I’m excited to announce that Popular Woodworking Magazine released my 5th DVD! It’s called “Build a Traditional Windsor Rocker with Elia Bizzarri”. Please watch the above preview!
If you want to purchase the DVD, click here. And as part of this DVD release we’re giving away a beautiful Tenon Cutter and Reamer, which were made by Elia! See photos of these tools in the Giveaway details at the bottom of this blog post (update: giveaway is passed).
This video took hundreds of hours to produce, film, and edit, so I’m very excited that it is finally hitting the shelves. I made sure this 8 hour step-by-step tutorial didn’t leave anything out, and that anyone would be able to confidently build a Windsor rocker after watching this video.
There are a lot of details that go into building a Windsor chair from a log, so I wanted each step to be clear to understand. Each scene features visually stunning closeup shots so that you won’t miss a detail!
Not only will you learn how to build a Windsor rocker, but you’ll learn valuable green woodworking & hand tool skills that Elia has developed over the past decade…skills that were passed onto him by Curtis Buchanan, a well-known Windsor Chair maker, and by Elia’s mentor Roy Underhill.
THE CHAIRMAKING HANDTOOL GIVEAWAY
In this giveaway, you can enter to win one of Elia’s chair reamers and one of his tenon cutters. These will be amazing hand tools to add to your workshop collection. Here are some specs about each of these tools:
THE REAMER
This tool reams the arm stump and leg holes in the chair seat to a six-degree taper. It also works for reaming the arm stump holes in the arm. The blade tapers from 5/16″ to 1 1/4″ and is 1/16″ thick. This model is made based on a design by Richard Starr, but Elia’s model has a thicker blade, more precise machining on the blade slot, plus a set screw has been added to adjust the depth of cut.
These Reamers sell for $70 each on Elia’s website (click here).
THE TENON CUTTER
These tenon cutters cut a six-degree tapered tenon to match the taper of Elia’s reamers.
Elia’s legs and arm stumps are turned green and oversized. He dries them in a kiln. Then there are a couple of methods to cut a tenon. The chair tenons can either be cut on the lathe (if you have good wood turning skills) or by using a tenon cutter (required very little skill).
WHY USE A TENON CUTTER?
Tenon cutters automatically make a tenon of the correct taper, however they leave a shoulder which must be removed to ensure a good joint. This can be done with a chisel or on the lathe. I usually use the lathe. A little care is required to ensure the tenon is straight on the leg. The less wood the tenon cutter has to remove, the less chance it has to get off course. The Leg Tenon Cutter is 11/16″ diameter at the small end.
These 11/16″ Leg Tenon Cutters cost $65 each (click here to purchase).
HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
(1) Like all my giveaways, you need to be subscribed to my blog to enter (click here if you haven’t subscribed yet).
(2) And the only other thing you need to do for this entry is to visit Elia’s new chairmaking blog and subscribe (click here)…that’s it! You’ll love his free chairmaking lessons.
(3) Add your name & email to my contest form (here) to show me that you’ve completed the entry.
The two winners will be chosen via Random.org and will be announced thorugh email Tuesday September 15th. Winners have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address or a new winner will be chosen in their place. Good luck! Sorry, but this giveaway is limited to U.S. residents.
How much is the DVD going to cost? Also is it HD? How many disc?
I’m not positive about the cost yet…maybe $35? Much more affordable than a class though! Should be mostly HD…It’s whatever quality level can fit on two dual layer discs. But it should be pretty sharp. Hope you enjoy!