Michael A. Doerr
Fine Art Woodworking
In-Shop
Chair Construction Class
Students will join me in my shop, located in beautiful Door County Wisconsin, for a five day intensive contemporary chair construction class. During this comprehensive class students will learn my individual approach to chair construction through a combination of hands-on experience and one-on-one demonstrations, while making a chair of their own. My “New Number One” chair is used as the design model for this class because of its versatility for both home and office use.
Using my table saw, routers, band saw and simple hand tools, student take pre-milled blocks of wood through all stages of chair assembly, learning a variety of techniques including seat construction and leg to seat joinery. Key considerations of this class are: seat to back relationship for comfort; design elements when creating your own chair; selection of appropriate woods; grain considerations; and application of a hand rubbed oil finish.
The class is an intense and rewarding experience that will give students an understanding of how to create a comfortable and functional chair at home. When considering participating in this workshop it is important that you have previous experience with power tools and feel comfortable working in close with these tools. The cost of the class includes all materials and tools. This workshop will give you the ability to finish your chair, either in shop or at home and the knowledge to repeat the process at your convenience. I feel that it is important to share my over thirty years of experience with others because it is my contribution and legacy to the world of craft. Do not miss this opportunity to make a unique piece of furniture that you and your family will appreciate for years to come.
Please feel free to contact me about cost and availability of this class either by email (MichaelDoerr@gmail.com) or by phone 920-743-5631.
I recently had the privilege of spending a week with Michael Doerr, who gave me an individual class on chair making. Mr. Doerr is a patient, generous, and good humored instructor, with the depth and range of knowledge that comes from 40 years of working with wood. His shop is in a beautiful setting, and it is stocked with just about any tool or jig you’d ever need for a woodworking project. The time I spent with Mike is without a doubt my most enjoyable, interesting and fulfilling educational experience since I attended a brain dissection workshop several years ago.
Steven P. Kaplan, PhD
Psychologist, Appleton, Wisconsin