The Windsor Institute

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The Windsor Institute

The world famous Windsor chairmaking school run by Mike Dunbar.

03/29/2026

Susanna and I received some distressing news yesterday. Dave Wachnicki has passed. Everyone who made a chair with us at The Windsor Institute knew Dave of Dave’s Shaves. He was listed on our tool list as the go-to source for a spoke shave, a critical chairmaking tool. If you did not have your shave shipped to you, it was delivered personally when Dave visited your class. His tools are works of art. They came sharp. All I did was explain his easy adjustment method, and in minutes, you were using it. Dave made my life and yours so much easier. Many of you own numerous Dave’s Shaves, as he made special versions for our advanced classes. I have at least a dozen.
Dave took his first class with me in April 1995, and several after that. In July 1997, I had a heart attack, and Dave saved my bacon by teaching my next class. It was a critical class in that the Wall Street Journal was covering it. The story ended up on the paper’s front page, and The Institute received instant, countrywide exposure and credibility. Susanna and I have always been grateful to Dave for stepping up during our hour of need. The school was growing fast, and Susanna and I kept Dave on as a full-time teacher. While he was working with us, Dave built the large green cabinet and sharpening station that stood against the classroom’s rear wall. As I write, that cabinet is in our garage, and I still use it.
I have never forgotten the time he took my ten-year-old son, Michael, for a ride in his Cobra. The kid returned white as a sheet. Dave had demonstrated how fast it accelerated. Susanna remembers that every time he came down, he brought her a copy of her favorite newspaper, The Mountaineer. Following our retirement, Susanna and I stayed in touch with Dave and enjoyed hearing about his daughter Caroline’s life. We were devastated yesterday when we received a card from his wife, Marion, informing us of his passing.
You can read Dave’s obituary at: https://www.conwaydailysun.com/community/obituaries/obituary-dr-john-david-wachnicki/article_29175907-e81c-41eb-810b-531660a7213c.html
If you wish to express your condolences to Marion, her email is: [email protected]

09/20/2025

Ed Mostert sent me these pictures of a set of eight Boston fan backs he recently completed. I through it clever and artistic to place them out in his bean field. I wish Ed had sent a picture of himself and I could have said, "Here is a man out standing in his field." I always wanted to use that joke.

08/31/2025

This one warms my heart. At 93, Gibbs Mitchell is still making Windsors. He just completed three chairs for his grandchildren. One of the lucky recipients is shown sitting in the most recent, a magnificent family heirloom that will outlast many generations of his descendants. Gibbs took his first class in 1995 when we were still in Portsmouth and attended five more in Hampton. Gibbs taught American History at Worcester State University, my alma mater.

07/25/2022

Brian Loran made this sack back using the Windsor chairmaking series I created for YouTube. He is rightfully proud and I am equally proud. Good job, Brian.

06/20/2022

This book refuses to die and has out lived two publishers. Originally published by Sterling in 1989 and Popular Woodworking in 2014, it has been brought out in a third edition by Echo Point. They printed it in both hard and soft cover. Available from Amazon and all other book sellers.

02/22/2022

Providence, RI ca. 1760 - 1770. One of the first Windsors made in New England.

02/09/2022

Rake and Splay! I finally get to use the distress call of the Master Chairmaker. Can someone help a chairmaker wife? I heard from a distraught woman who needs to locate and purchase a chairmaker's hammer. She had to remove some ice from outside and unfortunately, used her husband's to break it up. In the process she destroyed the brass hammer head. Let me know if you have one you are not using and are willing to sell. Thanks.

11/22/2021

As you may remember, The Windsor Institute used to email you monthly chair-related essays. The items I selected as topics for those essays were drawn from my large collection of historical material relating to chairs and chairmaking. Now, you can own some of those items.
The collection is being sold at auction beginning the week of November 8. If you too want to own a piece of chairmaking history, or give something chair- related as a holiday gift, follow this link to see the items and perhaps bid: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/226157_sterling-art-sports-cards-coins-comics/?page=3&pageSize=120

10/15/2021

Decorated crest on arrow back Windsor - ca. 1825.

09/30/2021

New Haven, Ct. Ca. 1785 - 1795.

09/20/2021

If you took a class at The Institute you remember Don Harper. Don and his wife Franny had pizza with Susanna and me last night at the Surf Club of Rye. We watched the Harvest Moon rise over the Atlantic. Then, we gathered around the fireplace to make Smores. Don had never had one and something that momentous has to be recorded for posterity. Here is Don taking a bite of his first ever Smore. It was a big enough hit that he made a second. A good time was had by all.

Address

44 Timber Swamp Road
Hampton, NH
03842

Website

http://www.thewindsorinstitute.com/

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