Wood Working?

[Odemia]

I have been planning to build myself some bookshelves as all the ones I can find are fugly or shorter than I need. Then I started looking for solid wood chairs to go with a dinning room table that my grandfather built. In searching I have found that good, solid wood chairs cost ~$370-$400 a piece (this is for cherry wood chairs that are properly stained to match). The more I think about it the more it only seems fitting that I should build the chairs to go with the table.

I would love to have space and tools available to learn and practice some techniques for joining, pocketing seats, etc. and possibly even build a couple pieces of furniture. Anyone else in the group have experience with this type of woodworking? Anyone else interested in experimenting/learning some furniture making with me?

[Bergo]

Haven't done anyhting since high school shop class, would love to give it another go. I do a fair bit of light construction around home, remodelling y basement, built a home theater and a second bathroom, also built a large shed last fall.

[rsilk]

I do a bit of furniture building when it's warm enough for me to work in my garage. Bookshelves are easy, but I've never done chairs. Sounds like it could be fun.

[Kaldonis]

Would also be interested in some furniture building. One thing I've wanted to build for a while is a decent home theatre entertainment unit since all the ones that I find that I like are either only for 42" TVs or well above $1000.

[Odemia]

Cool, good to see some other people with interest. Hopefully we get a place in the near future with enough room to do some wood working.

And yes bookshelves are pretty easy, but I want to try some biscuit joints on the front for attaching some trim. And I am hoping to get some advice/design ideas on the chairs from my brother in law who used to make furniture for a living.

[rsilk]

My garage is also available (and that's where all my tools live), but it's pretty effing cold this time of year (my kingdom for a shop heater!). Perhaps once it warms up, if we're not already in a space? I should have all the needed tools if you're not aiming for round legs on the chairs (no lathe).

That reminds me -- if we want to do woodworking in the space, we'll either want a separate room or a decent dust collection system ($$). If we do neither, everyone's stuff will be coated in sawdust most of the time (it gets *everywhere*).