Make a Shaker Candle Stand with Will Myers

The Shaker candle stand we will be building is patterned from an example that probably originated in the community at Mt. Lebanon, N.Y., around 1830. We will make an exact copy of one of these original tables – an example that is currently in the collection at Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, Mass.

Our copy will be made in air dried American Cherry as the original.

Points covered in this two-day class:

• History and details of the three original candle stands of this style that I have examined.
• Why this table is not as simple as it first appears, and how many small details contribute to look of the table as a whole.
• Layout and cutting of sliding dovetails on a cylinder, to join the legs to the spindle.
• Shaping the legs, using spoke shaves and card scrapers.
• Turning the spindle to final shape.
• Shaping the top support with planes and spoke shaves.
• Shaping and smoothing the edges and faces of the round top.
• Why you need a metal "spider" (and how to make one) to reinforce the leg-to-spindle joinery.

The class fee is $450 (due at registration) plus a materials fee of around $150 (due to the instructor at the start of class). (Should you need to cancel, full refunds will be offered until 1 month before the class; after that, refunds are offered if the spot can be filled.)

For information on Covington, including where to stay and where to eat, click here.

Primary tools
- 3/4",1/2" and 3/8" chisels
- Dovetail saw
- Block, Jack, Joiner and smoothing planes
- Round and flat bottom spokeshaves
- Card scraper
- Marking tools, knife, dividers, and awl- Cutting gauge

Optional tools
- Brace and 1/2", 1" augers
- Compass plane
- Eggbeater drill and bits
- Spindle turning lathe tools
- Fine rasp