RWS Showcase 2011 Best in Show by Ralph Mosher

Welcome!

We are a group of men and women in Upstate NY dedicated to the enjoyment of woodworking. Membership includes lectures and workshops by renowned woodworking personalities and local professionals as well as free access to our extensive lending library of books and videos.

RWS welcomes everyone interested in the craft whether professional or hobbyist. Join the company of hundreds of enthusiasts - carvers, turners, furniture makers, boat builders, and other skilled craftspeople and take your woodworking skills to a new level.

 

 

 

Recent News

  • Peter Galbert: National Lecture and Workshop: 8:00PM, February 24, 2012, Basil Auditorium, SJFC

    Peter Galbert is a full time chairmaker. Before specializing in green wood chairmaking he built custom cabinetry and furniture as well as museum displays. Peter has taught at many craft schools around the country including the Penland School of Crafts, the North Bennet Street School, the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Peters Valley Craft School, Kelly Mehlers School of Woodworking, Highland Woodworking and the Arrowmont School of Crafts. Besides making chairs and teaching, Peter also writes the Chairnotes blog and produces the Galbert Caliper. In 2001, Peter and his wife Sue moved from Manhattan to Bethel, New York where he currently lives and works.

    In his lecture, Peter will discuss the tools, materials and techniques that are used in making one of Americas most iconic and enduring furniture forms, the Windsor chair.  He will detail the transformation from green log to finished chair and explain why hand tools are the most efficient and enjoyable way to make a truly comfortable, durable and beautiful chair.

    In the Saturday workshop, Peter will demonstrate the techniques used in Windsor chairmaking, including green wood riving, shaving, steam bending, turning and carving. He will also demonstrate the joinery techniques and demystify the angles and design elements that make up a great chair. It will be an action packed day, so bring a notebook, camera and lots of questions.

  • National Speakers for 2011-12

    Here are our 2011 - 2012 National Speakers

    Will Neptune, Router Jigs & Fixtures for Furniture Construction, September 23, 2011

    Michael Fortune, Design and Construction Processes With Examples, November 4, 2011

    Scott Grove, Advanced Veneering Techniques, December 9, 2011

    Bill Grumbine, Bowl Turning Techniques, Jannuary 20, 2012

    Peter Galbert, Windsor Chairs, February 24, 2012

    George Walker, Unlocking the Designer Inside You, March 16, 2012

    Silas Kopf, The Techniques and Artistry of Marquetry, April 13, 2012

     

     

 

Upcoming Workshops

Spindle Turning

Spindle Turning – Tools and techniques, Saturday, 2/11/12, 9:00AM to 4:00PM, Location, CP Rochester ($40 for RWS members) : 02/11/12

This workshop is fully subscribed and closed to further registration. Thank you.

Turning spindles (Objects with their axis running roughly parallel to the grain of the wood) is fundamental to most of the turning used in furniture making. It's also the basis for turning pens, candlesticks and other useful projects. The tools and techniques differ from those used in bowl turning. This hands on class will allow participants to turn beads, coves and grooves in blanks provided for the class. A small material fee will be charged.

Workshop Registration

 

Peter Galbert: National Lecture and Workshop

Peter Galbert is a full time chairmaker. Before specializing in green wood chairmaking he built custom cabinetry and furniture as well as museum displays. Peter has taught at many craft schools around the country including the Penland School of Crafts, the North Bennet Street School, the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Peters Valley Craft School, Kelly Mehlers School of Woodworking, Highland Woodworking and the Arrowmont School of Crafts. Besides making chairs and teaching, Peter also writes the Chairnotes blog and produces the Galbert Caliper. In 2001, Peter and his wife Sue moved from Manhattan to Bethel, New York where he currently lives and works.

 

Peter Galbert Lecture :  02/24/12

In his Friday evening lecture, Peter will discuss the tools, materials and techniques that are used in making one of Americas most iconic and enduring furniture forms, the Windsor chair.  He will detail the transformation from green log to finished chair and explain why hand tools are the most efficient and enjoyable way to make a truly comfortable, durable and beautiful chair.

Peter Galbert Workshop: Windsor Chairs :  02/25/12

In the Saturday workshop, Peter will demonstrate the techniques used in Windsor chairmaking, including green wood riving, shaving, steam bending, turning and carving. He will also demonstrate the joinery techniques and demystify the angles and design elements that make up a great chair. It will be an action packed day, so bring a notebook, camera and lots of questions.

Date & Time: Saturday February 25, 2012, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Lunch will be provided.

Location: CP Rochester, 3399 South Winton Road, Rochester, NY

Fee: $60 for RWS members, $80 for non-members

Workshop Registration

 

Handplanes 301, Hand Plane Usage and Specialty Woodworking Planes

Saturday, 3/10/12, 9:00AM to 3:00PM, “Handplanes 301, Hand Plane Usage and Specialty Woodworking Planes” in Al VanDeMoere’s shop. Lecture and Hands-on, Instructor: Al VanDeMoere ($40 for members, lunch provided.) : 03/10/12

In the third part of this series, Students will learn what plane to use when, and how to prepare a simulated table top for finish by cutting (planning and scraping) vs. sanding. Special purpose planes (scrub, grooving, molding, etc.) will be discussed. The use of a shooting board to increase both the accuracy and utility of your hand planes will also be demonstrated. Reference: Garrett Hack "The Hand Plane Book"

The workshop will be held at:

Alan VanDeMoere's shop
52 Wilelen Road
Chili, NY 14624


Workshop Registration