Maloof-Inspired Lowback Chair
Build a Maloof-inspired lowback chair while learning sculptural furniture making, complex joinery, hand shaping, and organic woodworking techniques.
Taught by Chad Metcalf
- Skill level
- Intermediate-Advanced
- Prerequisites
- Fundamentals of Woodworking or comparable experience. Please reach out before registering if you have any questions about experience level.
- Age
- 18 and up
- Materials
- IncludedPrice changes based on species
- Where
- 1600 W Stassney Lane, Austin
- Tuition
- From $1,600
About the class
Maloof-Inspired Lowback Chair
Learn the art of sculptural furniture making as you build your own Maloof-inspired lowback chair.
Inspired by the work of legendary American furniture maker Sam Maloof, this hands-on course explores the intersection of traditional joinery, contemporary woodworking techniques, and organic design.
Students will transform rough hardwood lumber into an elegant, sculptural chair, learning how to create the distinctive flowing transitions, sculpted joinery, and refined surfaces that make Maloof-inspired furniture so recognizable.
Throughout the course, we'll cover precision milling, complex joinery, chair construction, hand shaping, and surface preparation, with an emphasis on understanding not just how to perform each operation, but why it matters.
Students may choose between cherry and walnut, with material pricing reflecting their selection.
If you'd like to get a sneak peek of topics discussed in class, check out Chad's YouTube video documenting his Maloof-inspired journey.
What to bring
- Eye protection (required in the shop)
- Hearing protection (required in the shop)
- Dust mask or respirator (strongly recommended for any power carving operations)
- Comfortable shop clothing and closed-toe footwear
- Personal measuring, marking, and shaping tools (optional)
We will discuss different tool options and brands during class, but the school will provide everything you need to get going. If you have your favorite layout or shaping tools, or anything you prefer to work with at home feel free to bring them along.
What the class covers
- Selecting, preparing, and milling hardwood for chair construction
- Constructing a coopered seat with precise angled joints
- Cutting and fitting traditional Maloof-style leg-to-seat joinery
- Building and assembling a chair with compound angles and carefully fitted components
- Using machinery and hand tools to create organic, sculptural forms
- Blending transitions using rasps, grinders, and other shaping tools
- Surface preparation and finishing techniques for sculpted furniture
Daily schedule
Hybrid weekend and evening schedule, 12 meetings total
First Weekend
- Saturday February 27th and Sunday February 28th, 2027, 9:00am-5:00pm
Tuesday nights
- Eight meetings starting March 2nd, 6:00-10:00pm. Last class meets April 20th.
Second Weekend
- Saturday March 20th and Sunday March 21st, 2027, 9:00am-5:00pm
We understand that there will be possible absences with a course this long. That is totally fine, but if you are going to miss a whole weekend please reach out in advance to let the instructors know.
Book a seat
Your seat at the bench.
A few short steps: pick your date, tell us about you, sign the waiver, pay. One booking covers every session.
Booking for a partner or friend too? Add seats as you book. Each student signs the waiver from a link we email.
Choose your wood species
The iconic, traditional wood species for a Maloof chair is walnut. We're allowing students to choose from two options, either cherry or walnut. Cherry is a comparable hardwood with a significantly lower price per board foot. Both options will create beautiful statement chairs. The reference photos are of a chair built out of walnut.
Save your seat
If plans change
Our refund policy, at a glance.
What you get back depends on how far ahead of class you cancel. Send your cancellation in writing. Phone calls, texts and comments don't count.
of your payment refunded, less the 5% cancellation fee.
of your payment refunded, less the 5% cancellation fee.
Missing all or part of a class counts as a cancellation.
Why we hold to itClass income pays staff and instructors, buys lumber and keeps the lights on. We run on a tight margin, and this policy protects the school.
If the school cancelsIf we cancel a class, every student gets a full refund.
The whole policyRead it in full on our Refund Policy page.