I’m teaching four stick chair classes in Germany and Australia in 2025. Yes, it’s an American teaching a Welsh/Scottish/Irish form in places that are truly exotic for this humble chair form.
Here are details and links. First stop, Germany.
Comb-back Stick Chair With a Steambent Arm
July 7-11, 2025
Dictum, Niederalteich facility
This is the most ambitious chair to make in a class. Heck, I wouldn’t dare teach it anywhere else. But Dictum’s Niederalteich campus has a great steam box and – most importantly – incredibly good workshop technicians (Mattias and Wolfgang) who can make anything work. The classroom is in a converted barn in a monastery. It’s a beautiful and isolated place to take a class.
Irish Stick Lounge Chair
July 14-18, 2025
Dictum, Munich facility
This is one of my favorite chairs to build (I have two on the bench right now). It’s incredibly comfortable, and the joinery is perfect for a first-time chairmaker. This class is in Dictum’s Munich facility, which is across the hall from Dictum’s storefront in Munich. Peter runs the shop there, and it’s an excellent urban workshop. (Bring your family, and they will find lots to do in Munich.)
Second stop, Australia.
Seven-stick Comb-back Chair
October 6-10, 2025
Wood Dust, Melbourne
The Wood Dust people are bringing me (plus Michael Fortune and Matt Kenney) to Melbourne for a woodworking event. I’ll teach a five-day class in making a comb-back, and there are evening events in Melbourne as well. Tickets haven’t gone on sale yet, but the link will take you to the site that has more information.
Seven-stick Comb-back Chair
October 14-18, 2025
Wood Dust, Newrybar, NSW
After a couple days off and some travel, I’m teaching a second five-day class in making a comb-back in Newrybar. Tickets haven’t gone on sale yet, but the link will take you to the site that has more details.
Teaching overseas is difficult. Not just for me, but for the people who organize and execute these classes. Because of the difficulty, any one of these trips could be my last. Not because of me – my health is great, and I have plenty of energy. But because of the difficulty and expense of putting on a class with an instructor who has to travel 9,786 miles to get there.
— Christopher Schwarz
“I was part of the LAP World Tour of 2025 and all I got was this t-shirt and a lousy splinter”
Well, I’m in! Just got the confirmation letter from Dictum for the comb-back class!
Cheers and see you both soon and then,
Mattias
I am curious if you find wood selection a challenge when traveling? I would assume there are some species similarities in Germany, but how similar are the woods in Australia?
I have no doubt they have wonderful woods to work, I just wonder what it is like as an instructor going to teach a class using wood you may not be as familiar with.
I enjoy getting to use woods I have only read about. Being able to identify serviceberry and know how French oak works is delightful.
In the end, as long as the wood is well seasoned and isn’t full of stresses, it’ll be fine.
I’m very tempted, living only 6h away, but I don’t know if my wife (with our currently 3 day old daughter :)) will want to spend a week in Germany…
Just a week ago, my wife settled our summer vacation 2025 just in that time. But maybe I will stalk you in Munich..
Cheers
Pedder
If anyone wants a lift to Niederalteich from the U.K. let me know, reaching the tolls can be a challenge!
Would soft wax be an acceptable finish for a couple of book cases? How long do you think they’d need to sit after application (if the answer is yes) of the wax to be considered safe?
Also, thanks for publishing the soft wax recipe. I’ve used it on turned bowls and other things and have been happy with it.
Nice! I hope you don’t mind some good old fashioned pestering at the class about getting the most out of linseed oil paint! 😉
@Philip Scott: In case your comment was meant in reply to me (but didn’t form a thread, as often is the case these days), no worries! For what (little) it may be worth I am happy and willing to talk LOP until the cows come back from their extended holidays abroad 😉
Cheers,
Mattias
I have two philosophies in life; 1) live life with no regrets, and 2) Since that’s impossible, choose always choose the thing you’ll regret the least. To me, missing out on helping with your new tiny daughter would be the big regret. Not to mention that your wife would be, let’s say, less than pleased!