I have searched high and low, the world over via the Internet to find two tools necessary to try out making a Windsor chair. They could be found few and far between, but the other day I was watching a video of Curtis Buchanan talking about chairmaking, and he mentioned a name I could not quite make out for where he had gotten his scorp, one of the two tools. Luckily, he had mentioned the location of the tool maker, too. So with a little help from the behind-the-scenes trolls over there at Google, I searched and found the maker’s website, and ordered both the scorp, and an adze. The adze is for quick, rough removal of material in a valley, such as a seat bottom. The scorp is for closer, more refined work. A travisher is required for finishing, and I have yet found where I would like to get one of those for sure, though I do have my eye on a site in England that sells them.
There are different types of adzes to be had. Some are short handled and useful for benchtop work. Generally, they are used to scoop wood out of a surface, and the user would hold the tool facing towards himself and swing like a hatchet. Others are long handled, and the user will stand on the work surface, and swing the adze towards his feet. I got the long handled one, figuring I could choke up on it and do benchtop work, or stand and do the ground level stuff. When Jon Townsend built his dugout canoe on his YouTube channel, he used a long handled one, so I don’t want that kind of opportunity to pass by for having the wrong tool. If necessary, I figure I can cut the handle.
The scorp is basically a curved drawknife. It is a blade around a foot long, with handles on each end. It is pulled downwards, again towards the user, and takes shavings of wood, rather than scoops like the adze. The cut is wider and shallower than the adze, and so is more refined. If the adze is scissors, the scorp is more to the effect of the electric hair trimmer. The travisher is more like a razor. Each had its finish, and the scorp will bring the work much closer to the final finish than could possibly be achieved with the adze.
Both tools were readily available on the website of Barr Specialty Tools. The maker is Barr Quarton. Nutty enough to me, he is out in McCall, Idaho! In the end, after all the searching, I ordered a tool from a guy in the same state as I live. Barr has trained on tool making, and with Japanese sword makers, so he talks about folding in carbon in his blades, giving them the edge on cutting. Buchanan recommended them as a superior tool. Since I was happy to take the word of a craftsman in the trade, and to shop locally, Barr Tools was my port of call for these tools. I Was surprised, as my searching had revealed few makers, especially in the US, and nothing of quality craftsmanship. Here, I got both, and with far fewer miles between me and the place of origin than any other.
Woodcraft has not confirmed shipping yet on the bandsaw I ordered, but the money has been taken from the appropriate account. I’ve paid them. My shop is small, and I do not see needing more than the Laguna 14bx. I have really enjoyed my Laguna lathe, so far, and decided to go with them, though I sometimes have doubts and think I might have liked a Harvey a bit better. But then, the only reason I can really find to regret is the blade guides, and those can be replaced if the ceramic guided of the Laguna turn out to be that bad. Carter makes some bearing guides for it. While I will be quite happy for the saw to arrive, it has been so cold in the shop that I would not be able to use it now anyway. So, it gets here when it gets here. As long as it is by spring, or whenever the weather becomes suitable to try it out. I have some blades for it arriving on Saturday, giving me a bit of flexibility with the tool. The bandsaw will provide curved cuts, resawing, and lathe stock prep. In fact, I am eyeing a spot for it right across from the lathe.
After these tools, I think a travisher is in order to complete the requirements, though I may still find a convex spokeshave necessary to complete the spindles. But with the, the shop is more or less complete to the requirements of chairmaking, and many other tasks.
The shop does not open just yet, however! It is coming up to 4:30 in the morning, and it is currently -4F outside. It does not bode well for a nice 70F degree day, suitable to a lovely time working. Looks more like another day hiding in the house! Well, everything has a season, as Jill Winger pointed out in her global email yesterday.