Woodcraft of Downers Grove

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$190.00

Beginner/Intermediate

Mastering Hand Applied Finishes

with Don Washow

Friday, January 24, 9:30 AM - 5 PM

This is an advanced hands-on, finishing class for everyone. The class begins with a discussion on surface preparation and the selection of sand paper. You will learn what surface each grit will produce and be able to recognize when to advance to the next grit. Each student is expected to prepare numerous hardwood samples obtaining preparation results from 150, through 400 grit. We will discuss and use oil finishes, oil base poly urethanes, and water base poly urethanes as clear top coats. The second half of the class will introduce you to numerous pre stains, stains (both oil and water based), dyes, and dye stains.

$190.00

Beginner/Intermediate

Mastering Hand Applied Finishes

with Don Washow

Tuesday, January 28, 9:30 AM - 5 PM

This is an advanced hands-on, finishing class for everyone. The class begins with a discussion on surface preparation and the selection of sand paper. You will learn what surface each grit will produce and be able to recognize when to advance to the next grit. Each student is expected to prepare numerous hardwood samples obtaining preparation results from 150, through 400 grit. We will discuss and use oil finishes, oil base poly urethanes, and water base poly urethanes as clear top coats. The second half of the class will introduce you to numerous pre stains, stains (both oil and water based), dyes, and dye stains.

$175.00

Beginner/Intermediate

Introduction To Hand Planes

with Don Washow

Friday, January 31, 9:30 AM - 5 PM

How many planes do I need? What's the difference between a $60 and $250 dollar plane? Should I buy planes that are bevel-up, bevel-down or both? Don will answer all these questions and more as he explains how hand planes really work and exactly what they’re used for. Sharpening and tune up will be covered. Everyone will get a chance to use a wide variety of planes from Dons’ personal collection. Bring in all your planes so don can help you identify them, critique them, and help you set them up.

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$175.00

Beginner to Advanced

Advanced Milling Techniques - Squaring lumber

with Don Washow

Friday, February 7, 9:30 AM - 5 PM

Squaring lumber is the first skill a woodworker must master. Without this skill you will never understand how woodworking machines work or be able to determine why your parts don’t fit. Through hands on experience you will learn how to select, flatten, and square lumber using the bandsaw, table saw, jointer, and planer. Starting with machine set up then moving quickly to hands on practice you will square boards necessary to build table tops, solid wood face frames, and raised panel doors.

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$90.00

All Levels

Setting Up Shop

with Don Washow

Sunday, February 9, 11:30 AM - 4 PM

Don knows that good planning and organization are the first steps towards successful wood working. Through out his career, Don has set up many different shops, small and large, temporary and permanent, all efficient enough to make a living in. He will explain to you how he reads a space then transforms it into a working shop. Tool selection, work stations, tool and material storage, dust collection, electrical, lighting, along with layout procedures and the importance of a scaled floor plan will be covered. Steps to create a detailed electrical plan will be discussed. He will explain all the ins and outs of setting up and surviving in a small space. You will be amazed at how efficient and comfortable any size shop can be.

$150.00

Beginner/Intermediate

Mastering The Bandsaw

with Don Washow

Friday, February 14, 9:30 AM - 4 PM

Setting up your bandsaw can be one of the most frustrating jobs in the shop. Don will explain the steps to trouble free sawing. Blade selection, guide set-up, tensioning, and dust collection is just the beginning of the class. Don will show you how to correct for drift so that you will always be able to saw parallel to your fence. He will show you how to set up your saw to resaw perfect boards as thin as 1/16th inch. The hands on portion of the class will include resawing tall material, ripping boards, free hand cutting curves & circles, just to name a few. Don will demonstrate his favorite jigs and fixtures, tapering legs, cutting perfect circles, and free hand sculpting.

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$100.00

All Levels

Garage Shop Income

with Stoane Loudenslager

Wednesday, April 16, 6 PM - 9 PM

Transform Your Craft into a Thriving Business! Learn from seasoned expert Stoane Loudenslager, a professional woodworker, contractor, and author with 20+ years of experience. This seminar will reveal: Insider secrets from big, multimillion dollar woodworking shops. Proven sales, marketing, and pricing strategies. Time-saving production techniques for garage-sized shops. Insight to some of the challenges you will experience as a woodworking entrepreneur Each Student will receive a signed copy of Stoane’s book: Garage Shop Income, along with worksheets to help you move forward, and unique insights that are not in the book! Come and learn how powerful a small shop really can be! We want YOU to be our next Woodworking Entrepreneur Success Story!

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$250.00

All Levels

Drunken Cutting Board

with Stoane Loudenslager

Thursday, April 17, 9 AM - 5 PM

Learn, Create, Impress! Join professional woodworker, Stoane Loudenslager, and learn a mesmerizing pattern that’s sure to turn heads. In this class, you will go from “How is that possible?” to “Look what I made!” Come and build your skills, gain confidence, and take home 2 stunning cutting boards to showcase.