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Windsors

Over the years, I've built several Windsor chairs, a Spinning Wheel and numerous Nakashima inspired benches and tables. I've also taught Windsor techniques to adults and teenagers. My initial training in woodworking was from John Kassay, author of: The Book of American Windsor Furniture and The Book of Shaker Furniture, U. Mass. Press, 1998 and 1980, respectively. I studied with John and Bob Treanor at SF State University's Design and Industry Department until I went to North Bennet. I have John's site drawings for the Windsor book. I am interested in teaching Windsor styles and techniques  to students of all ages.

John P. McCormack

Furniture Designer, Maker & Teacher


Windsor Forms

Windsor structures and techniques are interesting and useful for furniture construction.

McCracken Sack-Back drawing from Kassay's book.
Sack-Back Arm Chair, front view.
Sack Back side view.
Arm detail.
Sack Back seat leg detail.
Jackie's Stool, Walnut solids, laminations, including carbon fiber.
Front view from above.
Front view, seat and back detail.
Oblique from above.
Crest rail and first back spindle, a carbon fiber/ walnut lamination.
Side view from above seat showing carbon fiber lamination.
Jackie's Stool, with carbon fiber/ walnut lamination in footrest.
Jackie's Stool, sketch.
Quarter scale model.
Spinning Wheel, JPM, 1987.
Flubber Stool, leg view.
Flubber Stool, from above.
Flubber Stool top view.
Flubber Stool.
Flubber Stool, top at flubber bumper.
Flubber Stool top, at leg.
Student's coffee table in walnut and ash.
Student table from above.
Finishing the completed table.
Student bench, walnut and teak.
Student bench, from above.
Bigfoot.
Tracy inspired Windsor Stool.
Plane of legs view.
From above.
From above.
Student Stool in ash, leveling and flushing the legs.
Madrone Coffee Table, from aove.
Madrone Coffee Table, crotch end.
Madrone Coffee Table, crotch end detail.
Madrone Coffee Table, Butt end.
Blackball Table, Front view, Bigleaf Maple, Sapele & Bronze.
Blackball Table, side view, detail.
Blackball Table, End view, big split.
Blackball Table, End view, big split, two keys.
Blackball Table, Bronze keys.
Blackball Table: detail, end with single bronze key.
Blackball Table, Process: key mates with its socket, layout for through bolting.
Tenons through and dovetails let into the unfinished top.
Walnut slab process: laser finds the point of minimum diameter at floor for legs of different lengths.
Dotted lines at end of uniform taper, from laser. Legs are maple, top is walnut.
Tapers complete. Legs ready to glue in and then flush to floor.
Housed leg mortises.
In finish.
Madrone Coffee Table: finding good diagonals with a laser on an odd shaped top.
Madrone Coffee Table: reaming the mortises for better angular alignment.
Madrone Coffee Table: wedged through tenons about to be flushed.
Madrone Coffee Table: Reaming the untapered leg mortises for good angular alignment.
The reamer.