Epic Adventure 2024 – Epic Woodworking, Inc., by Tom McLaughlin

Only 3 weeks now and we’ll be on the road again for Epic Adventure 2024! Last year was great, connecting with people, supporting Guilds and others who are seeking to inspire, and expand the craft of woodworking.

Lately we’ve been posting our route during the SNL Intro, but if you don’t get to watch live, you’ve likely missed it due after-edits. Each stop is unique to the group — some opted for an evening experience, some day-long, some both.

Let’s be sure you’re know where we’re headed should an event be local to you.

Here’s a peek:

March 23-24: Woodworkers Showcase ‘24 in Saratoga Springs, NY
https://woodworker.org/showcase-show-information/
March 26-27: Washington Woodworkers Guild, Falls Church, VA
26th – at their regular meeting place:  7118 Shreve Rd, Falls Church, VA 22043 (VFW Hall)
27th – Nova Labs, 3850  Jermantown Rd., Fairfax, VA.
https://washingtonwoodworkersguild.org/register-for-the-art-of-chairmaking-with-tom-mclaughlin/
March 29-30: Triangle Woodworkers Association, Cary, NC
http://www.trianglewoodworkers.com/ (twawebmaster@gmail.com)
Sign Up Link – https://checkout.square.site/buy/LDR44FOYVZ425GT2Z7ZWATRI
April 1-2: Greenville Woodworkers Guild, Greenville, SC
https://www.greenvillewoodworkers.com/ (comm@greenvillewoodworkers.com)
April 6: East Tennessee Woodworkers Guild, Knoxville, TN
http://www.etwg.org/node/266 (Tom McLaughlin class at Woodcraft)
http://www.etwg.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/Tom%20McLaughin%20class.pdf
April 11: Austin School of Furniture, Austin, TX
https://austinschooloffurniture.com/
April 13: Woodworkers Club of Houston, Houston, TX
https://www.wwch.org/
April 16: North Texas Woodworkers Association, Plano, TX
https://ntwa.org/ (webmaster@ntwa.org)
April 27: Michigan Woodworkers Guild, Detroit, MI
https://michiganwoodworkersguild.com/event/the-art-of-chair-making/ 

Click the link to their website. If you don’t see what you need to know there, go to the Contact page and email them for details.  

Tom’s topic for most evening experiences is Grain Graphics, and for the day-long, The Art of Chairmaking. The descriptions for both are pasted below. 

We’ll keep you posted along the way… might even up our game on our Socials this time. More on that later.

Looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible,

Kris and Tom
Epic Woodworking, Canterbury, NH
https://www.epicwoodworking.com/

Grain Graphics

We will explore various ways of handling and thinking about wood grain to enhance the visual impact of your projects. Photo examples and technique demonstrations will be included while considering creative directions using solid wood, veneers, and several finish treatments.

The Art of Chairmaking

In this full-day presentation, Tom will introduce and attempt to simplify the art of fine chairmaking which is considered by most to be the most challenging of woodworking projects. While he will include inspirational examples from the great designs of the past through slide discussions, there will be plenty of practical examples and demonstrations of the approach and process to making great chairs.

The presentation will begin with an explanation of the fundamentals using as an example a classic mortise and tenon Craftsman style chair. Then Tom will show how the principles involved in building this chair extend to the more curvilinear Queen Anne style. Finally, he will explore chairmaking design and construction in the style of one of a modern-day masterpiece, the Hans Wegner Classic (round) Chair.