Essentials of Casework
Shrine cabinet by Garrett Hack, pear, satinwood, and birdseye maple with ebony and holly details, faux verde antique marble, and gold leaf (14"x7"x27.5"), 2003
Garrett Hack
September 13 – 24
Solid-wood case construction is the heart of fine furniture making. Participants in this workshop explore the fundamentals by designing and building their own small cabinets and case pieces with Garrett’s expert guidance. Projects may have drawers, doors, shelves, or secret compartments. Garrett emphasizes hand skills, including the use of hand tools to size, smooth, shape, and fit parts, but also integrates machines to make the building process efficient and accurate.
Lectures and demonstrations address topics such as strong case joinery, choosing appropriate materials, working with solid wood and wood movement, building drawers and the structures necessary to support them, and fitting and hanging doors. In addition, Garrett covers the design and construction of backs and bases, corner details, attached moldings, and edge profiles for case tops.
Garrett Hack builds contemporary interpretations of Federal and other classic American styles on his farm in Thetford Center, Vermont. A furniture maker for 35 years, Garrett originally trained at Boston University’s Program in Artisanry. He is the author of The Handplane Book (Taunton Press, 1997) and Classic Hand Tools (Taunton Press, 1999). His articles appear frequently in Fine Woodworking, to which he is a Contributing Editor. Garrett is a member of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters Association.