Chester Cornett, Chair Maker
Watch Chester Cornett, Kentucky chair maker as he sizes up logs and crafts them into unique pieces
of furniture.
Chester uses no screws or nails. Instead he uses hand carved wooden pegs. He prefers to
work with unsawn lumber. His preference is sassafras and hickory. He works surrounded by a fragrant pile
of sassafras shavings. He works in cherry, walnut, maple, oak and mahogany as well.
At age ten he was apprenticed to his grandfathers and uncles from whom he learned the art of making fine furniture by hand.
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Sizing Up a Log
Item Number: 177
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Chester Cornett sizes up a log to make a chair.
© Gordon Baer
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Splitting a Log into Planks
Item Number: 178
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Chester Cornett splits a log into planks using a special, handmade axe.
© Gordon Baer
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Making Sure a Piece Is Straight
Item Number: 179
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Chester makes sure a piece is straight using only his eyes as his guide!
© Gordon Baer
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Using a Drawing Knife to Shape Pieces
Item Number: 180
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Chester Cornett uses no power tools in his work. Here he uses a draw (or drawing) knife to shape a piece.
© Gordon Baer
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Shaping Chair Backs
Item Number: 181
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Chester Cornett shapes chair backs by hand and with a handmade form in the doorway to his shop.
© Gordon Baer
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Guitar Making
Item Number: 182
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Chester Cornett makes guitars by hand from gourds!
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Serenade
Item Number: 183
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Chester Cornett serenades his wife on a guitar he made himself.
© Gordon Baer
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