Workshop Descriptions
We offer a variety of evening and weekend workshops plus summer intensives to accomodate your skill level and schedule. We've just added new home improvement and trim carpentry classes! Private lessons in woodworking and wood turning are also available. Check our current calendar for dates, times, and tuition; enroll by calling 413-527-6103 or by printing and mailing our enrollment packet . For information on our nine-month career training program, please click here.
Evening Workshops
Woodworking for Beginners - Level I (Instructor: Brian Mulcahy)
Designed for people with little or no woodworking experience, this 10-week class begins by covering the safe use of basic power tools and the essential properties of wood. You will then learn and practice fundamental woodworking techniques by making a small maple box with cherry splines. The focus of this class is primarily on the use of power tools, although you will get some practice using chisels. If you want to learn how to use hand tools, take a look at our Introduction to Hand Cut Joinery class. Please bring a 16' tape measure, utility knife, pencil and paper, and safety glasses/ear protection if you have them. Meets one day weekly, 6:30 - 9:30 pm.
Woodworking for Beginners - Level II (Instructor: Brian Mulcahy)
Building on the skills acquired in Level I, this 12-week class introduces you to more complex woodworking operations. You will use jigs and fixtures on the table saw, router, and drill press to construct a cherry Shaker-style table with a beautiful book-matched top. You will also learn to joint and edge glue boards to make the larger panels necessary for major furniture pieces, as well as learn more about using chisels and card scrapers. Please bring a 16' tape measure, utility knife, pencil and paper, and safety glasses/ear protection if you have them. Prerequisite: Level I or the equivalent. Meets one day weekly, 6:30 - 9:30 pm.
NEW! Open Shop (Instructor: Brian Mulcahy)
If you have some woodworking experience and a project already in mind, this is the workshop for you! Bring in your plans and materials and use our state-of-the-art equipment on a schedule that works for you. We offer this in 5-week sessions so you can sign up for one, two, or more sessions as needed. Projects must be kept to a reasonable size for on-site storage. Click here for more information on this unique opportunity. Prerequisite: Levels I and II or the demonstrated equivalent. Meets one day weekly, 6:30 - 9:30 pm.
Introduction to Trim Carpentry (Instructor: Mark Bonde)
This 3-week class covers the basics of trim carpentry, including how to cut and install a variety of trim moulding like door and window casing, base moulding, crown moulding, and chair rails. You will learn techniques for removing old trim and coping corner joints, plus other tips and tricks for creating professional-looking installations. Please bring a 16' tape measure, utility knife, pencil and paper, and safety glasses/ear protection if you have them. Meets weekly, 6:30 - 9:30 pm.
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Introduction to Hand Applied Finishes (Instructor: Brian Mulcahy)
This 3- week, hands-on course will introduce you to a variety of commonly used hand applied finishes. We will cover surface preparation, explore the options available for staining wood, discuss the types of oil and water based topcoats suitable for hand application, and learn how to rub out the final coat of finish. You will apply a variety of finishes to sample boards to get experience in each of the finishing steps that you can then take home with you for future reference. Students are encouraged to bring questions about any finishing issues or problems that they may have. Meets weekly from 6:30 - 9:30 pm.
Introduction to Hand Cut Joinery (Instructor: Bill Hewitt)
Sharpen your hand skills with this 6-week, hands-on class focused on the quieter side of woodworking, where you will learn the proper use of hand tools, including saws, chisels and planes. Class starts with an overview of sharpening techniques, with a chance for students to practice sharpening their own tools, then instruction in the proper use of hand tools to cut dovetail and mortise and tenon joints, followed by time to practice the joinery techniques. We will also talk about how and when to use this type of joinery in furniture building. Students are required to bring a set of bench chisels, a dovetail saw, and at least one hand plane to class.
Meets weekly, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm.
Introduction to Cabinetmaking (Instructor: Ron Chateauneuf)
This 10-week course will cover techniques of cabinetmaking in the home shop as well as an overview of other methods used in the cabinetmaking industry. While building a small cabinet, students will learn a variety of techniques including milling rough lumber, layout and optimization of sheet goods, cabinet construction methods, building a face frame, and construction and mounting of flat panel doors using European hinges. Please bring a 16' tape measure, utility knife, pencil and paper, and safety glasses/ear protection if you have them. Prerequisite: Level 1 or ability to safely operate a table saw, jointer and planer.
Weekend Workshops
Introduction to the Router - Level I (Instructor: Dave Nauman)
In this one-day class, you will learn about wood and grain, the anatomy of a router, shapes and styles of router bits, and the operation and use of hand-held routers. The class will then advance to the router table, learning its construction and operation. You will design, machine, and construct a stacked molding and build raised panel doors, incorporating the skills learned throughout the day. You are encouraged to bring in your own router if you have one; if not, routers will be provided. Saturday, 8 am - 4:30 pm.
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Introduction to the Router - Level II (Instructor: Dave Nauman)
This class builds off the Intro to the Router class. With the use of the router table, you will design and construct a take home wall cabinet. Emphasis will be on the proper set-up and execution of the many machining processes on the router table used in this project. Saturday, 8 am - 4:30 pm.
Introduction to Veneering Techniques (Instructor: Greg Larson)
Unlock the secrets of using veneer and a vacuum bag, and open a new world of design possibilities and wood choices. In this one-day class, you will learn about basic veneer matching techniques and create panels using simple and four-way book-matching. We will cover the selection and preparation of veneers and substrates, tools, adhesives, and proper use of the vacuum bag. Please bring a 16' tape measure, utility knife with a sharp blade, veneer saw (such as those available at Woodcraft - Part #15S05 - $13.99), and pencil and paper. You may also bring safety glasses/ear protection if you have them. Saturday, 8 am- 4:30 pm. Enroll now >>
Home Improvement Basics (Instructor: Mark Bonde)
Nearly every homeowner has a list of small projects that need to be taken care of. This one-day class will help you tackle that list with confidence, as it teaches you how to find wall studs, hang shelves, fill nail holes, fix stuck doors and windows, repair drywall, add cabinet knobs/hardware, and install insulation and weather-stripping. Saturday, 8 am - 4 pm.
Interior Painting for Homeowners (Instructor: Jason Greene)
If you're interested in learning how to paint the interior of your house like a pro, this class is for you. Taught by a professional painter, this hands-on, one-day class will help you better understand the dizzying array of paint and equipment choices available today. You will learn about the different types of primers and paints, their advantages and disadvantages, when and where to use them, and how to prepare the walls and trim before painting. Other subjects covered include choosing the right equipment for the job, painting techniques, filling nail holes, choosing and using caulk, and ongoing care of painted surfaces.
Introduction to Bending Wood (Instructor: Bill Hewitt)
This one-day class introduces a number of approaches to created curved work out of solid wood and plywood. You will learn the basics of steam bending, lamination bending, and creating curved work using a vacuum bag, as well as how to create bending forms, build a steam box, and choose the correct wood and glue for bending in different situations. Saturday, 8 am - 4:30 pm.
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Intro to Wood Carving (Instructor: Adam Suska)
Explore the fascinating world of woodcarving using hand tools. Taught by an experienced carver, this hands-on class will focus on traditional methods of carving and is for beginners who want an introduction to the craft. We start with an overview of tools and their uses and then you'll learn how to sharpen the tools. The rest of the classes will be focused on basic carving techniques for creating lettering and ornamental designs. Tools and wood will be provided, although you may bring your own tools if you have them. 2 Saturdays, 8 am - 4:30 pm.
Summer Intensives
Introduction to Hand Tools (Instructor: Dave Nauman)
Sharpen your hand skills with this hands-on, one-week class focused on the quieter side of woodworking. You will learn the proper use of hand tools, including saws, chisels and planes, and several woodworking techniques using each of the tools. Class starts with an overview of sharpening techniques, with a chance for students to practice sharpening their own tools, followed by instruction in the proper use of hand planes to flatten a board, and methods of hand cutting finger, dovetail, miter, and mortise and tenon joints. You will construct a progression of small projects throughout the week that allow you to practice what you have learned. Students are required to bring a set of bench chisels, a dovetail saw, and at least one hand plane to class.
Meets daily M-F, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Woodworking for Beginners - Level I (Instructor: Brian Mulcahy)
Our popular evening workshop is now available as a five-day summer intensive! Designed for people with little or no woodworking experience, this workshop begins by covering the safe use of basic power tools and the essential properties of wood. You will then learn and practice fundamental woodworking techniques by making a small cherry box with splines. The focus of this class is primarily on the use of power tools, although you will get some practice using chisels. If you want to learn how to use hand tools, take a look at our Introduction to Hand Cut Joinery night class or our Introduction to Hand Tools Summer Intensive. You may also like to take the Level II workshop, which will take place the very next week. Please bring a 16' tape measure, utility knife, pencil and paper, and safety glasses/ear protection if you have them. Meets daily M-F, 8 am - 4:30 pm.
Woodworking for Beginners - Level II (Instructor: Brian Mulcahy)
Building on the skills acquired in Level I, this five-day summer intensive introduces you to more complex woodworking operations. You will use jigs and fixtures on the table saw, router, and drill press to construct a piece of medium-complexity furniture. You will also learn to joint and edge glue boards to make the larger panels necessary for major furniture pieces. Please bring a 16' tape measure, utility knife, pencil and paper, and safety glasses/ear protection if you have them. Prerequisite: Level I, either as a ten-week evening course or the 5-day summer intensive. Meets daily M-F, 8 am - 4:30 pm.
Veneering Techniques - Level II (Instructor: Jonathan Benson)
This week-long workshop, taught by a master veneer craftsman, takes the mystery out of veneering. Beginners will learn to create beautiful matched patterns, while students with veneering experience will learn new techniques for making more imaginative designs. The workshop covers all aspects of veneering, including when and where to use veneer, and how to find, choose and buy veneer. Each students will create a basic book match and then progress through four-, eight-, and twelve-way matches. You will learn to inlay these patterns into fields of other veneers to create standard and curved panels. Several methods for cutting, joining, pressing and finishing of veneers will be presented. You will also learn the process of hammer veneering with PVA glue, which requires no press or clamps at all. Meets daily M-F, 8 am - 4:30 pm.
Private Lessons
We offer individualized lessons in woodworking and wood turning for $65/hour. Dates and times will be arranged between the student and the instructor. All lessons take place at our shop at One Cottage Street. Please call 413-527-6103 for more information.
