work. Before long he bought a better lathe,a Myford, which, like the fretsaw, is still in his workshop. Our steam engines never worked, but we did succeed in building a copper boiler, a colossal task. David spoke of it the last time I saw him as the best thing we ever did. That, too, is still in the workshop.
About the time we left school (we had not been at school together save for those very early years) his family moved away and our lives drifted apart. We did, however, keep in occasional contact, more frequently so in recent years.
The picture above is delightful. David grew his hair long, like so many, in 1967. Unlike most of them, he never cut it off. He started growing his nails at about the same time. The excuse was that it was useful for playing the guitar. I asked him a year or two ago if he was still playing. The answer was no, but, for whatever reason, the long nails remained.
I was knocked back when I heard of his death, even though I had been expecting it for months, if not years. In so many things that I do I think about him. Like him, I enjoy sharpening things. It is an interest that we developed independently, but I have learnt much from talking to him. Who would not? Often I go out to the workshop and, if I do not have the energy to start a job, I sharpen a chisel or a plane. Of course I think about him.Often, too, I think about those early days and feel an urge to build a steam engine or a model boat, or – dare I say it? – a cannon. Then again, when I listen to the weather forecast and the South West is mentioned, I visualise the morning in Hartland, sunshine or rain, and wonder if David is walking over to his workshop. I know that he will continue to be central to my thoughts.
Thank you, Stephen. This is perfect.
I will miss David, but was fortunate to attend four of his week-long courses in late 2019 and early 2020. Like some of the others, I had him all to myself for two of the courses (Tool Tuning and Dovetails) and shared him with one other student for the other two courses (Mortise & Tenon and Drawer Making). David’s classes were not what I expected and note-taking was required. This was the best way for me to learn a new skill and I still hear his voice in the back of my head.
After years of struggling and failing to make passable dovetails, I exceeded my expectations after one week with David. He also assured me that as good as my Lie-Nielsen planes and chisels were from the factory, he would show me how to make them better, and he certainly did.
I wish the very best for Pat and Theresa.
I only know the man thru his DVD’s and the YouTube videos, but he has taught me a lot about the basics of hand tool woodworking and for that I will always be indebted to him for sharing that knowledge and forever grateful.
Rest In peace David.
There was none better.
I was lucky enough to have attended two courses with David, the second ended up being a week of one to one tuition as the two other students cancelled a few days before.
He was so generous with his time, knowledge and tools often staying longer than the allotted teaching hours, and invited me to come back to his workshop on the Saturday (we had finished the course material by Friday lunchtime) and muddle about.
The First and probably only Holtey hand plane I will ever used was David’s, he lent me some beautiful Tasai chisels to use for the week i was there (although I would prefer if you did not sharpen them Edward! In a stern voice😁)
I went to Hartland to learn furniture making techniques, which were impeccably taught, but I founds David’s questioning methodical approach to problem solving crept into many aspects of my day job, carpentry and joinery and as a result I think of him nearly every week.
I was so proud when he asked his friend Bob to photograph my first serious attempt at tiny dovetails and put them on his website. I left with a newfound confidence.
It was always a pleasure to see him at the European woodworking shows, and he was most amused to discover another use for his excellent instructional DVD’s, getting my 6 year old daughter to sleep, her favourite was furniture making techniques, 5 topic’s.
David invited me to stop by for tea at the workshop anytime I was in Devon, I did not find myself in Devon for 5 years to my regret..
While I only knew David for a short amount of time his influence on me was great. My daughter and I will miss him very much.
My sincere condolences to Pat, family and Friends.
Never got to meet him in person but we visited virtually several times. Always helpful and taught me a lot. He will definitely be missed.
I first encountered David through his two DVDs on plane sharpening and using a hand plane. I was so impressed by the clarity and rationality of his teaching that I yearned for more. After I retired, my wife and I traveled to North Devon in August of 2015 where I took three one-week courses with David—Tool tuning, sharpening and using planes and chisels; Dovetails and Drawer-making and fitting. This was an extraordinary encounter with a unique teacher and the lessons I learned from David have sustained me since.
My wife walked the cliffs and lanes of Hartland, as was mentioned by another commentator, as I worked in David’s shop, and David’s wife Pat was wonderful to take my wife on excursions to sites in the area. All in all, and on so many levers, this was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
Condolences to the Charlesworth family.
Thanks, David. Rest in peace.
Over the last few years, we have lost two of the greatest, most innovative and creative English woodworking craftsman: David Savage and David Charlesworth. Let us hope that there is new blood coming into the profession. Although none can replace them, the newbies can be considered dwarves on the shoulders of giants.
RIP David, you were a master craftsman, a great teacher, but most importantly, a good guy.
What a helpful, kind fellow. To write those books and produce all those videos must have taken him ages, and those like me who’ve bought them know they’re worth every penny. He will be sadly missed by many a woodworker.
Never met David but I’ve learned a lot from him. His teachings have been very helpful to me as I’ve progressed in my woodworking journey. My deepest condolences to his family and friends on this tremendous loss.