Windsor Chair Making Tools

Gutter Adze

• A gutter adze is shaped like an axe. It has a long handle with a curved blade at the end. The gutter adze is used for cutting and shaping the seat of the chair.

Travisher

• The travisher is used for further shaping of the seat after it has been shaped by the gutter adze. A travisher is a curved blade mounted on a piece of wood. The blade is used to slice thin shavings and gradually smooth down the wood.

Compass Plane

• A compass plane is a small, hand-held wood shaver that functions much like a travisher. A compass blade has a small, straight blade set into a curved block and is used to fine-tune and finalize the concavity and shape of the seat.

Draw Knife

• The draw knife is used in the initial shaping of the spindles. A draw knife has a straight blade set between two handles. Holding the handles in each hand, the draw knife is pulled up the length of a piece of wood to shave and shape it.

Spoke Shave

• A spoke shave is like a smaller version of a draw knife and is used to fine-tune and smooth down the spindles.

Bevel Square

• A bevel square, or a sliding bevel, consists of two short straightedges connected with an adjustable fastener. The fastener can be loosened, and the straightedges can be set to create angles. This tool is used to match various angles in the chair.