Woodworking for Women

Course Description: This class will give students a chance to become competent with woodworking tools and the building process. Discussions on joinery techniques and woodworking methods will enable students to get lots of practical hands on experience. Much of the course will be dedicated to the use of hand held power tools and stationary shop tools such as the table saw, planer, jointer, drill press and router table with an emphasis on safe tool use. Students will complete a piece of furniture to take home.

Course Objectives: This class is designed to take the student step by step through the fundamentals of building a piece of furniture. We will identify the many properties of wood and understand the basics of working with it. We will also learn to use power tools safely and proficiently.

Recommended Readings:

How to Build Shaker Furniture, Thos. Moser

Making Cabinets and Built-Ins, Sam Allen

Things 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:

Sunday
5 PM Welcome and orientation to Yestermorrow, dinner

Monday
AM Intros and class overview
Intro to the wood shop
Tool safety and Lecture: Working with wood
Demo: Dressing wood
PM Intro to chop saw
Squaring, layout and marking
Intro to table saw
Lecture: glue-ups and clamping

Tuesday
AM Lecture: building sequence and reading plans
Work on project
Lecture: laying out mortise and tenons
PM Intro to drill press, mortising machine, chisels and dado blade

Wednesday
AM Lecture: Joinery techniques
Intro to sanders and rasps
PM Demo: Tapering legs and assembly

Thursday
AM Lecture: Plywood
PM Demo: Power Drills and accessories

Friday
AM Lecture: Finishing and purchasing tools
PM Clean-up and graduation