Crafted in collaboration with renowned chairmaker Curtis Buchanan, this set is ideal for both novice and experienced chairmakers. Made to shape key components of Windsor chairs: legs, side stretchers, centre stretchers, and arm supports. These are designed around Curtis Buchanan's continuous armchair plans, but they will work for various baluster leg Windsor chairs.
Each part has two pieces: a full-scale profile template and a matching story stick.
The profile templates let you see the whole shape laid out in front of you, so you know exactly how the cuts tie into each other before you ever touch a tool. They're also useful for material selection. Lay the template on your stock first to check grain runout and avoid knots landing in thin spots, so you don't waste a blank or end up with weak points.
The story sticks are the negative space cut from that same profile. Hold one against the spinning blank to mark your diameters directly, then use it to check your shape as you go, no calipers or math needed. They also have oversized cutouts around joinery areas, so tenons can be left oversized and super dried before turning to final dimension.
Even as you gain confidence, the story sticks will continue to serve as precise references, ensuring consistent, high quality results. Whether following Buchanan's chair plans or creating your own chair designs, this set elevates your turnings.
Each set includes 8 precision cut pieces, 1/4” thick Blatic Birch plywood.
4 full scale profile templates, for material selection and profile shaping
4 story sticks, the negative space cut from each profile, for marking diameters along the turning and checking your shape as you go
While these templates provide consistent guidance, they're not duplicators. Your turnings will still reflect the human touch. Chair making guru Peter Galbert suggests subtle variations in turnings are preferred, and I agree.
Note: These templates are oriented for turnings with the top on the tailstock side. If you turn in the opposite orientation, just reach out and I can help adjust them to your needs.
Crafted in collaboration with renowned chairmaker Curtis Buchanan, this set is ideal for both novice and experienced chairmakers. Made to shape key components of Windsor chairs: legs, side stretchers, centre stretchers, and arm supports. These are designed around Curtis Buchanan's continuous armchair plans, but they will work for various baluster leg Windsor chairs.
Each part has two pieces: a full-scale profile template and a matching story stick.
The profile templates let you see the whole shape laid out in front of you, so you know exactly how the cuts tie into each other before you ever touch a tool. They're also useful for material selection. Lay the template on your stock first to check grain runout and avoid knots landing in thin spots, so you don't waste a blank or end up with weak points.
The story sticks are the negative space cut from that same profile. Hold one against the spinning blank to mark your diameters directly, then use it to check your shape as you go, no calipers or math needed. They also have oversized cutouts around joinery areas, so tenons can be left oversized and super dried before turning to final dimension.
Even as you gain confidence, the story sticks will continue to serve as precise references, ensuring consistent, high quality results. Whether following Buchanan's chair plans or creating your own chair designs, this set elevates your turnings.
Each set includes 8 precision cut pieces, 1/4” thick Blatic Birch plywood.
4 full scale profile templates, for material selection and profile shaping
4 story sticks, the negative space cut from each profile, for marking diameters along the turning and checking your shape as you go
While these templates provide consistent guidance, they're not duplicators. Your turnings will still reflect the human touch. Chair making guru Peter Galbert suggests subtle variations in turnings are preferred, and I agree.
Note: These templates are oriented for turnings with the top on the tailstock side. If you turn in the opposite orientation, just reach out and I can help adjust them to your needs.
