Old Dogs - New Tricks

It’s been a big month for the HNT Gordon team, and we’ve been lucky enough to be right in the thick of it.

Recently, we joined forces with John Madden of Wood Dust Australia to support the Christopher Schwarz Stick Chair Masterclass and the Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Workshops in the picturesque Newrybar Community Hall just outside Byron Bay.

For us, it was a thrill to see our bench hardware put to work as Christopher Schwarz, supported by the talented Bern Chandley, guided a room full of passionate woodworkers who’d travelled from as far afield as Dubai, Tasmania, New Zealand and the rest of Australia! In the hands of these experts, as the course unfolded we could see the potential of our Pattern Maker's Vice to provide ergonomic efficiencies in the making of stick chairs with the ability to hold odd shaped parts at various angles to work the wood into shape.  Our spoke shaves were also warmly welcomed in the process. 

The Yarn, the History and the Craft

During the Wood Dust Yarn, Terry shared a brief history of HNT Gordon, the tools, the materials and the inspiration, before Christopher dived into the deep history of stick chair making in Australia starting with the interesting story behind the Jimmy Possum stick chair tradition.  Makers like Bern have gone on to build successful fine furniture businesses which incorporate teaching and making various evolutions of stick chairs.  Chris and others have done the same across the rest of the globe! 

Seeing how modern masters like Schwarz and Chandley refine these traditional techniques into heirloom-quality furniture was truly inspiring.

Craftsmanship and Altitude

We were equally captivated by Curtis Turner’s reflections on the history, R&D and philosophy behind Lie-Nielsen Toolworks USA. His words on craftsmanship and integrity struck a chord — a shared commitment to making tools that last a lifetime.

And speaking of craftsmanship with altitude — Evan Dunstone, in true style, provided Curtis with an aeronautical (and by all accounts, adventurous) lift from the Dunstone Design Workshop Open Day and Hand Tool Event in Canberra to Newrybar. That event was another highlight, showcasing talented makers like Damion Fauser and Hape Kiddle, and drawing a strong crowd of dedicated hand-tool enthusiasts and there’s truly no one better than Damion Fauser to demonstrate just how precise our tools can be. Thanks, Damion!

A Visit to HNT Gordon

John kindly arranged for the students and tutors to visit our workshop in Alstonville — and it’s always a pleasure to see ourselves through fresh eyes. We were genuinely chuffed to be featured in Chris’s Lost Art Press Blog: “A Visit to the Remarkable HNT Gordon”, 

Looking Ahead

It’s hard to believe it’s only October,  the past few weeks have been a blur of creativity, connection and inspiration. With so many paths crossing, ideas sparking and friendships strengthening, we can’t help but feel that 2026 is already shaping up to be something special.

Because even for the old dogs among us… it turns out there are still plenty of new tricks to learn. (We’re only a little envious of those young pups heading home with a beautiful, comfortable, and iconic stick chair of their own!)

— The HNT Gordon Team