The Chairmaker’s Toolbox
Transforming Tradition
The Chairmaker’s Toolbox
Our mission is to address the barriers to education and community to build the future of green woodworking. Following three hundred years of restricted access, we believe that the continued relevance of hand tool woodworking relies on the authentic participation of historically excluded makers. The Chairmaker’s Toolbox provides free tools, education, and mentorship for BIPOC, GNC and female students hoping to build chairs and established toolmakers seeking to build sustainable businesses. In support of the project, we have partnered with Winterthur Museum, The Furniture Society and chairmakers across the country. We have offered classes as Lost Art Press, A Workshop of Our Own, The School of Woodwork, Port Townsend School of Woodworking, Austin School of Furniture & Design, and Fireweed Woodshop.
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Working with highly skilled underrepresented toolmakers (female, NGB, and BIPOC), The Chairmaker’s Toolbox is putting into production a new line of classic tools. You can’t find tools finer than this - precise, exquisite, built to last. You know you’re getting a tool that is not only thoughtful but useful - each tool is developed with and tested by some of the most experienced chairmakers in the country.
Please visit “The Toolbox” to see the tools, and to read about makers, and advisors who worked to make this new generation of tools possible.
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Educational equity in woodworking is a lofty goal. We are approaching it from two angles. First, offering free or sliding-scale classes in chairmaking across the country. Second, collecting donations of time, space, materials, or intellectual property and distributing them to makers who will bring perspective, variety, and fresh ideas to the field.
Please visit the “Education + Opportunities” page to read about the exciting opportunities available and enjoy the donations of time, energy, and intellectual property so generously offered there.
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Good tools should be in the hands of people who will use them - or even better, build a life with them. The goal of The Living Tools project is to connect divided generations of makers through a mutual love of good tools by giving retiring makers a chance to give their tools a new life in the craft. Retiring makers are encouraged to donate their tools as a “collection” which will then be awarded to an under-represented maker. The recipient must commit to never sell the tools they are given, but instead maintain the collection in its entirety and give it again when they can no longer use it. Our goal is to amplify the generosity of the original donor and guarantee that the tools remain gifts across generations.
Visit “The Living Tools” section of the website to see the collections available and to read about the donation that inspired the project.
