Handtool Classes
Come experience the pleasure of working wood without electric blades. Work with the grain, understand how things have been done for a long time, and appreciate that, outside of a production setting, handtool work can be just as efficient as machine work, without all the dust and noise. fee range $250 - $495
Handtools Introduction
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 6-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: 21 hours (6 sessions)
Handtools - Saturday short Sessions
Learn practical hand tool experiences over 6 Saturdays with Japanese Kumiko, adjusting and sharpening hand planes and cutting dovetails. Each topic is covered over two Saturday sessions. The class covers tools needed, making the angles blocks for Kumiko, setting up and adjusting the hand plane, sharpening and the layout and practice cutting of dovetails. There is opportunity to make the Hemp Leaf pattern, using the jack plane and smoothing plane and multiple dovetail joints.
MATERIALS: Selection of hardwoods (included)
TOOLS: chisel, hand-planes, scrapers, mitred box, Kumiko angles blocks, handsaws, and layout tools
ACTIVITIES: Hemp Leaf pattern, planing wood for a dovetail box, and cutting dovetail corners
LEVEL: Beginners
PREREQUISITES: Some experience with chisels suggested
DURATION: 3.5 hours each Saturday (2 sessions each topic)
Buy all 6 sessions for a package price $600. For details, please get in touch at: edgecitywoodwork@gmail.com
Handtools - Round Stool
Make a round stool 16” tall using handtools and the 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: 17.5 hours (5 sessions)