Furniture Restoration and Repair

Max Smith, a professional piano tuner, luthier, boat builder, and woodworking enthusiast will teach a new course covering methods for conserving structural and cosmetic details of furniture. Max will start the class with a survey of materials and applications, examples of common wear, deterioration and mishandled prior repairs, and cleaning procedures. He will also guide students in troubleshooting problems with pieces that they bring in to restore.

Each student should bring furniture pieces to be worked on in class. Suggested pieces include small coffee tables, end tables, chairs, antique clock cases, small wood sculptural pieces, etc. (Due to time and space constraints, pieces larger than these are discouraged and final approval will be given by the instructor once he is shown detailed photos of prospective pieces.)

Following the overview of damage and repair, students will be guided through the process of reviving their individual pieces. Day 1 will ideally culminate with a top-coat of protective finish to be allowed to dry overnight. Day 2 will cover polishing the finish, continued care and maintenance, and a final discussion and recap of the topics covered.

Due to the varying nature of repairs that may be involved, some students may have their repairs completed by the end of the class, while others may need time to finish them at home with Max's additional guidance.

Date(s): Sat., April 20, 10 AM - 4 PM
Sun., April 21, 10 AM - 4 PM
Instructor: Max Smith
Class size (max.): 6
Attendance (min.): 4*
Skill level: basic
Prerequisites: none

Registration
Household Member & Above: $200**
Individual Member: $210**
General Public: $230
Joint Instruction: $75***
Register By: April 14

Materials: $50 (included at checkout)

*Classes that do not meet the minimum attendance number may be cancelled or rescheduled. If so, you will receive a full refund or credit regardless of the cancellation date.

**You must be a current member on the date of the event to receive your discount. Please login to activate your member discount.

***For an additional fee, students are welcomed to bring a second builder to the class. This is a great opportunity to learn and have fun together. A joint instruction ticket must accompany someone taking the full instruction who purchases a materials kit. Select the "Joint Instruction" option when checking out.

Instructor: Max Smith is a multidisciplinary craftsman with ten years of experience in woodworking in various forms, stringed instrument repair and making, piano tuning and repair, boatbuilding, cabinetmaking, and as Maintenance Coordinator for the Beacon Sloop Club. He teaches Introduction to Furniture Restoration and Foundations of Woodworking at the WBS and has participated as a skills demonstrator at the Eric Sloane Museum in Kent, CT. Max lives in Beacon, NY where he frequently sails his 15' Goat Island Skiff, inviting friends and teaching them the basics of sailing.