Box Building

Part 1: Wednesday, June 19, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 2: Wednesday, June 26, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 3: Wednesday, July 3, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 4: Wednesday, July 10, 6 PM - 9 PM

Making a box is a useful and fun skill to develop. Box building is a great way to learn layout, joinery and assembly. In this class, we will build a lidded box that that can be used for pencils, crayons, layout tools, and countless other uses. To accomplish this, you will use power tools as well as hand tools.

Hand Tool Fundamentals

Part 1: Monday, June 24, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 2: Monday, July 1, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 3: Monday, July 8, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 4: Monday, July 15, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 5: Monday, July 22, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 6: Monday, July 29, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 7: Monday, August 5, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 8: Monday, August 12, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 9: Monday, August 19, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 10: Monday, August 26, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 11: Monday, September 9, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 12: Monday, September 16, 6 PM - 9 PM

If you would like to use hand tools more and be less dependent on machinery, this is a great opportunity for you. Take advantage of this class to create a hand tool foundation that you can build on. Learning to use hand tools correctly will open an entirely new woodworking experience, one that is enjoyable, very satisfying, and not as loud or dusty. Not many things in woodworking are more discouraging or frustrating than trying to use dull or neglected tools. In this twelve-week, one night per week class, you will learn how to use a handsaw and tune-up and use a hand plane, chisels, marking gauge, and marking knife. This is a skills-based class with a heavy emphasis on fundamentals, proper technique and safety. Students will be taught how to layout and execute fine joinery such as mortise and tenon, through dovetails, and half-blind dovetails. The instructor will also talk about wood movement and what can happen if you don't allow for it. During this class, students will build a traditional wall-hung cupboard with dovetailed casework using quality hardwood. Students will be required to bring some hand tools and they will learn how to make these tools perform at their optimum. Some of the lessons are: Sharpening chisels and plane irons Hand tool tune-up Sawing to a line Proper use of a chisel Using marking gauges and marking knives for accurate lines Using a hand plane Mortise and tenon joinery Dovetail joinery Wood movement Where and how to purchase furniture grade lumber Required Tools: Hand plane (number 3 or 4) ***** If you purchase a Stanley #4, the instructor suggests that you choose a vintage plane instead of a new one. Consider thevintagetoolshoppe.com ***** Chisels (1/4", 1/2", 3/4", 1") Marking knife Tape measure Combination square Mallet Students are encouraged to bring the following tools but they are not required: Dovetail saw (western, Japanese, or gent) Marking gauge ***** Consider supporting a local tool maker - masswoodworks.com *****

Essential Joinery

Part 1: Tuesday, June 25, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 2: Tuesday, July 2, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 3: Tuesday, July 9, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 4: Tuesday, July 16, 6 PM - 9 PM

Take your skills to the next level. This class is a must for those who want to develop fine joinery skills. You will learn how to layout and execute mortise and tenon joints as well as through and half-blind dovetails using power and hand tools. This is a great class to take in preparation for more advanced classes. These sample joints are meant to be used as a reference by the students when they perform these techniques in their own shop. While laying out joints in woodworking projects, you are able to look at and manipulate these samples to refresh your memory.

Advanced Bowl Turning: More And Deeper

Part 1: Saturday, June 29, 9 AM - 3 PM

Part 2: Sunday, June 30, 9 AM - 3 PM

Let's go deeper. In this 2-day weekend class, students make a deeper bowl than was made in the Fundamentals class. We review fundamental gouge and scraper cutting techniques leaving a smooth accurate surface in their work. You rely on using the bevel gracefully to guide the knife edge along a smooth curve and are reminded why this technique allows such smooth tool control. Any surface imperfections are smoothed with a scraper. Two woods will be used: a 3" thick piece of kiln-dried lumber and a recently-cut (wet) piece of local timber 4 to 6" thick. Both pieces will be turned between centers and each of us will mount and remount our blanks to make the best use of the grain pattern in the finished bowl. Using a scroll chuck, we remount the blank and turn the rim and inside of the bowl. Lastly, we grip the bowl by the rim in a jam chuck and finish the foot. Since the wet blank will distort to an oval when drying, we will choose a style that works well in this shape. This wet bowl will be sanded and possibly textured while still wet so that only little sanding will be required after it dries. The kiln-dried bowl will be finished with oil to bring out its luster.

Open Shop

Part 1: Thursday, July 11, 12 AM - 12 AM

Part 2: Thursday, July 18, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 3: Thursday, July 25, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 4: Thursday, August 1, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 5: Thursday, August 8, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 6: Thursday, August 15, 6 PM - 9 PM

Join us for six consecutive Wednesday nights and receive advice and assistance building your project. You will have access to the shop’s tools once you have been checked out. What you build is completely up to you but you should keep your skill level in mind. Challenge yourself, step outside your comfort zone, and expand your skills. You can bring your own materials, or the instructor can assist with estimating your materials. Materials can then be purchased on your own or at Woodcraft. Instructor suggests taking Woodworking 1 or Woodworking 2 in advance of this class, but prior woodworking experience is also acceptable. Bring plans or photos of your project to the first class and be prepared to develop a plan of procedure.

Woodworking I

Part 1: Saturday, July 13, 9 AM - 3 PM

Part 2: Sunday, July 14, 9 AM - 3 PM

Get started woodworking with this beginner level class. Students will learn to safely use essential woodworking machines such as the jointer, planer, table saw and band saw. Also covered in this class are basic but critical points including understanding how to purchase materials at a lumber yard and calculating board footage. Students will build a wall-hung cabinet that will satisfy many storage needs, constructed from quality hardwood. This class will prepare you for the Woodworking II and Joinery classes.

Woodworking I

Part 1: Wednesday, July 17, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 2: Wednesday, July 24, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 3: Wednesday, July 31, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 4: Wednesday, August 7, 6 PM - 9 PM

Get started woodworking with this beginner level class. Students will learn to safely use essential woodworking machines such as the jointer, planer, table saw and band saw. Also covered in this class are basic but critical points including understanding how to purchase materials at a lumber yard and calculating board footage. Students will build a wall-hung cabinet that will satisfy many storage needs, constructed from quality hardwood. This class will prepare you for the Woodworking II and Joinery classes.

Build a Serving Table

Part 1: Tuesday, July 23, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 2: Tuesday, July 30, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 3: Tuesday, August 6, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 4: Tuesday, August 13, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 5: Tuesday, August 20, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 6: Tuesday, August 27, 6 PM - 9 PM

Shaker furniture is well known to be very functional. Add to that functionality some simple but graceful lines and you will have a beautiful piece that will never be outdated. Join us for six nights and build this very practical cherry table with tapered legs , two drawers with dovetail joinery, and a champfered top. This is a table that you will see in any Shaker Village. Students should have already taken Woodworking 1 or an equivalent class.

Woodworking I

Part 1: Wednesday, August 14, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 2: Wednesday, August 21, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 3: Wednesday, August 28, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 4: Wednesday, September 4, 6 PM - 9 PM

Get started woodworking with this beginner level class. Students will learn to safely use essential woodworking machines such as the jointer, planer, table saw and band saw. Also covered in this class are basic but critical points including understanding how to purchase materials at a lumber yard and calculating board footage. Students will build a wall-hung cabinet that will satisfy many storage needs, constructed from quality hardwood. This class will prepare you for the Woodworking II and Joinery classes.

Woodworking I

Part 1: Saturday, August 17, 9 AM - 3 PM

Part 2: Sunday, August 18, 9 AM - 3 PM

Get started woodworking with this beginner level class. Students will learn to safely use essential woodworking machines such as the jointer, planer, table saw and band saw. Also covered in this class are basic but critical points including understanding how to purchase materials at a lumber yard and calculating board footage. Students will build a wall-hung cabinet that will satisfy many storage needs, constructed from quality hardwood. This class will prepare you for the Woodworking II and Joinery classes.

Woodworking 2

Part 1: Thursday, August 22, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 2: Thursday, August 29, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 3: Thursday, September 5, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 4: Thursday, September 12, 6 PM - 9 PM

This class will build on skills learned in Woodworking I, although that class is not a prerequisite. Students will build a cherry hall table with a "floating top", tapered legs and mortise and tenon joinery. Students will learn how to safely use various hand tools and power tools. Participants will be required to bring a tape measure and combination square. Optional tools are a hand plane and ¼", ½" and 1" chisels.

Build A Shaker Candlestand

Part 1: Tuesday, September 3, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 2: Tuesday, September 10, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 3: Tuesday, September 17, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 4: Tuesday, September 24, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 5: Tuesday, October 1, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 6: Tuesday, October 8, 6 PM - 9 PM

A Shaker candlestand is a distinctive piece of furniture originating from the Shaker communities in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries. It typically consists of a turned pedestal base with three legs, supporting a circular or oval top. The design is characterized by its simplicity, functionality, and craftsmanship. Shaker furniture, including candlestands, reflects the principles of the Shaker lifestyle: simplicity, utility, and honesty in construction. These candlestands were often used to hold candles, offering a stable and practical platform for illumination in Shaker homes and meetinghouses. The Shakers believed in creating items that served a purpose while embodying their commitment to simplicity and quality craftsmanship. As a result, Shaker candlestands are admired for their clean lines, sturdy construction, and elegant yet understated design. They have become iconic representations of American craftsmanship and the Shaker aesthetic, appreciated for their timeless appeal and historical significance.

Woodworking I

Part 1: Wednesday, September 11, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 2: Wednesday, September 18, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 3: Wednesday, September 25, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 4: Wednesday, October 2, 6 PM - 9 PM

Get started woodworking with this beginner level class. Students will learn to safely use essential woodworking machines such as the jointer, planer, table saw and band saw. Also covered in this class are basic but critical points including understanding how to purchase materials at a lumber yard and calculating board footage. Students will build a wall-hung cabinet that will satisfy many storage needs, constructed from quality hardwood. This class will prepare you for the Woodworking II and Joinery classes.

Woodworking I

Part 1: Saturday, September 14, 9 AM - 3 PM

Part 2: Sunday, September 15, 9 AM - 3 PM

Get started woodworking with this beginner level class. Students will learn to safely use essential woodworking machines such as the jointer, planer, table saw and band saw. Also covered in this class are basic but critical points including understanding how to purchase materials at a lumber yard and calculating board footage. Students will build a wall-hung cabinet that will satisfy many storage needs, constructed from quality hardwood. This class will prepare you for the Woodworking II and Joinery classes.

Build A Shaker End Table With Drawer

Part 1: Thursday, September 19, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 2: Thursday, September 26, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 3: Thursday, October 3, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 4: Thursday, October 10, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 5: Thursday, October 17, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 6: Thursday, October 24, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 7: Thursday, October 31, 6 PM - 9 PM

Part 8: Thursday, November 7, 6 PM - 9 PM

With its simple but elegant lines, the Shaker End Table is an excellent example of American history that complements furniture from all periods. This eight-part course is designed with the intermediate, as well as the more advanced woodworker, in mind. We will explore several elements including design, tool maintenance, milling, joinery, assembly and finish. Students will learn to cut dovetails, mortise and tenon joints and tapered legs. Participants will learn tool setup and maintenance, with a heavy concentration on safety. Additional lessons will cover wood movement, where and how to purchase quality materials, and what to expect as you continue as a woodworker. This intermediate level course is hands-on as well as demonstration and will prepare the student for more advanced classes.