Duncan
@baduncadunc.bsky.social
ellinwoodworks
Just a woodworker and chocolate maker reveling in a love of craft in the PNW
https://linktr.ee/ellinwoodworks
Just a woodworker and chocolate maker reveling in a love of craft in the PNW
https://linktr.ee/ellinwoodworks
Side chair in cherry and beech
A very new seat shape for me, it was fun to bring in more curves and swoopy bits. While carving this seat, I was dreaming of what I could do if I’d started with even thick stock. Will need to find some 10/4 material for a future chair.
A very new seat shape for me, it was fun to bring in more curves and swoopy bits. While carving this seat, I was dreaming of what I could do if I’d started with even thick stock. Will need to find some 10/4 material for a future chair.
October 21, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Side chair in cherry and beech
A very new seat shape for me, it was fun to bring in more curves and swoopy bits. While carving this seat, I was dreaming of what I could do if I’d started with even thick stock. Will need to find some 10/4 material for a future chair.
A very new seat shape for me, it was fun to bring in more curves and swoopy bits. While carving this seat, I was dreaming of what I could do if I’d started with even thick stock. Will need to find some 10/4 material for a future chair.
Comb-back stick chair in cherry and oak
It was comb-back stick chairs that sparked a lot of my interest in chair making, so it seems a little odd that I’ve made so few of them. Working on this one has made me excited to make some more!
It was comb-back stick chairs that sparked a lot of my interest in chair making, so it seems a little odd that I’ve made so few of them. Working on this one has made me excited to make some more!
September 5, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Comb-back stick chair in cherry and oak
It was comb-back stick chairs that sparked a lot of my interest in chair making, so it seems a little odd that I’ve made so few of them. Working on this one has made me excited to make some more!
It was comb-back stick chairs that sparked a lot of my interest in chair making, so it seems a little odd that I’ve made so few of them. Working on this one has made me excited to make some more!
All glued up and ready for cleanup/finishing. Already full of ideas of what I want to change for the next comb-back I make!A
September 2, 2025 at 5:42 PM
All glued up and ready for cleanup/finishing. Already full of ideas of what I want to change for the next comb-back I make!A
Seat carved and undercarriage assembled on this stick chair. The experience of sculpting/carving a seat is a nice departure from the more measured work on a chair. These days I rely a lot more on what looks good to the eye and feel good to the bottom rather than any actual measurements for it.
August 31, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Seat carved and undercarriage assembled on this stick chair. The experience of sculpting/carving a seat is a nice departure from the more measured work on a chair. These days I rely a lot more on what looks good to the eye and feel good to the bottom rather than any actual measurements for it.
On to carving the seat on this stick chair. Perhaps one of the best parts of making a chair, both because the scorp and travisher are a joy to use and it’s at this stage that the chair really starts to come alive.
August 30, 2025 at 1:30 AM
On to carving the seat on this stick chair. Perhaps one of the best parts of making a chair, both because the scorp and travisher are a joy to use and it’s at this stage that the chair really starts to come alive.
It was a little disconcerting how easily the dry fit of this armbow with the shorts sticks went together. I suppose it means I can make holes line up through space better now than I ever have!
August 29, 2025 at 12:26 AM
It was a little disconcerting how easily the dry fit of this armbow with the shorts sticks went together. I suppose it means I can make holes line up through space better now than I ever have!
Reflecting today on just how much my work has changed since getting a drawknife. I love a tool that can jog off huge amounts of material and also take the most delicate of shavings.
August 27, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Reflecting today on just how much my work has changed since getting a drawknife. I love a tool that can jog off huge amounts of material and also take the most delicate of shavings.
It’s been a busy summer full of lots of good non-chair making things like teaching classes, building workbenches for my local folks school, and plenty of travel. Glad to be back in my workshop working on chairs though!
August 26, 2025 at 12:12 AM
It’s been a busy summer full of lots of good non-chair making things like teaching classes, building workbenches for my local folks school, and plenty of travel. Glad to be back in my workshop working on chairs though!
This is the second democratic chair I’ve made and both times I’ve learned so much about design from this wonderful chair design by Curtis Buchanan. Making this one I realized all the little things I did wrong on the first one, but luckily they are both functioning and comfortable chairs.
July 21, 2025 at 2:05 AM
This is the second democratic chair I’ve made and both times I’ve learned so much about design from this wonderful chair design by Curtis Buchanan. Making this one I realized all the little things I did wrong on the first one, but luckily they are both functioning and comfortable chairs.
If you get the chance get yourself a scorp and a travisher because using them is maybe one of the best ways to spend time in the shop.
Also I dented the dang spindle deck assembling this chair’s undercarriage! >_<
Also I dented the dang spindle deck assembling this chair’s undercarriage! >_<
July 10, 2025 at 2:10 AM
If you get the chance get yourself a scorp and a travisher because using them is maybe one of the best ways to spend time in the shop.
Also I dented the dang spindle deck assembling this chair’s undercarriage! >_<
Also I dented the dang spindle deck assembling this chair’s undercarriage! >_<
Low stool in cherry and oak.
July 3, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Low stool in cherry and oak.
Soaking up some morning sun.
Letting this stool with a cherry top get a little sun tan. One of my favorite things about cherry is how much richer and deeper its color becomes as it ages. Part of the joy of working with it is knowing the resulting piece will just get better with time.
Letting this stool with a cherry top get a little sun tan. One of my favorite things about cherry is how much richer and deeper its color becomes as it ages. Part of the joy of working with it is knowing the resulting piece will just get better with time.
July 2, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Soaking up some morning sun.
Letting this stool with a cherry top get a little sun tan. One of my favorite things about cherry is how much richer and deeper its color becomes as it ages. Part of the joy of working with it is knowing the resulting piece will just get better with time.
Letting this stool with a cherry top get a little sun tan. One of my favorite things about cherry is how much richer and deeper its color becomes as it ages. Part of the joy of working with it is knowing the resulting piece will just get better with time.
Sometimes I question why I’m so into making chairs these days and don’t want to spend much time on other woodworking projects. But then I realize it’s because they are just so dang fun to make and whenever I finish one I get so many ideas of things to try on the next one.
July 1, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Sometimes I question why I’m so into making chairs these days and don’t want to spend much time on other woodworking projects. But then I realize it’s because they are just so dang fun to make and whenever I finish one I get so many ideas of things to try on the next one.
A busy weekend in the shop, in between finishing the side chair I’ve been working on I got all the undercarriage joinery finished on this stool and got it glued up.
June 30, 2025 at 1:39 AM
A busy weekend in the shop, in between finishing the side chair I’ve been working on I got all the undercarriage joinery finished on this stool and got it glued up.
All painted/assembled and ready for final clean up and finishing. I’ve been second guessing my idea of making a chair with so much oak sapwood showing and nearly painted the whole thing today. I know the colors will change a lot when I apply finish but I think the results may be good.
June 29, 2025 at 3:04 AM
All painted/assembled and ready for final clean up and finishing. I’ve been second guessing my idea of making a chair with so much oak sapwood showing and nearly painted the whole thing today. I know the colors will change a lot when I apply finish but I think the results may be good.
One of my favorite parts of a chair build is after gluing up the undercarriage. At this stage with the untrimmed legs and nothing above the seat the chair always looks like some wild creature.
June 27, 2025 at 7:14 PM
One of my favorite parts of a chair build is after gluing up the undercarriage. At this stage with the untrimmed legs and nothing above the seat the chair always looks like some wild creature.
I suppose it's good to make something other than chairs on occasion, so made a few little tea boxes in walnut with cherry lids. I forgot how freaking wonderful walnut is to hand plane, one of the great joys of woodworking I'd say.
June 12, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I suppose it's good to make something other than chairs on occasion, so made a few little tea boxes in walnut with cherry lids. I forgot how freaking wonderful walnut is to hand plane, one of the great joys of woodworking I'd say.
Just finished this stool, which is a prototype for class I'm teaching this Fall. Excited to make a few tweaks to the design and make another stool or two so I know everything is dialed on it.
June 3, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Just finished this stool, which is a prototype for class I'm teaching this Fall. Excited to make a few tweaks to the design and make another stool or two so I know everything is dialed on it.
Finished a second Jennie Chair last week. Fun making a second one so soon after the first, I realized all of (well at least some of) the accidental deviations I made from the plans the first time. Excited to start experimenting more with post and ring chairs!
May 20, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Finished a second Jennie Chair last week. Fun making a second one so soon after the first, I realized all of (well at least some of) the accidental deviations I made from the plans the first time. Excited to start experimenting more with post and ring chairs!
Just posted the second/final video of me making a Jennie Alexander Chair. Would love if you checked it out! It was fun to get back to making woodworking videos after a bit of a break.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=0MVz...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=0MVz...
Making a chair from a tree (part 2)
YouTube video by Duncan Ellinwood
m.youtube.com
May 17, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Just posted the second/final video of me making a Jennie Alexander Chair. Would love if you checked it out! It was fun to get back to making woodworking videos after a bit of a break.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=0MVz...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=0MVz...
Pin oak and poplar settee finished in milk paint and linseed oil/beeswax.
This was such a fun project! A whole new set of challenges when working so big. Pleasantly surprised with how well 15 spindles all managed align between the seat and crest. Guess I’m getting better are boring mortises.
This was such a fun project! A whole new set of challenges when working so big. Pleasantly surprised with how well 15 spindles all managed align between the seat and crest. Guess I’m getting better are boring mortises.
May 5, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Pin oak and poplar settee finished in milk paint and linseed oil/beeswax.
This was such a fun project! A whole new set of challenges when working so big. Pleasantly surprised with how well 15 spindles all managed align between the seat and crest. Guess I’m getting better are boring mortises.
This was such a fun project! A whole new set of challenges when working so big. Pleasantly surprised with how well 15 spindles all managed align between the seat and crest. Guess I’m getting better are boring mortises.
Got the first coat of finish on this settee. Now that this thing is assembled I’m realizing how big it is! This is an example piece for a class I’m teaching this summer.
On an unrelated note does anyone need a settee or any chairs 😬 my house is getting too full of seating.
On an unrelated note does anyone need a settee or any chairs 😬 my house is getting too full of seating.
May 2, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Got the first coat of finish on this settee. Now that this thing is assembled I’m realizing how big it is! This is an example piece for a class I’m teaching this summer.
On an unrelated note does anyone need a settee or any chairs 😬 my house is getting too full of seating.
On an unrelated note does anyone need a settee or any chairs 😬 my house is getting too full of seating.
Making good progress on this settee. Things always start to feel a lot more real once some bits get glued together!
April 30, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Making good progress on this settee. Things always start to feel a lot more real once some bits get glued together!
A scorp and travisher kind of weekend. Carving out this bench seat has been a really good hand and forearm workout.
April 27, 2025 at 8:38 PM
A scorp and travisher kind of weekend. Carving out this bench seat has been a really good hand and forearm workout.
I made a video showing my process for making a Jennie Chair (a post and rung ladder back) starting from the log, I’d love if you checked it out! It’s my attempt at capturing the beauty of woodworking.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=5hSp...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=5hSp...
Making a chair from a tree (part 1)
YouTube video by Duncan Ellinwood
m.youtube.com
April 26, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I made a video showing my process for making a Jennie Chair (a post and rung ladder back) starting from the log, I’d love if you checked it out! It’s my attempt at capturing the beauty of woodworking.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=5hSp...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=5hSp...