Richard Bissell Fine Woodworking

Design:

I have been designing and producing fine handcrafted furniture one piece at a time since 1982. My approach to furniture design is inspired by the clean lines and details, and attention to function that is the foundation of Shaker furniture designs. This is not to say I make Shaker reproductions however. The best example of this design approach is found in my chairs. I make Windsor chairs because I find they are much more comfortable and durable than the Shaker's ladderback chairs. However the simple, graceful lines of my chairs are very reminiscent of Shaker furniture. If the Shakers had made Windsor chairs they probably would have looked a lot like mine.

I frequently do custom designs and, in fact, many of the pieces I currently make as "standard items" originated as custom pieces. For more information on custom work please go to Custom Made Furniture.

The furniture I make is unsurpassed in quality. Every aspect of its design and construction is carefully considered so that the finished product will provide service and pleasure for many generations. No shortcuts are taken in the choice of materials or the methods of construction. Every piece is individually made permitting special attention to the finer details often overlooked in larger production runs. The wood is carefully selected for optimal grain and color match throughout the piece. The joinery used is, in every case, the best possible. Table legs and aprons are joined with glued and pinned mortise and tenon joints. Carefully fitted dovetails are used for drawers and case pieces. Drawer sides, backs and bottoms and the frames they slide on are made of long wearing hardwood rather than soft pine. The backs of all case pieces are 3/4" solid pine or, in some cases, frame and panel solid cherry (or whatever the primary wood is). No plywood or veneer is used anywhere. Wood movement is carefully considered when a piece is built. Wide surfaces, such as table tops, are fastened to supporting members in a manner that will allow them to shrink and expand as the change of seasons dictates. All surfaces are finished equally on both sides so that changes in humidity will not warp them. Drawers and doors made during the dry winter months are given extra clearance so they will not bind when the wood swells from the summer humidity. Prior to finishing, all surfaces (even those not easily seen), are painstakingly sanded until they glisten.

For more detailed construction information please see Drawer & Case Construction Alternatives.

Each piece is finished with my own mixture of linseed oil and satin urethane which is applied warm and allowed to sit for a while to increase penetration. Any excess finish is then wiped off and the piece is set aside to dry for 2-3 days. After drying the finish is lightly hand sanded and has a beeswax finish applied and buffed to a satin sheen. The result is a finish that protects and enhances the beauty of the wood, is pleasing to the touch and is easily maintained with periodic waxing.

While I work primarily with cherry, other woods are available on request. The most common substitutes are maple, walnut and oak. The prices shown in my furniture catalog are for cherry. Please call for more information, availability and prices of other woods. To view wood samples go to my wood samples page.

Guarantee:

Every piece of furniture I make is guaranteed against all defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the original purchaser. This, of course, does not apply in cases of abuse, misuse or neglect nor to normal wear and tear.