Replies

1. 
   Splintie | Jan 15, 2003 08:43am | #1

   It's not clear what kind of furniture interests you, but a google search of "rustic furniture school" and "twig furniture school" turned up a lot of sources of classes/videos.

1. 
   chatobob | Jan 16, 2003 04:04am | #2

   I'm sorry if I was a little vague.  I saw the same courses about rustic furniture, usually about bending green wood into chairs, benches and stools.  I am more interested in learning about well designed outdoor furniture that can be machined from treated pine, cedar and other exoctics that will withstand extreme temperatures. 

1. 
   Splintie | Jan 16, 2003 04:32am | #3

   I would suggest you could profit from any decent furniture course in that case, as the principles of well-designed furniture will be the same for outdoor as indoor furniture, that being the piece fits the purpose, the person, and the space for which it is intended. You'll use resistant woods which you obviously already have kowledge of, and epoxies and poly glues for weather resistance, but the joinery for high-end outdoor furniture is no different. There are some techniques to making joints that shed water that are useful for exterior use, come to think of it.

   Fine Woodworking did an article on a beautiful and sturdy outdoor loveseat/bench of teak (cypress?). I've spent 15 minutes searching to find it on the FWW site with no luck, so perhaps you could write the editors for the issue number.  

2. 
   Seth_Frankel | Jan 16, 2003 04:40pm | #4

   I agree with Splintie. You'd be well served taking a course through a local college or woodoworking school. The differences between outdoor furniture and indoor furniture are not that great. We're mainly talking about different adhesives, finishes and woods. Technique remains the same, although most folks are building outdoor furniture to lower standards and accept a greater reliance on hardware attachments.

   At one point I was teaching woodworking in a college setting. Several folks were building outdoor furniture as their projects. I'm sure any decent instructor in a general course would be happy to help you meet your goals. Just ask. Good luck.

   Seth

   "Nothing is a

   mistake. There is no win

   and there is no fail . . . there is only

   make."

   John Cage

   Edited 1/16/2003 8:43:29 AM ET by Seth Frankel