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Class: Shaker Tray

By decommission

Shaker Tray

With Megan Fitzpatrick

October 14 & 15, 2023

$525

Shaker Tray

Make a classic Shaker silverware tray in this introduction to hand-cut dovetails and gentle curves. Continued below…

Class Description:

Make a classic Shaker silverware tray in this introduction to hand-cut dovetails and gentle curves.

In this two-day class, you’ll learn:

  • Dovetail layout with dividers
  • How to cut the joints, aiming to “fit off the saw”
  • How to wield a coping or fret saw
  • How to pare and chop to a line with a chisel
  • Strategies for transferring the tails to the pin board
  • Techniques for fitting the joint
  • How to lay out then cut and fair the handles (both the hand holds and the curved top edge)
  • How to smooth-plane your surfaces
  • How to use cut nails (to secure the bottom board…if you wish – but there’s an argument for leaving it loose)
  • And of course, how to put it all together (and why I recommend liquid hide glue).

Tool List:

  • Cutting/Marking Gauge (FWIW, I prefer a wheel marking gauge, such as the Tite-Mark)
  • Dividers (two pair if you have ‘em)
  • Marking knife (Ideally, one that has one flat side, but any will do)
  • Dovetail template/marking gauge or bevel gauge
  • Dovetail saw
  • Coping saw or fretsaw
  • Bevel-edge chisels (ideally 1/4”, 3/8” – but bring whatever you have)
  • Chisel Mallet
  • Rasp (11 or 13-grain)
  • Files and/or sandpaper (#80 through #180-grit)
  • Spokeshave (optional)
  • Block plane
  • Smooth plane
  • Double square (a.k.a. diemaker’s square or machinist’s square) or 6” square
    0.5mm mechanical pencil (yes, really – a 0.5!)

Lunches provided.

(…..and bring that 0.5mm pencil)

Register

Class: Introduction to Woodworking

By decommission


Date(s): November 7 through November 12, 2022. Six class days. 9am – 5pm

Cost: $1225

Instructor: Andy Glenn

Description: This class is designed for anyone interested in a full week immersion into a furniture making workshop. The class is designed to use both machine tools and hand tools in making a small, dovetailed keepsake box. The box will be a collection of all the skills and techniques we cover throughout the week.

We’ll work together, generally following this schedule:

  • Monday: Hand tool discussion and sharpening our chisels
  • Tuesday: Machine Room; milling parts for the tripod table, covering common machinery in a woodworking shop
  • Wednesday: Lathe work; turn parts for a tripod table
  • Thursday: Table assembly and hand tool practice
  • Friday: Dovetail box
  • Saturday: Dovetail box

This class is about skills, techniques and a couple projects. My hope, after going through this class, is that you will feel comfortable returning to your shop to make your next project.

The hand tool list is needed for constructing the small box. The tools are not specialized for this class though. They are tools commonly found within a furniture making kit. We’ll have extra to share if your kit is incomplete.

It’s my intention that we have a conversation, either before or after you register for the class, to discuss the tool kit.  Recommending tools is tricky….there are good hand tools, though they are most often expensive.  Then there are cheaper tools, which require more effort to set up and (frequently) don’t do the intended task as well as the higher priced tool.  But there are exceptions, especially among used tools.  My hope is that you purchase tools to fit your intentions going forward (no point in spending a fortune if you’re testing out whether you enjoy woodworking…likewise, no reason to purchase cheaply made tools if you want to collect tools to last your lifetime).  It is nuanced, and is why I’d love to discuss tools before you purchase tools for this class.  My email: glenna@berea.edu

Lunch and materials provided in  class cost.

Tool List:

recommended:

chisels (1/4″, 1/2″ and 1″ or equivalent sizes)

hand plane: either a #3 or #4

dovetail saw

marking gauge (a cutting gauge with a knife instead of a pin)

combination square

bevel gauge

card scraper

mallet (we have extras as well)

tape measure

optional:

safety glasses

hearing protection

sharpening stone (if you have one…no need to purchase one if you do not) 

October Classes

By decommission

Our spring classes, originally set for April and May, are all rescheduled for October.  We’re thankful the new dates work for Aspen Golann and Megan Fitzpatrick to join us in Berea.  The four autumn classes are open for registration:

  • Introduction to Carving: Traditional Techniques and Contemporary Applications.  October 8-10 with Aspen Golann
  • Dutch Tool Chest.  October 15-17 with Megan Fitzpatrick
  • Greenwood Stool. October 18-20 with Andy Glenn
  • Wooden Carrier. October 23 and 24 with Andy Glenn

As always, please send any questions or thoughts my way:  glenna@berea.edu

warmly, andy glenn

 

 

Facility

By About

Our Facility

The Woodworking School at Pine Croft is housed in a timber frame structure designed/built by local woodworker Don Weber along with Kelly Mehler and located within the College’s 9000-acre forest.

This impressive two-story shop is nestled into the foothills of the Berea College forest. With large windows both up and down stairs that fill the rooms with natural light and views of the forest, it is the perfect spot to get away and do some woodworking. There is even a creek just behind the shop that brings some forest creatures to our doorstep.

Upstairs we have a benchroom fitted with 10 benches for students and instructors to work at. This is also where the majority of our hand tools are stored and used. Upstairs we also have a designated sharpening station as well as a small office/library room. When the weather is nice we set up tables outside to eat lunch but when its uncomfortably hot or raining we’ll eat lunches upstairs at the benches.

The downstairs machine room offers a full selection with offerings from Felder and Saw Stop and provides all the machining capability needed for our courses or the running of a small professional shop.

Although we have a few midi lathes at Pine Croft, our turning classes will take place at Berea College’s main campus within the Student Craft Woodcraft building.  Woodcraft’s recently constructed hand tool room contains 7 lathes and the required tools for all our projects.

Home

By About
 

Intro to Bowl Turning

March 3-8, 2025 with Matt Monaco

 

Artful Joinery - A Shaker Inspired Side Table

March 24 - 29, 2025 with Rob Spiece

 

Woodworking FUNdamentals

April 12-13, 2025 with Katie Bister

 

The Handled Broom - Sculpture and Tool

April 18-20, 2025 with Amanda Lee Lazorchack

 

Foundations of Furniture Making

April 21-26 and July 21-26, 2025 with Rob Spiece

 

Build a Pair of People Collection Stools

May 9-11, 2025 with Rob Spiece and Katie Bister

 

Tambour Doors and Tiny Drawers

May 19-24, 2025 with Larissa Huff

 

Hickory Bark Harvest

May 31, 2025 with Andy Glenn

 

Greenwood Lounge Chair

June 2-7, 2025 with Andy Glenn

 

Next Steps: Sculptural Containers

June 16-20, 2025 with Beth Ireland

 

TURNT!

June 23-27, 2025 with Beth Ireland

 

People Collection Rocker

July 7-12, 2025 with Rob Spiece and Katie Bister

 

The Woodworking School at Pine Croft

Strengthening Berea College's Commitment to Craft

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