Carpenters Without Borders

Chair Making -Phase III and IV

Short Term:  
Because of the enthusiastic response, we want to maintain a place to store the tools and to hold classes. Dr. Bronson and his family have generously contributed 20 acres of their tree farm to establish our school and to meet these needs.
 
We need to raise funds to install the infrastructure to accomplish this goal.  
 
We want to continue the classes (Phases III and IV) to teach weaving of the seats, to reinforce acquired skills, and to make 3 chairs per student. 
Note: While teaching the basic skills, twelve chairs were made by twenty-five students as well as the 21 shave horses.
 
We also want to provide a "kit" for each student to take home with him after
graduation. This kit would include:
  1. Plans for a shave horse
  2. A draw knife
  3. A spoke shave
  4. A hand or foot powered grinding wheel.
  5. Three grades of sharpening stones
  6. A tape measure
  7. A set of appropriate sized chisels
  8. A brace and bits
 
The approximate cost per kit:   $340 per student
 
Additionally, a collective "kit" for each village to be shared by the village craftsmen would include:
1. A steamer comprised of a steam chamber, two pressure cookers with hoses, a propane burner and a propane tank and regulator.
2. A simple kiln, with insulated box, heat source and racks.
 The approximate cost per village kit:  $ 265
 
 
 

 

Long Term:  For viable sustainability, the following concepts must be implemented: 

1. The establishment of a “Chair Maker’s Guild”, to maintain standards, costs of labor and materials normalization and coordination of marketing plans.
2. A comprehensive business plan.
3.  Involve students in sustainable reforestation to grow and replace the very woods that they want to use.
    
We want to develop a full-time Woodworking school, with emphasis on conservation, tree-farming, and artisan craftsmanship; using precious indigenous woods. We want to increase local appreciation for the environmental resources and to create economic opportunities.