UPCOMING CLASSES
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August 25th-28th, Tuesday-Friday, 10 am - 1:30 pm
Come make a 16” tall round stool using handtools and a bandsaw with us!
Price: $495.00 -
September 9-10th, Wednesday-Thursday, 6:00PM-9:00PM
This introductory woodworking workshop teaches the core practical skills used in preparing and dressing materials for furniture making.
Price: $180 -
September 12th-13th, Saturday-Sunday, 10:00AM-4:00PM
Come make a 16” tall round stool using handtools and a bandsaw with us!
Price: $495.00 -
September 15th - October 8th , Thursdays, 6:00PM-9:00PM
This single-session Taster Workshop introduces the core practical skills involved in creating a handmade wooden charcuterie board.
Price: $150 -
September 15th - 18th , Tuesday-Friday, 10:00AM-4:00PM
This introductory woodworking workshop teaches the core practical skills used in traditional furniture joinery.
Price: $550.00 -
September 22nd - 23rd , Tuesday-Wednesday, 6:00PM-9:00PM
This two-session Taster Workshop introduces the traditional Japanese woodworking technique of Kumiko, focusing on the precision, patience, and hand skills.
Price: $150.00 -
September 15th - 18th , Tuesday-Friday, 10:00AM-4:00PM
This introductory woodworking workshop teaches the core practical skills used in traditional furniture joinery.
Price: $550.00 -
September 26th & October 3rd, Saturdays, 10:00AM-4:00PM
This two-day project-making workshop introduces the traditional Japanese woodworking technique of Kumiko, creating intricate geometric panels from carefully prepared wood.
Price: $350.00
Explore All Workshops & Courses
TASTER CLASSES
Taster classes are short introductory sessions designed to help you decide whether woodworking is right for you. They offer a practical, engaging way to explore basic woodworking tools and techniques in a supportive setting.
This single-session Taster Class introduces the core practical skills involved in using a chisel for woodworking. This workshop is designed to give you an introduction to our teaching style and the foundations of hand tool woodworking. You will learn the correct techniques for safe and effective chisel use.
You will learn:
Chisel terminology, techniques, and approach
How to safely and effectively use a chisel
Using a saw to prepare material for chisel work
Removing waste and refining surfaces with a chisel
Understanding body position, control, and accuracy when using hand tools
Basic hand tool skills used throughout our Core Skills Courses
Who it’s for: Suitable for all levels, including complete beginners.
Duration: 3hrs
Price: $90
Schedule Options: We offer this course at a variety of dates & times.
Thursday, 6:00PM - 9:00PM
Saturday, 9:30AM - 12:30PM
Sunday, 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Materials: ALL materials and tools are provided.
Related skills for follow-up courses: Joinery Level 1, Planes & Planing, Sharpening Chisels & Planes, Kumiko
This single-session Taster Workshop introduces the core practical skills involved in creating a handmade wooden charcuterie board. This workshop is designed to give you an introduction to the basics of woodworking and the fundamentals of furniture making. You will learn the basic techniques involved in preparing, shaping, joining, and finishing wood without commiting to a longer course.
*Please note: This Taster Workshop is designed to introduce woodworking skills and techniques rather than complete a finished project to take home.
You will learn:
Selecting and preparing wood for a small woodworking project
Measuring, and marking accurately
Using hand tools safely and effectively
Basic cutting and shaping techniques
Using a sharp chisel to remove waste cleanly and refine joints
Smoothing and refining surfaces
Finishing techniques to create a functional finished piece
Identifying and troubleshooting common joinery mistakes
Who it’s for: Suitable for all levels, including complete beginners.
Duration: 3hrs
Price: $150
Schedule Options: We offer this course at a variety of dates & times.
Tuesday, 6:00PM - 9:00PM
Saturday, 10:00AM - 1:00PM
Materials: ALL materials and tools are provided.
Related skills for follow-up courses: Joinery Level 1, Joinery Level 2, Planes & Planing, Sharpening Chisels & Planes
This two-session Taster Workshop introduces the traditional Japanese woodworking technique of Kumiko, focusing on the precision, patience, and hand skills involved in creating intricate geometric wooden patterns. This workshop is designed to give you an introduction to our teaching style and the foundations of Kumiko woodworking techniques.
*Please note: This Taster Workshop is designed to introduce Kumiko skills and techniques rather than complete a finished project to take home.
You will learn:
Understanding Kumiko techniques, materials, and approach
Using Kumiko blocks and mitre boxes
Accurate measuring, marking, and cutting of angled joints
Preparing and sizing timber for consistent components
Sawing, notching, and chiseling techniques used in Kumiko assembly
Using a sharp chisel to refine and adjust components
Introduction to creating a Hemp Leaf Kumiko pattern
Who it’s for: Suitable for all levels, including complete beginners.
Duration: 6hrs
Price: $150
Schedule Options: We offer this course at a variety of dates & times.
Tuesday - Wednesday, 6:00PM - 9:00PM
Thursday - Friday, 6:00PM - 9:00PM
Materials: ALL materials and tools are provided.
Related skills for follow-up courses: Kumiko Part 1, Joinery Level 1, Round Stool, Planes & Planing
Core Skills
Our intensive woodwork classes are designed as a comprehensive course of study. These short modules focus on a specific set of techniques that build your practical skills step by step.
This introductory woodworking workshop teaches the core practical skills used in traditional furniture joinery. Starting with the lap joint, you’ll progress through more advanced joints including rabbet joints, half-lap, and mortise & tenon. This course is the foundation for other Core Skills Courses.
You will learn:
Lap, rabbet, half-lap, and mortise & tenon joints
Accurate measuring and marking
Safe, controlled, and accurate sawing techniques
Proper posture and body position for control and efficiency
Use of both Western and Japanese saws
Chisel work for removing waste and refining joint surfaces
Who it’s for:
Complete beginners who want a structured introduction to woodwork
Artists and makers looking to expand their technical skill set
Amateurs and intermediate crafts people who desire short intensive training
Duration: 22hrs
Price: $550
Schedule options: We offer this course at a variety of dates & times.
Tuesday - Friday, 10:00AM - 4:00PM
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00AM - 4:00PM (over two weekends)
Weekday evenings, 5:30 - 9:00PM (over 6 sessions)
*Please note: these formats cannot be mixed.
Materials: ALL materials and tools are provided.
Related skills for follow-up courses: Fancy Box, Shop Stool, Creepie Stool, Kumiko
This introduction to hand-cut dovetails teaches practical skills used in traditional furniture joinery. Hand-cut dovetails are a classic mark of craftsmanship, often used in drawers, cabinet carcasses, trays, and boxes. The core techniques are approachable with clear instruction, careful layout, and steady practice.
In these hands-on classes, students learn how to lay out, saw, and refine dovetail joints with confidence. The focus is on building a repeatable process so students can continue improving their accuracy, speed, and control after the class. By the end of the class, students will have a stronger understanding of how dovetail joints are planned, cut, and refined, along with practical techniques they can apply to future box and cabinetmaking projects. This is an intermediate-level course within our Core Skills Courses, and the second level following Joinery Level 1: Lap Joints.
You will learn:
Measure and mark accurately the difference angles for dovetails
Cut single and multiple through dovetails
Tails first or pin first terminology and approach
Sawing to a straight line
Choose and use specialist dovetail tools effectively
Chisel work for removing waste and refining joint surfaces
Practice for clean layout, accurate sawing, and controlled fitting
Who it’s for: This Core Skills Course is the next level following Joinery Level 1: Lap Joints. Students should be familiar with the content of the Lap Joints course prior to registering for this course.
Duration: 12hrs
Price: $350
Schedule Options: We offer this course at a variety of dates & times.
Tuesday - Friday, 6:00PM - 9:00PM
Thursday - Friday, 10:00AM - 4:00PM
Saturday - Sunday, 10:00AM - 4:00PM
*Please note: these formats cannot be mixed.
Materials: ALL materials and tools are provided.
Related skills for follow-up courses: Round Stool, Handtool Intro, Kumiko
This introductory woodworking workshop teaches the core practical skills used in preparing and dressing materials for furniture making. You will learn how to properly set up and use hand planes to square and flatten wood, forming the foundation for all joinery work. This course is the entry point to all other Core Skills Courses.
You will learn:
Adjusting and setting up jack planes and smoothing planes
Measuring and marking dressing lines accurately
Blade geometry and correct tool use
Squaring wood across all four faces
Terminology, techniques, and approach for flattening boards
Use of winding sticks, scrubbing, flattening, and smooth planing
Who it’s for:
Complete beginners who want a structured introduction to woodwork
Artists and makers looking to expand their technical skill set
Amateurs and intermediate crafts people who desire short intensive training
Duration: 6hrs
Price: $180
Schedule Options: We offer this course at a variety of dates & times.
Wednesday-Thursday, 6:00PM-9:00PM
Thursday, 10:00AM - 4:00PM
Friday, 10:00AM - 4:00PM
Saturday, 10:00AM - 4:00PM
Thursday, 6:00PM - 9:00PM (over two weeks)
Materials: ALL materials and tools are provided.
Related skills for follow-up courses: Joinery Level 1, Joinery Level 2, Chairmaking, Furniture Making Courses
This class teaches techniques with skill-based practice in handmade joinery. Students will learn to select joints, lay them out, and cut them accurately using various Western and Eastern handtools rather than machine-based methods. Along with learning about and making a wide variety of joints, you will also improve your layout skills, enhance your measuring and accuracy, and better understand joint selection and wood behaviour.
This 5-night class also covers sharpening your chisels and hand plane, setting up and using hand planes for lumber, selection and layout of finger joints with measuring & marking tools, hand-cutting finger joints & rabbet joints, and how to recover from joinery mistakes.
MATERIALS: Various hardwoods (included)
TOOLS: Hand planes, chisels, handsaws, router plane, rabbet plane, and bandsaw
ACTIVITIES: several joinery exercises, to make a tea tray
LEVEL: Basic Skills
PREREQUISITES: None (open to beginners)
DURATION: 17.5 hours (5 sessions)
MAKING
Join us for out end of summer, project course! Make a 16” tall round stool using handtools and a bandsaw. The legs are either octagon or round, but both are made using hand planes and spokeshaves. This is referred to as Welsh Stick construction and is a good introduction to making the Welsh Chair. They have 3-stretchers and range from 10” to 16” in height, low enough to sit or work so your hands are touching the ground.
MATERIALS: 2x6 hardwoods (red alder, cherry, ash, western maple, or similar woods)
TOOLS: woodturning lathe, hand tools, handplane, chisels, saws, spokeshave, traivsher, scorp, and the power bandsaw are used.
ACTIVITIES: Safe sequence of steps to take hardwood lumber and build a small 3 or 4 legged stool.
LEVEL: Beyond Basics
PREREQUISITES: None (but will be easier if a handtool class was previously taken)
DURATION: 14 hours
Sliding Lid Box with inserted tray
This is the easiest starting place for your handtool woodworking aspirations. The small box begins with a simple piece of wood, such as a part of a pallet and is transformed into a lovely utility piece. The beginners class will teach you how to designing and make from wood a beautiful keepsake box with a tray inside.
All Basic Skills classes are designed to provide a strong foundation for beginners, helping build excellent fundamental woodworking skills and proper tool usage. This 3 session class does not do the lamination work that our five session class does, yet it still provides time enough to help beginning woodworkers develop safe, accurate and efficient woodworking techniques that lead to successful, and satisfying results. Open to beginners and materials included.
MATERIALS: 1x4 Spruce-Pine-Fir (supplied)
PREREQUISITES: None (open to beginners)
TOOLS: Hand planes, chisels, back-saw, card scraper, and sandpaper
EXERCISE: Safe sequence of steps to take a board and accurately cut and make joinery it to a specific size, glue-up, fine fitting, with finishing if time allows
DURATION: 10 hours (3 evening sessions)
Our Making project classes help students put Core Skills techniques into practice through focused, hands-on projects. They are designed for woodworkers who are building experience, while still being accessible to anyone comfortable using basic tools.This two-day project-making workshop introduces the traditional Japanese woodworking technique of Kumiko, creating intricate geometric panels from carefully prepared wood. You will learn the key skills involved in accurately sizing, marking, cutting, and assembling angled wooden components to create a decorative Kumiko panel. This course is best suited to students who have completed one of our Core Skills joinery classes.
You will learn:
Understanding Kumiko techniques, materials, and approach
Using Kumiko blocks and mitre boxes
Accurate measuring, marking, and cutting of angled joints
Preparing and sizing timber for consistent components
Sawing, notching, chiseling, and using jigs for Kumiko assembly
Using a sharp chisel to refine and adjust components
Creating a Hemp Leaf Kumiko panel (7” x 7”)
Who it’s for:
Students ready to apply Core Skills techniques in a project setting
Woodworkers looking to build confidence and practical experience
Anyone who already knows their way around a toolbox
Duration: 12 hrs
Price: $350
Schedule Options: We offer this course at a variety of dates & times.
Saturday, 10:00AM - 4:00PM (over 2 weekends)
Materials: ALL materials and tools are provided.
Related skills for follow-up courses: Joinery Level 2: Hand-Cut Dovetails, Kumiko (Part 2) - sessions by appointment, learn to make your own Kumiko blocks
Make a Welsh Stick chair with hand tools. There is no steam bending or lathe turning involved. The Welsh Stick chair is based on the work and directions of Christopher Swartz’s book and there is plenty of handtool work involved. Multiple woods are used as the chairs are usually painted with milk paint. Many of the tasks benefit from a group working together and the parts must all be made ready before final assembly is begun. This is an intermediate level project and the schools prepares many of the components before hand to maximize instructional time.
Learn how to make stick furniture with simple chairmaking tools
MATERIALS: Selection of hardwood supplied (cherry, poplar, ash, alder)
TOOLS: all major machines, belt sander, bandsaw, and chair-making hand tools
ACTIVITIES: chair layout, sightlines, drilling tapered holes, curves work, shaving horse spindle making,
spokeshave and assembly
DURATION: Typically 6-sessions, full days with lunch break
PREREQUISITE: some machine experience or handtool experience is suggested
MATERIALS: included. Various woods are used as the chair is painted when finished.
Join us for our end of summer, four-day project course! The 4-legged Shop Stool class offers students an opportunity to refine woodworking skills. The hardwood is selected, milled to sizes, shaped, dominoed, tapered and assembled. The formed seat is cut flat and if time allows, carved and shaped. The raw wood project will go home ready for final oiling.
MATERIALS: hardwoods such as Western Maple and Red Alder (included
TOOLS: Jointer, planer, table saw, router, domino, bandsaw, bent lamination, handtools
EXERCISE: 4 legged stool with solid wooden seat, or curved seat (ready for upholstery)
DURATION: Typically 4-sessions, 4.5 hr/day with lunch break
PREREQUISITE: previous experience in a basic woodworking class
More offerings
Workshops courses will be added to our schedule as new dates become available. If you're interested in one particular courses, send us an email—we'd love to hear from you!
TIME: Two Sunday mornings 10 am - 2 pm
MATERIALS: Selection of hardwoods (included)
TOOLS: Lathe, gouges, grinder
EXERCISES: spindles , spatula, pen and rolling pin, etc.
DURATION: 8 hours over 2 sessions
Lathe Turning Beginners LEVEL 1 and LEVEL 2 on Sunday AM
The introductory lathe turning classes will cover theory and hands-on practice for various types of wood turning. Learn to shape spindles, sharpen tools, and the characteristics of wood grain while turning on a lathe. Safely explore this craft which is a mixture of feel and knowledge with linear objects. Students make a tapered rolling pin, and pen and a cooking spatula. All materials provided, no experience required, please bring a snack/lunch as we take a nutrition break.
Workshop safety (2 sessions)
Core Skills – Workshop Safety Training fee: $300
What you will learn:
workshop power tools and machine safety, including the tablesaw and chop saw, bandsaw and circular saw, jigsaw and portable drill driver
2 day from 10am – 4:00pm (10 hrs. hours total)
Objectives
This 2-session introduction to workshop safety covers the key skills used in power woodshops.
· PPE and hazards,
· terminology and WCB approach to safety regulations
· Power Saws, moving blades and risks to avoid
· Using a powered circular saw to cut construction wood
Event Times
This course is part of our Core Skills classes, and we offer the course at a variety of times:
Thursday evening 6.00 - 9pm over 2 weeks
Wednesday evening 6:00 - 9pm over 2 weeks
Fridays10.00 – 4.00pm (infrequent only 3 times a year)
All day Saturday 10.00 – 4.00pm
Unfortunately, you can’t mix and match between the different days.
Web Description – not a make a project class, but a practical skills workshop
Related skills for follow-up courses: Joinery Level 1, Joinery Level 2, Chairmaking, Furniture Making Courses
This introductory woodworking workshop teaches the core practical skills used in sharpening chisels and planes for your woodworking projects. You will learn the correct techniques for chisel and plane maintenance and sharpening. This course is the entry point to all other Core Skills Courses. Bring one of your own tools to be tuned up.
You will learn:
Sharpening techniques for chisels and planes
Setting up and maintaining hand tools for accurate woodworking
Understanding sharpening angles and blade geometry
Using sharpening stones and other sharpening equipment
Creating and maintaining a sharp cutting edge
Testing and refining tool performance
Who it’s for:
Complete beginners who want a structured introduction to woodwork
Artists and makers looking to expand their technical skill set
Amateurs and intermediate crafts people who desire short intensive training
Duration: 6 hrs
Price: $180
Schedule Options: We offer this course at a variety of dates & times.
Saturday or Sunday 10:00AM - 4:00PM
Thursday 6:00PM - 9:00PM (over two Thursdays)
Materials: ALL materials and tools are provided.
Related skills for follow-up courses: Joinery Level 1, Joinery Level 2, Chairmaking, Furniture Making Courses
This class teaches techniques with skill-based practice in handmade joinery. Students will learn to select joints, lay them out, and cut them accurately using various Western and Eastern handtools rather than machine-based methods. Along with learning about and making a wide variety of joints, you will also improve your layout skills, enhance your measuring and accuracy, and better understand joint selection and wood behaviour.
This 5-night class also covers sharpening your chisels and hand plane, setting up and using hand planes for lumber, selection and layout of finger joints with measuring & marking tools, hand-cutting finger joints & rabbet joints, and how to recover from joinery mistakes.
MATERIALS: Various hardwoods (included)
TOOLS: Hand planes, chisels, handsaws, router plane, rabbet plane, and bandsaw
ACTIVITIES: several joinery exercises, to make a tea tray
LEVEL: Basic Skills
PREREQUISITES: None (open to beginners)
DURATION: 17.5 hours (5 sessions)
