Fine Furniture Making: Craft a Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair

About the Course

Elevate your woodworking skills with our intermediate-level Maker Series in fine furniture making, where you’ll embark on the exciting journey of crafting your own MCM-style lounge chair. This comprehensive course focuses on building essential skills for any fine furniture maker, such as precise wood milling, template and profile cutting on the router table, and mastering mortise and tenon joinery using the Festool Domino system. You’ll also gain practical upholstery skills and learn best practices for achieving flawless wipe-on wood finishes. Whether you’re venturing into a more ambitious project for the first time or expanding your existing woodworking repertoire, this class is designed to empower you with the skills and confidence to create functional art that reflects your craftsmanship and style.

This series includes:

• Table Saw I and Wood Milling I: Wood milling and bandsaw rough cuts
  
• Router Table I: Template cutting and profiling on the router table
• Festool Domino (Part I)
• Festool Domino (Part II) and Fine Sanding
• Upholstery I:  Upholstery and wood finishing

This series is ideal for intermediate-level woodworkers wanting to master furniture-making techniques like template cutting, mortise-and-tenon joinery, and upholstery.

This upcoming Maker Series is now sold out. To join our waitlist, fill out the form here.

Series One:

Wednesday, January 8th, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Wednesday, January 15th, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Wednesday, January 29th, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Wednesday, February 5th, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Wednesday, February 19th, 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Series Two:

Sunday, January 5th, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Sunday, January 12th, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Sunday, January 26th, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Sunday, February 2nd, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Sunday, February 16th, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Series two dates full

NextFab’s Maker Series is a two-month program that gives you up to 5 classes, unlimited shop access, and a cohort to learn alongside. All materials except wood are included (bring your own or purchase from us).

Q. What is included in the Maker Series package?

A. Registration in a Maker Series grants you:

• The scheduled classes and training to complete the selected project (over $600 of class instruction)
• 2 months of active NextFab Membership, starting on the first class date (over $400 value)
• Adobe at Home Access ($120 value over 2 months!)
• Special member pricing to continue membership beyond the 2 months: $149/month (over 30% discount from standard membership)
• A cohort of peers, new skills and confidence gained, and a sense of community within the Philadelphia creative ecosystem (priceless value!)

Q: Is the Maker Series right for me? I have ZERO experience!

A: Yes! The Maker Series programming was developed with the true beginner in mind. In six weeks, you could go from zero experience to confidently navigating an active studio and future projects.

Not only is NextFab’s Maker Series designed to teach you how to use the most common equipment within the area of your program, but also how to think about design when creating something from scratch. Knowing how to follow a blueprint or plan is incredibly valuable, but designing your own project plans is what will differentiate you from the hobbyist who is “just winging it.”

Q: If I am a previous member of NextFab, can I join the Maker Series?

A: Absolutely! If you are a previous member and looking to complete the class project or get a major refresh of skills you haven’t used for a while, the Maker Series is a perfect way to get your feet wet again.

Q: I have a schedule conflict with one of the class dates. Can I make it up?

A: Yes. The Maker Series package accounts for one (1) makeup class date per student at no additional cost. Advance notice/active communication with your instructor is required to coordinate when you can make up the lesson before the next scheduled class date. Subsequent absences from the pre-scheduled classes will incur an educational fee of $60/hr to make up the material.

Q: Should I join the Maker Series or join as a regular member and take classes?

A: This depends on your goals. If you are feeling inspired and want to learn new skills but don’t have a particular project in mind, the Maker Series is perfectly suited to get your feet wet and help you find your way in the craft.

If you have a particular project in mind and want to learn all the skills needed and complete your specific project, Monthly Ultimate membership ($319/mo) is your golden ticket. Ultimate membership comes with $200 of class credits monthly, so you can get started taking the classes you need, on your schedule. You can even book Private Training sessions with those credits if you need hands-on help completing your project.

What’s Next: Design and make your own chair, or some accompanying furniture to this chair that we’ve made together!