Woodworking Workshops

2-day Introduction to Woodworking

Module 1––Understanding hand tools

Tools, tool sharpening, restoration, setup and maintenance

Sharpening equipment

Sharpening is fundamental to all areas of hand tool woodworking and almost all of the tools we use must be sharpened to some degree. Developing a keen edge is simplified by around-the-bench discussion and demonstration. In this seminar we discuss optional differences between sharpening plates, stones and abrasive papers for developing sharp edges to edge tools such as planes, chisels, axes, draw knives, layout knives and others. We also discuss the files we use for sharpening the different tools including saws, scrapers, auger bits; the tools we rely on throughout woodworking, carpentry and joinery.

Chisels

Chisel sharpening, restoration and maintenance

Discussing different patterns of western-type chisels including bevel-edged, firmer and mortise-type chisels. We will also include discussion of Japanese-style chisels developed and used by Asian woodworkers too.

Planes

Plane sharpening, restoration, setup and maintenance

Discussing plane patterns and choices including the Bailey-pattern western hand planes, wooden planes and handmade user- or craftsman-made plane choices. We also discuss the use and need of dedicated plane types like plough planes, rebating planes and router planes.

Saws

Saw sharpening, restoration and maintenance of western-style handsaws including tenon saws, handsaws and bow and frame saws.

Discussing the different types and styles of western pattern resharpenable saws and considering the use of pull stroke Asian saws, bow and frame saws and more.

Layout knives

How to sharpen and use the joinery layout knife. Discussion on knifewall shoulder lines for joint making. How when and where to use the knifewall in relation to the wood itself and what this means in the development of accurate and exacting joinery.

Mortise/marking gauges

Modern developments have never quite replaced the traditional gauges used for centuries even though they do add something to the various concepts of joinery layout and other elements of woodworking including inlaying, rebating and so on.

Sliding bevels and protractors

Sliding bevels may seem self explanatory but these tools provide the ability for the transfer of angles into the work at the bench and we use them for other aspects of our work including tool sharpening, joint layout, angle finding and transferring important angles for the work we do.

Squares

The square is the single most important tool in the joiner’s workshop yet for the main part it is seldom considered or discussed. With so many square options to choose from, which one best suits the work of the joiner and furniture maker? We discuss these options and highlight the advantages of the most used square, the engineer’s combination square.

Pencil

Not complicated and widely used, the pencil influences our work in almost every layout procedure from developing shapes and placing the mapping lines on our work.

Module 2––Understanding joinery

Joinery for woodworking and furniture making

Understanding which joints work where is to investigate how joints work, their mechanical properties including advantages and weaknesses and where they can best be applied to particular projects. This hands-on joinery how-to is presented through short seminars and demonstrations as well as at-the-bench instruction in the construction and development of the three basic but most important woodworking joints.

The joints included in this seminar module are the Housing Dado, the Mortise and Tenon and the Dovetail joints. Each student will make at least one of each joint type.

We discuss the use and application of joinery and the development of woodworking joints, discussing and seeing their strengths, mechanical properties and applicable usage. We also show and discuss the various alternatives within the three-joint range.

Module 3––Learning to read the grain

Shaping three-dimensional shapes in wood

Shaping wood helps new woodworkers to discover the diversely impacting elements of grain structure and the importance of working ‘with the grain’. It’s all hands-on interspersed with short instructional seminars and demonstrations around the workbench. Instruction includes the development of a three-dimensionally shaped items, which will be one of three items (students choice), spatula, cutting board or a spurtle (porridge stirrer).

In this module we will be discussing the use of various tools used for shaping wood including spokeshaves, rasps, chisels, gouges and planes.