Powertools for Women

Course Description
Discover the joys of using a wide variety of power tools (from jigsaw to router to table saw) in a safe, friendly and supportive environment. Beginning with selecting materials, reading plans and laying out cuts on wood, we will progress to joinery and assembly techniques. Hands-on experience will include building a shaker-style bench to take home.

Course Objectives
This class is designed to take you step by step through the fundamentals of building a bench. We will identify the many properties of wood while demystifying the language spoken at the lumberyard. Students will feel more comfortable and competent using power tools and also gain a sense of confidence.

Suggested/Required Reading
No reading is necessary however students interested in prior knowledge can consult any basic woodworking book to familiarize themselves with tools and terminology.

Tools/Materials to Bring

•  Work clothes and sturdy shoes
•  Eye and ear protection and dust mask
•  Photos and ideas of future projects
•  Any tools from home you would like to better familiarize yourself with

Tentative Course Schedule

Saturday

9:00 Welcome, Orientation to Yestermorrow

10:00 Class overview

10:30 Tool safety and Lecture: working with wood

11:00 Intro to tapes, marking and clamps

11:30 Demonstration: chop saw and table saw

12:00 Lunch

1:00 Begin project

5:00 Class ends

Sunday

9:00 Lecture: joinery

9:30 Continue project

10:30 Demonstration: sander and drills

11:00 Demonstration: router and chisels

12:00 Lunch

1:00 Assembly instruction

4:00 (if time permits)

Discussion: tool purchase

Discussion: finishing techniques

Discussion: scaling a photo to an actual drawing

4:30 Clean-up and evaluations

5:00 Graduation