Ray will be teaching the class: 'Carving for the 18th Century' in 2022.  Go the the home page and scroll down to his 2022 class for more info.

Registration info here

 

Carving for 18th Century Furniture

September 19-24, 2022      $1150 + materials (tbd - approx. $175)

 

In this class, master carver and teacher, Ray Journigan will be teaching the carving of the 18th Century furniture elements that might appear on a period highboy or other fine piece.

 

The carvings you'll learn include :

Carved acanthus/Chippendale baroque style Drawer Front

Carved Rosette

Carved Flame Finial

Carved Pineapple

Apron section (as time permits)

 

No one who studies Period Furniture can help but be drawn to a Philadelphia Highboy when they enter a
museum or period home. This class has been requested by many carvers of period furniture. Wanting more
than the standard Ball & Claw foot class, this class dives deep into the other elements not offered by most
classes out there. In this six day class, period furniture maker Ray Journigan will teach students the techniques used to accomplish these beautiful embellishment utilising
his perfected method of demonstrations and exercises.  Students will get plenty of carving time in as they learn to layout and carve on round stock to create a flame finial.
Next, they will carve a Chippendale rosette as found on gooseneck moldings. We'll carve the inconic Philadelphia Pineapple.  And a Philadelphia Highboy
would not be complete without a drawer front carved with a recessed shell an acanthus carved surround. All
parts will be cut out and ready to carve so the student will not be wasting valuable learning time standing by a
machine. As a bonus, if time permits, Ray will also show the layout and carving of an intricate apron. 

   Ray will explain the importance of the proper carving station for comfort, Proper lighting, and
sharpening.

   A cut list is available if anyone wants to bring their own wood.  We will be using mahogany for the class due it's suitability for carving and keeping things correct for the period.  A materials fee will be determined as we get closer to the class, but it will be in the range of $175.

 

   The recommended tool list is as follows:

 

Suggested Basic Carving set Tool List:

The following is a list of suggested carving chisels for a basic set. If what you have is close to the chisels listed you can use them.
1/8 mm or 1/12mm double bevel straight gouge (fishtail preferred)
15/3mm V tool (could use 12’s if you already have them but 15’s are better for this work)
15/6mm V tool
2/5mm gouge
2/12mm or 2/16mm gouge (fishtail preferred)
2/30mm gouge (Optional)
3/6mm , 3/12mm or 3/14 (fishtails preferred), 3/20mm
3/25mm gouge (Optional)
5/6mm, 5/12mm (fishtails preferred), 5/20mm
5/25mm gouge (Optional)
7/6mm, 7/8mm, 7/10mm, & 7/14mm gouge (fishtails preferred)
8/4mm, 8/7mm, 8/10mm, 8/13mm straight gouge (A set of 8’s and 9’s is best)
And/Or
9/5mm, 9/7mm, 9/10mm, 9/13mm straight gouge
25/10 Back bend gouge (Optional)
25/13 Back Bend gouge (Optional)
11/2, 11/3 veiner

Also will need:

Paper pad for notes/pencils
Carving mallet
Strop materials
Double sided tape (Golfer’s tape on Amazon or Ebay is good)
Finial Holding Jig (A drawing will be provided so you can one)
A ¾” x 12” x 12” MDF (smooth surface is key) backer board
Directional clamp-on light (Optional)
You may wish to bring a pair of fingerless gloves for hand protection.
Covered shoes required.

 

Optional:

6” or larger Rule

Combination Square

Tenon or Dovetail saw

#49 or 50 Nicholson rasp or equivalent

10” Med cut cabinet file

8” Smooth cut wood file

Spokeshave

Compass

 

Optional opportunities for students during the week include a tour of Lie-Nielson Toolworks and a 1 1/2 hour sail on the Penobscot Bay on my friend, Captain Jim's, 46 foot yacht.

​

​

_____________________________________________________________

​

​

The John Eliot Style 1770

Philadelphia Chippendale Stool Class

2021 class; We will offer again if interest (let us know)

 

Ray Journigan

 

This class is open to all skill level students.  The class is designed to accommodate the beginner as well as advanced , allowing the student to add or leave off as many embellishments as their skill level will permit.  The beginner learns their introduction to hand cut mortise and tenons, hand plane work, and using a file and rasp correctly to create curved shapes like cabriole legs.  The more advanced student dive deeper in the carving aspects such as ball and claw feet and shells, applied and carved in the solid.  

​

A foot stool is a great way to gain skills using your hand tools.  This useful piece of furniture can be used to rest the feet after a long day or as a sitting stool for that last arriving guest.  And the “John Elliot” footstool is one of the finest examples made in the 18th century.  There is a lot a skills in this little project.  After surfacing our materials with a hand plane, Ray will demonstrate different methods of laying out and cutting mortise and tenon joints by hand using tools such as a mortise gauge, tenon saw, mortise chisel, bench chisel, shoulder plane and router plane.  Next, he will demonstrate cutting and shaping cabriole legs using spokeshaves, rasps, files, and card scrapers.  Then Ray will demonstrate an uncomplicated way to layout and carve a Philadelphia style ball and claw foot.  And if that wasn’t enough, Ray will teach you how to layout and carve scallop shells both in the round, like those found on the knees of each leg, and as an applique which a placed on the aprons.  This class is designed so you can take your woodworking skills to the next level without having to empty your wallet for materials.  Other subject that will be discussed include tool sharpening, small shop organization for efficiency, and finishing techniques just to name a few!

Students will be expected to complete all the joinery and all the carving for at least one foot.  Some will accomplish more depending on skill level and time committed.   All the skill necessary will be learned so the project can be competed at home.

 

Tool List:

You are encouraged to bring your general woodworking tools along with the following

for the Stool Class.  We have extras so don’t fret it too much if you don’t have everything here:

5/16” Mortise Chisel

¼”, ½”, ¾”, 1” bench Chisels (If you have them)

Mallet

6” or larger Rule

Combination Square

Tenon or Dovetail saw

#49 or 50 Nicholson rasp or equivalent

10” Med cut cabinet file

8” Smooth cut wood file

Spokeshave

Square card scraper

Smooth plane

Block Plane

Shoulder Plane

Compass

 

Carving:    

You are encouraged to bring your carving roll with chisels to include the following. We have extra carving sets that might not match Ray’s list precisely, if you don’t have all these:

15/6mm v tool                               7/14mm gouge (fishtail)

2/12mm gouge                              8/3mm gouge                                           

2/30mm gouge                             8/7mm gouge

5/8mm gouge (fishtail)                  8/10mm gouge

5/12mm gouge (fishtail)                8/13mm gouge

5/25mm gouge                             25/10mm Backbend gouge

7/6mm gouge (fishtail)                          

7/10mm gouge (fishtail)

 

Materials

Primary Wood – Mahogany Recommended; Walnut, Cherry, Maple are OK too but harder to carve

 4 Legs                            @ 12/4” x 12/4” x 24” (This includes material for Knee blocks)

2 Aprons                         @ 4/4” x 4” x 20”

2 Aprons                         @ 4/4” x 4” x 14”

2 Shells                            @ 4/4” x 4” x 4”

2 Shell Backers              @ 4/4” x 1 1/8” x 4”

Secondary Wood:  Poplar or Pine (Slip seat)

2 Rails                              @ 4/4” x 2 ¾” x 20”

2 Stiles                             @ 4/4” x 2 ¾” x 12”

 

We can offer a lumber pack, milled and ready for the class in your choice of cherry, walnut, or mahogany.  Price and details will be sent to class enrollees.