More News from the Porch Furniture Project

Building Porch Furniture for Fort Worden State Park

The Port Townsend School of Woodworking is expanding its facilities with the opening of a new machine shop in building 304 at Fort Worden State Park. this new space will support the School's growing curriculum offerings, and offer students the opportunity to explore advanced furniture making skills and techniques.

As the first project in the new space, the School is building porch furniture for ten houses on Officer Row. Each house will receive a bench, two chairs, and a coffee table - a total of forty pieces - designed by Port Townsend resident Jaap Romijn and build by school staff using FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified white oak lumber from Ohio.

Setting Up a New Workshop 

A generous grant to the PDA from a pair of anonymous donors provided partial funding for the Port Townsend School of Woodworking to set up a new woodworking shop and build porch furniture for ten of the Fort Worden officer row houses.

The new shop is well equipped for both the PFP and future class offerings.  In addition to shorter classes, it will host a new 3-month Furniture Making Intensive course starting in the Fall of 2016.

Equipment includes: a 10” SawStop Industrial table saw; 12” jointer and 15” planer with Byrd Shelix cutterheads; 14” and 17” band saws; 3hp tilting spindle shaper; Festool chop saw; vertical edge sander; and a variety of routers, sanders, shop vacuums, clamps, and small power and hand tools. The major stationary machines are serviced by a 5hp Clear Vue Cyclone dust collector with overhead solid wall metal ducting.  

A secure entryway with double doors was added, and the dust collector was enclosed in a sound-insulated closet. The electrical service was upgraded and expanded to meet the equipment power requirements. The PTSW staff performed all the labor with the exception of the electrical.  All work was permitted.

Working away...

Production began on October 12, 2015, and willcontinue through December 18, 2015.  During this three month time period, a total of 10 benches, 20 chairs, and 10 coffee tables will be produced.

The material used is FSC select white oak from Ohio, provided by Edensaw Woods, Ltd. of Port Townsend. The CNC engraving was done by Turn Point Design of Port Townsend.

• Jaap Romijn of Port Townsend provided the design and built the prototype.
• John Edwards was the Lead Furniture Maker.
• Cedar Knoll was the Furniture Maker Intern.
• John Marckworth was the Project Manager.
• Gee Heckscher, PTSW Board Chair, and Seth Rolland, PTSW Board Member, provided tireless project planning and oversight.
• The PTSW staff, Board of Directors, and volunteers contributed many, many hours to make the project a reality and a success.

Thanks to all!