Harvesting 45 Miles of Hickory Bark: Brian Boggs’ Hickory bark for Seat Weaving

When I first started cutting hickory bark for chair seats, I never imagined I’d end up harvesting and weaving over 45 linear miles of it—25 of those by hand. Those early outings were rough: every foot of splint came at the cost of aching muscles and a steep learning curve. This video shares the story of how I went from those humble, painful beginnings to developing a custom-built bark machine that transformed the process. You'll see the evolution of my technique, the harvesting process in the wild, and the weaving of a seat—all captured in this beautifully produced short film by Lie-Nielsen Toolworks over 20 years ago. We're honored they gave us permission to share it with you. Whether or not you plan to cut bark yourself, I think you'll find something deeply human in this story. It’s a glimpse into the wilder side of my craft—and a chapter of woodworking history you don’t often see. #HickoryBark #ChairMaking #BrianBoggs #WoodworkingHistory #SeatWeaving #HandCrafted #LieNielsen #TraditionalCraft #HickoryHarvest #BoggsBench #ToolInnovation #WovenSeats #WoodworkingLife #GreenWoodworking