More to come with the late summer and fall classes in the next few days, as more details come in and the full picture takes place, yet the full schedule is beginning to take shape. We have new guest instructors, and you will see some of your favorite returning instructors to Pine Croft (including Kelly Mehler!)
You can find our full list for 2023 on our “Course Descriptions” page.
Dates: July 10 – 14, 2023
Instructor: Katie Hudnall
Cost: $1,300
Class Description:
In this class students will learn to make a small box with a hinging lid utilizing a bandsaw box technique, and then have a chance to decorate these with milk paints, and a sturdy clear finish.
Hinges and moving parts in wood can be fussy and require a level of precision and accuracy that can be hard to achieve for those just starting out. On the other hand, making a band saw box can be one of the simplest and least complicated ways to make a box in wood, but they aren’t thought of as being precision objects. We will use a combination of milled and band-sawn parts to get the accuracy we need for the hinge without losing the simplicity and delight in making a quick and lovely box from scratch. My goal is that students of all levels can leave this class with both a great, useful box, and a better sense of how to get more from their personal shops – a band saw, a drill press and a bit of time is all you need!
Students of all levels are welcome, and we’ll be covering the following:
Tool List (bring what you have and we’ll share our shop kit of tools):
Lunches provided.
Questions: email Andy Glenn at glenna@berea.edu for more information.
Dates: June 11-17, 2023
Instructor: Andy Glenn
Cost: $1,900
Class Description:
I hope you can join us for a full week of chair making in mid-June. We’ll fashion a 5-slat (or 6-slat…..maker’s choice on slat design) rocker from northern red oak during our time together and weave in a hickory bark seat on the final day.
Green woodworking starts with wet wood from the log. We’ll have some parts already drying (the rungs will be awaiting us in the kiln) since a good chair requires that the wet posts shrink around the dry rungs. Much of the shaping will happen with the drawknife and spokeshave, meaning we’ll spend ample time on our shaving horses getting the parts to shape. Slat making provides an option for custom touches.
Having some experience with the drawknife and spokeshave is helpful, but not necessary for this course. It’s my intention to make it a successful experience for all skill levels.
Lunches provided.
Questions about the class? Please send me a note: glenna@berea.edu
Tool List:
Needed:
Recommended: (please bring – especially the first eight on this list – but don’t run out to purchase if you don’t own one yet)
We’ll use/cover, but not needed (please bring if you have them):
Dates: June 26 – 30, 2023.
Instructor: Will Myers
Course Description: The Moravian workbench is an excellent traditional design that fits well in the modern woodworker shop. Based on a workbench in the collection at Old Salem North Carolina dating from around 1800 that was meant to be transportable with minimum fuss. All that is required to assemble or disassemble are a few mallet taps taking only a minute or so. The bench we will build is six foot long and weighs in around 200 pounds.
This is a five-day class consisting of chopping and rip sawing twenty large mortise and tenons of varying shapes and sizes so be sure you are up to the task!
Tool List (bring what you have, we’ll have others to share):
Class cost includes: all wood/timber for the bench construction (likely ash and red oak) and a Leg Vise. (Note: the wagon vise is not included in this build. Please contact Will Myers if you’re interested in inquiring about the wagon vise).
Lunches provided.
Dates: June 23, 24, & 25, 2023
Instructor: Dawson Moore
Cost: $485
Class Description:
This class is oriented to beginner and intermediate carvers. We’ll make sure everyone gets comfortable with the basic knife grips while also having time to explore more advanced approaches to carving like steam bending blanks and using a spoon mule. Similar to a shavehorse, a spoon mule is a foot powered clamping device that frees both hands to use powerful and efficient tools like drawknives, long-handled hook knives, and spokeshaves. Spoon mules can help relieve some of the strains of typical hand carving, and can also add speed and efficiency to your work. We’ll be learning drawknife carving techniques on both shavehorses and spoon mules. We’ll work through successive projects building skills at each stage. We’ll move from practice sticks to butter spreaders, spatulas, and finally to spoons. Time and skill level permitting, there will be opportunity to also work on chopsticks and forks.
In this class we will:
Tool List: The instructor will be providing all needed tools for this class. They will be sharp and of professional quality. In addition, students are welcome to bring their own tools whether for personal use or just to learn more about them.
Provided by Instructor:
Dates: April 14, 15, & 16, 2023
Instructor: Rob Spiece
Class Description: Over the course of three days, we’ll each make two stools. This project is a great introduction to the round mortise and tenon joinery of Windsor chairmaking and will enable you to boost your accuracy and productivity in your home shop.
The shop made jigs and fixtures used in the making of this piece will show you how to turn a home shop into a small-scale production studio. Jigs for the tablesaw, bandsaw, router, lathe, and drill press will turn out accurate and reliable joinery.
After the joinery, we’ll look at changing some design elements so you can put your personal stamp on your stools. We’ll finish up by applying milk paint or a natural finish.
Required Tools
Safety Glasses
Tape Measure
Pencil
Random Orbit Sander & Sanding discs (80, 120, 180, 220)
Dates: February 27 – March 3, 2023. Five class days.
Instructor: Aspen Golann
Class Description: Popular in 1600 and 2022, this ancient chair style is still a darling of the contemporary furniture field. Starting from a green log students will learn to split, soak, and shape their way to a finished piece of furniture. In this class we will cover the essential techniques required to build a classic Windsor side chair – we will also cover a variety of approaches to furniture design including maquettes, drafting and creating original patterns. The instructor will share plans and techniques for building a small kiln, steam box, bending forms, and a shavehorse so that students return home empowered to design and build their own chairs. Whether you are new to woodworking or an experienced maker, Windsor chair making will deepen your appreciation for the strength and versatility of wood and the power of hand tools.
Materials and lunches covered within the cost of the class.
Aspen and Pine Croft will provide the necessary tools for this class. No tools required.
Learn the basics of hand carving while creating your own little bird friend.
Required Tools:
Lunch Provided.
Additional Images of Terry’s Work and Style:
An introduction to post and rung, green wood joinery with decorated Eastern Kentucky chairmaker Terry Ratliff.
Students will construct a handy stool employing timeless chair making joinery techniques that will need no glue screws or metal fasteners. The woven hickory bark for the seating will be on hand and students will learn about tree selection and harvesting technique. Weaving of the subtle leather like material for a durable and lasting seat will be a final step in creation of this heirloom quality foot stool.
–please contact Andy Glenn (glenna@berea.edu) with any questions
Kentucky Spirits Cabinet
Cabinetmaking is a wide and varied discipline and it employs all the skills of a furniture maker. Taking notes from makers like Wharton Esherick and James Krenov, we can elevate a cabinet by putting natural materials in their best light and in paying close attention to how different woodgrain interacts in a whole piece.
In this class, we’ll be making a dovetailed case fitted with inset doors and a drawer. Along the way, we’ll use every tool a modern woodshop has to offer. For this exacting work, a router and table saw will get us close, but we’ll fine tune at the bench with hand tools.
I find cabinetmaking to be among the most rewarding work in the shop. It allows you to stretch your skills and consider the material you’re working with. Continued below…
Cabinetmaking is a wide and varied discipline and it employs all the skills of a furniture maker. Taking notes from makers like Wharton Esherick and James Krenov, we can elevate a cabinet by putting natural materials in their best light and in paying close attention to how different woodgrain interacts in a whole piece.
In this class, we’ll be making a dovetailed case fitted with inset doors and a drawer. Along the way, we’ll use every tool a modern woodshop has to offer. For this exacting work, a router and table saw will get us close, but we’ll fine tune at the bench with hand tools.
I find cabinetmaking to be among the most rewarding work in the shop. It allows you to stretch your skills and consider the material you’re working with.
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