This is a series of hands on furniture making classes that should be taken in succession as each project builds on skills learned in the previous classes. This series is not a required prerequisite for other classes contained in this schedule.

Woodworking I

Walnut Jewelry Box

A hands-on course that covers the basic concepts of woodworking and furniture making. This eight session or four day class is a combination of demonstrations and hands-on practice. General shop safety (with particular concentration on using the tablesaw) is emphasized. Students will utilize the skills, techniques and tools (both power and hand-tools) being taught in the class in the making of a walnut jewelry box. This project could also be used to store a variety of other personal items. Skills learned will provide a strong foundation for subsequent furniture-making classes. Class size is limited to 12 students. Tuition: $345.00 plus materials.

Section 052208A: Tuesday & Thursday evenings, May 22 - June 24, 6:00pm – 9:30pm  

(This class is a required prerequisite for other classes in the "Fundamentals of Furniture-making" series and has always proven worthwhile to beginner and advanced students alike.)

 general tool list  (will open in a new window)  

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Woodworking II

Shaker Hall Table

An eight-session (or four day) class that is a continuation of the Woodworking I class. This class utilizes a combination of hand tools and power tools in the construction of a valuable piece of furniture. Techniques learned in the previous class are put to extensive use as more advanced techniques and skills are introduced. Mortise and tenon joints, grain matching, and using handplanes are a few of the new skills students will learn while making a cherry hall table as their project. Class size is limited, Woodworking I is a prerequisite. Tuition: $345.00 plus materials ($176.00).

Section 072608A: Saturday & Sunday, July 26, 27, August 2 & 3, 9:30am - 5:00pm

 general tool list 64.98 Kb   (will open in a new window)    

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Woodworking III

	Woodworking III level classes feature a variety of more complex projects. Students are expected to complete some basic work at home such as scraping, sanding and dry-fitting, thus leaving more actual class time for the more complex operations. Shop time for this handwork only can be arranged if you have no facility to work at home.

Bow Front Writing Desk with Bob Van Dyke & Tim Spratlin

This intermediate level class will encourage students to go beyond the "straight and square". Techniques used for creating curves, designing angled joinery and making handcut dovetailed drawers will be explored in this innovative class. The desk will incorporate a curved-front drawer, tapered legs, glue laminated curved aprons and ebony cockbeading around the drawer. Woodworking 1 & II are required prerequisites. The unique format of this class (one weekend per month for three months) allows you plenty of time for “homework” while giving you a full six days of actual class time instruction. Don’t wait too long to sign up for this class as space is limited.Some work at home will be required. Tuition: $695.00.00 plus materials

Section 040508A: Saturday & Sunday, April 5, 6, May 3, 4, June 7 & 8, 9:30am – 5:00pm  

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Fundamentals of Cabinet Making

Introduction to Cabinet Making with Tim Spratlin

This class concentrates on the techniques used in cabinet making rather than those used in furniture making. A medium sized painted plywood bookshelf is the project for this six night class and features techniques such as cutting plywood panels to size, using solid wood edging, making and applying a molding, making a mitered base, using a biscuit joiner and working with a router. The design of the bookcase features a molded plinth base, adjustable shelves, decorative moldings and a scalloped base. This class is designed for beginner and intermediate woodworkers who are interested in learning techniques they can use in numerous home improvement projects. The bookcase utilizes common power tools that most homeowners would have or might be considering purchasing. This class will provide you with the foundation skills needed for more advanced projects such as kitchen cabinets, storage cabinets, entertainment centers, counter tops and more. Advanced skills such as dovetailed drawers and raised panel doors will be featured in future classes in this series. Sign up today. Space is limited. Tuition: $245.00 plus materials

  Section 062108A: Saturday & Sunday, June 21 & 22, 9:30am – 5:00pm

Note: This class was originally scheduled for May 17 & 18 

 General Tool list (will open in a new window)

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Woodturning

Woodturning with Al Czellecz

This six evening class is designed for the beginning (or frustrated) woodturner and features extensive hands-on practice each night. Al Czellecz has been turning and teaching for a number of years. His work is featured in a number of galleries in the New England area and he is the past president of the Central CT Woodturners. Students will learn basic spindle turning techniques used in furniture work along with bowl turning, sharpening and general information about lathes, tools, chucks and various jigs used in woodturning. Tuition: $295.00 plus materials ($49.00)

Section 043008B: Wednesday evenings , April 30 – June 4, 6:00pm – 9:30pm 

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Basic Woodturning with Al Czellecz

Many people have asked for a beginning turning class to be offered in a weekend format. This class will cover much of the same material as the six night class but because of time constraints we will not be able to cover as much material in as much depth. The class will cover spindle turning, bowl turning and basic lathe use, safety and sharpening. Students will have the opportunity to make a number of spindle and faceplate projects during the weekend including a mallet, a bowl and a small plate or platter. This is a great introduction to the fascinating craft of woodturning. Tuition: $245.00 (plus materials $32.00)

Section 061408B: Saturday & Sunday, June 14 & 15, 9:30am – 5:00pm 

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Making Turned Boxes and Lidded Containers with John Lorch

Turned wooden boxes are attractive, practical and make great gifts. They combine the skills from spindle, bowl and hollow turning. You can complete a turned box quickly and easily from inexpensive lumber and they are great projects that can really show off your creativity and imagination. The class will cover wood selection, grain orientation and design considerations. Students will learn secure wood mounting, tool use and the importance of project planning and design. John will demonstrate various box styles and students will complete two or more boxes. Finishing techniques, decporative possibilities and variations on some basic designs will be an important part of this fun and unique class. John is an accomplished woodturner and teacher whose work is exhibited in galleries and gift shops throughout New England. Don’t miss this exciting class, as you will be sure to have a great time. Tuition: $245.00 (plus materials)

Section 060708B: Saturday & Sunday, June 7 & 8, 9:30am – 5:00pm

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Professional Furniture Finishing Techniques

Gold Leaf Gilding with Peter Gedrys

In this unique class Peter Gedrys will introduce students to the ancient art of gold leaf gilding. This two day class will feature lecture, demonstration and hands-on practice. Students will have the unique opportunity to prepare and gild both flat and molded surfaces using a variety of gilding materials including Dutch metal (fake gold), aluminum leaf, bronze powders and real gold leaf. Peter will discuss the use of gold leaf in history along with some of the practical differences between water gilding, oil gilding and flash gilding. Students will also learn the techniques for developing a lustrous aged patina. The materials fee includes some materials for students to practice at home with. Class size is limited to 12 students. Fee: $245.00 (plus materials)

coming fall 2008

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Speciality & Weekend Classes

Router Madness

The router is one of the most versatile power tools in the shop but many people utilize only a fraction of its actual capabilities. With some understanding of how things work and a little imagination the router can be used for accurate mortises, tenons, dadoes sliding dovetails, raised panel doors and more! We will demonstrate all these techniques in this unique two-night class. Time permitting; students will have the opportunity to practice some of the cuts themselves. Tuition: $120.00 (materials are included)

Section 080908B: Saturday, August 9, 10am - 4:30pm 

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Sharpening Hand-tools Techniques with Bob Van Dyke

Are you tired of trying to use dull chisels and handplanes? Most people don’t use these tools effectively because they don’t know how to sharpen them or don’t even realize just how sharp they need to be! Many beginning woodworkers are sucked into the advertising for the latest and greatest jig to use when in fact, sharpening any chisel or plane iron is a simple and quick process that does not require a whole bunch of expensive and time consuming equiptment. This class will focus on basic sharpening techniques by hand and using a grinder to produce a razor edge in less than five minutes. We will discuss the pros and cons of the many sharpening systems and honing guides. As an added bonus, sharpening a card scraper will also be demonstated. Bring along a chisel or plane iron- sometimes there is time for you to try it out on one of your own tools. Tuition: $65.00  (Materials are included).

Section 051008A: Saturday,     May 10, 10:00am - 4:30pm

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 Basic Woodworking with Bob Van Dyke

If you have been thinking about trying out woodworking but are not quite ready to make the commitment to a full-blown ‘series” class then this may be the answer for you. This new class introduces the beginning woodworker to some of the basics of using power tools and handtools while making an Arts & Crafts style mirror frame to take home. Students will use the tablesaw and router table to make the basic frame before gluing it up and finishing it off with decorative pegs in each corner. A good understanding of how each power tool works is basic to using it safely therefore each tool will be completely reviewed and demonstrated and safety will be stressed. Woodworking is not just aboput machines and relies heavily on handtools so proper use of chisels, handplanes and card scrapers to fit the corner joints and to finish off the frame are an important part of this new and exciting class. Now is the time to try out woodworking. Who knows- you may just get hooked!

Tuition:$120.00 plus materials ($30.00)

    Section: 062108A: Saturday, June 21,    9:30am – 4:30pm

The Basics of Using Handplanes with Bob Van Dyke

Handplanes can be one of the most useful and rewarding tools in the workshop – or they can be one of the most frustrating! Learn how to effectively use handplanes in your work with Ct. Valley School of Woodworking director, Bob Van Dyke. Which handplane is right for a particular job? What should you look for when buying a new or a flea market plane? How are they “tuned up”? And most importantly- how are they sharpened? These are just a few of the questions that will be answered in this exciting daylong class. We will also go thru many of the basic (and not so basic) types of handplanes- starting with the Stanley bench-planes and going on to compass planes, shoulder planes and combination planes like the Stanley #45 & #55. The remainder of the day will be spent on techniques such as smoothing a surface, beveling a table edge, planing a curved surface, fitting mortise and tenons and planing end grain. Don’t miss this unique and informative class. Space is limited. Tuition: $120.00 (Materials are included).

Section 071908B: Saturday, July 19, 10am – 4:30pm 

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Build an Acoustic Guitar with Robert Ford

Many of those who have played or even admired the beauty of the guitar have shown interest in making their own heirloom instrument that can be played today and passed on to future generations. In this class beginner and intermediate woodworkers will build an exceptional steel string acoustic guitar using a unique kit as a foundation. You will learn the terminology and the techniques that are unique to the luthier’s art. The process is broken down into small steps, beginning with the construction of the neck including truss rod installation, fingerboard & fretting, abalone inlay to the construction of the body including brace trimming/fitting, top installation, bridge gluing/alignment, purfling and final fit up of the neck to body joint using a bolt-on system. Each guitar will be completed leaving the final top cote finish up to the student. Look for our other classes designed for finishing techniques. You can see a finished example of the guitar in the school. The guitar can be made in sapele or sycamore- please indicate your choice when signing up. Tuition: $345.00 plus materials $260.00

Section 060208B: Monday evenings, June 2 - July 21, 6:00pm - 9:30pm

Build a Porringer Top Queen Anne Tea Table with Dan Faia

The porringer top Tea Table is just one of the many variations on the Queen Anne style tea table that was prevalent in 18th century New England society. This relatively simple table offers the student a myriad of possibilities to learn and advance their furniture making skills. Dan Faia is well known for his work on period furniture along with his writing for Fine Woodworking magazine and his furniture making classes around the country. This class will explore a number of woodworking techniques that include basic lumber selection, milling and mortice and tenon joinery along with careful examination of the basic table design which is highlighted by the graceful and elegant cabriole legs and the scalloped edges of the aprons and the top. Making the cabriole legs will involve the making of patterns, using the bandsaw and handtools to shape the legs and a little bit of basic spindle turning on the lathe to shape the pad foot. The beauty of this table is that it lends itself to a number of design variations. If you should prefer an oval or rectangular shaped top that would be appropriate for the table design and can be accomodated in the class. While most of the work on the table will be done during class, some homework (handwork only) will be expected to be completed between class sessions. Don’t miss this great opportunity to make an heirloom furniture piece while learning some great new skills. Tuition: $495.00 plus materials

Section 062808A: Saturday & Sunday, June 28, 29 and July 19 & 20, 9:30am – 5:00pm

Cutting Dovetails with Mario Rodriguez

Nationally known author and furniture maker, Mario Rodriguez will teach students the finer points of making dovetails in this weekend hands-on class. Dovetail joints are considered the hallmark of fine craftsmanship and with a little practice and confidence they are not that hard to make. Mario will concentrate the beginning of the class on the proper filing and tune-up of a dovetail saw (included with material charge) and will then go on to teach through and half blind dovetails. Students will gain the confidence to incorporate this time honored, but often-intimidating joint, into their own furniture projects. Tuition: $245.00  plus materials ($35.00)

Section 042608A:    Saturday & Sunday,     April 26 & 27,     9:30 – 5:00pm

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Basic Blacksmithing with Walter Scadden

Walter Scadden is a local blacksmith who has taught hands-on classes all over the country and was the lead blacksmith for the building of the Amistad. He also worked for three years at Mystic Seaport and we are fortunate to have him teaching here. Walter will teach students the basic principles of blacksmithing, including materials needed and what to look for in tools and forges. This is a hands-on project-oriented class and participants will start off making some simple hooks and maybe a letter opener and will then move on to making their own set of blacksmithing tongs. Other possible projects include candle-holders, fireplace pokers, coat hooks or maybe even a small pot & pan rack. Whatever you make, it will surely be fun and informative. Don't miss this great opportunity to learn some truly unique and useful skills. Tuition $245.00 (plus materials $30.00)

Section 071208A: Saturday & Sunday, July 12 & 13, 9:30am - 5:00pm     

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Summer Week-long Classes

Take some time for yourself this summer!

These classes are intensive all-day classes.

Lunch break is approximately one hour. A refrigerator is available as well as local restaurants and convenience stores. Lodging assistance is available should you need it.

Fundamentals of Furniture-Making with Steve Kain and Bob Van Dyke

This popular five-day intensive hands-on class is an opportunity to concentrate on the basics of woodworking and furniture making. Each student will make a Shaker style cherry hall table, which is a perfect vehicle to practice the machine and hand-tool techniques that we teach in the class. Subjects covered include basic shop safety, machine use (with particular emphasis on the tablesaw, jointer and planer), using handplanes, card scrapers and chisels effectively to surface and hand-fit the mortice and tenon joints, handtool sharpening, making tapered legs and grain matching and gluing up a top. This class takes the place of Woodworking I & Woodworking II and provides a strong foundation for more advanced furniture projects. Tuition: $645.00 plus materials

Section 062308A: Monday - Friday, June 23 – June 27, 9:00am - 4:30pm

 general tool list  (will open in a new window)

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Build a Pennsylvania Spice Box with Steve Latta

Spice boxes, or chests, were popular among the Quakers of the Delaware Valley during the late seventeenth and throughout the eighteenth centuries, remaining fashionable in Pennsylvania long after falling out of style elsewhere. The boxes, whose interiors were fitted with banks of small drawers, were often displayed in the public rooms of homes, functioning as both a repository for small valuables, such as spices and silver items, and as a symbol of the family's prosperity. The cases were most often made of walnut, with inlays consisting of combinations of maple, boxwood, holly, cherry, walnut burl, locust, and red cedar set into the surface for contrast.

We are please to welcome back nationally known furniture maker, author and instructor, Steve Latta, whose Pennsylvania Spice Box article was recently published in Fine Woodworking magazine (issue # 196). In this class, we will cover all of the necessary steps to complete a box similar to the one pictured here. It may be a small in size, a mere 21 inches in height, but it has all the complexity of a full chest-of-drawers complete with a dovetailed case and drawers, partitions, molding and bracket feet.

Plan on spending a night or two during the week to explore the techniques Steve uses to accomplish the intricate inlay work that is so characteristic of these great American treasures. Because of the complexity of this project and the level of ornamentation that you may want to add to the project you should not expect to bring home a fully completed and assembled spice box. Be assured you will learn more than enough to finish the project on your own and be able to take on other more challenging projects in the future! Sign up today as space is limited. Tuition: $645.00 plus materials

Section 060908A: Monday – Friday, June 9 - 13, 9:00am - 4:30pm

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Make a Contemporary and Unique Sofa Table with Michael A. Doerr

The unique design of this table is derived from Michael’s “New Number One” chair which many of you have seen (or better yet) made in classes over the past few years. The table legs are a spin off of the back legs of that chair and create a very sculptural and graceful looking piece of furniture that could be used as a sofa table, a hall table or as a distinct looking side table in a dining room or living room. The table lends itself to a variety of design modifications (within reason and subject to Michael’s approval) depending on your own aesthetic sense or your own plan for where the table will end up in your house. The width or length of the table can be varied to suit and the top offers many possibilities in the shape and choice of materials. Whether the top has straight edges, a sculpted edge or even a “live edge”? The choice is yours. The project can be made in your choice of tiger maple or curly cherry (or even a combination) - please let us know what you prefer when you are signing up. If you have taken a class with Mike in the past then you owe it to yourself to build this companion piece to the chair you have already made. Don’t pass up this opportunity to make a truly unique heirloom piece of furniture with one of America’s leading craftsmen. Tuition $645.00 plus materials

Section 070708A: Monday – Friday, July 7 – 11, 9:00am - 4:30pm

Mastering Hand-tools with Mario Rodriguez

Mastery of hand tools is essential if you want your woodworking skills to progress. Nothing is more satisfying than the feel of a freshly handplaned tabletop and the solid feel of a carefully handfitted mortise and tenon joint or the perfect fit of a cabinet hinge into its mortise can only be achieved with the effective use of sharp handtools. This unique hands-on class with handtool expert, Mario Rodriguez, will teach you the skills you need to begin using handplanes, chisels, hand-saws and scrapers (to name a few) as a regular part of your woodworking repertoire. Mario will guide participants through the tasks of “tuning up” the tools you will be using in class. This may include minor modification of a new tool or extensive repair of a “flea market special” but in all cases will it involve extensive and careful sharpening. Once tools are tuned up and working to their fullest potential Mario will begin teaching you the techniques that are essential to effective handtool use. Cutting dovetails, mortice and tenons, flattening wide surfaces, shaping a table edge, and cutting and shaping curved parts are just a few of the many skills you will be developing in this unique class. Students who wish to be working on a specific project will have their choice of a small “tool tote” or silverware caddy. Working on a series of practice exercises is also an option should you prefer that – but whatever you decide you owe it to your self to be a part of this great class. Tuition: $645.00 (plus materials)

Section 072108A: Monday – Friday, July 21 – 25, 9:00am - 4:30pm  

Build a Cherry Pencil Post Bed with Steve Kain

Many of you have asked for a bed project to be put on the schedule so here it is! This bed is based on the traditional, essentially Shaker style, pencil post bed and is a great project that will add to your woodworking skills and will become a family heirloom. The project features a number of woodworking challenges that include milling and shaping the tapered posts from 3 inch thick cherry, making the 14” wide curved headboard (from one or two boards), designing and fitting the mortice and tenon joints for the headboard and the footboard along with shaping and fitting the delicate teester rails which are at the top of the posts. Choosing and fitting traditional bed hardware, hand-fitting the joints and hand shaping the chamfered bed posts are only a few of the highlights in this great class with local furniture maker Steve Kain. The bed can be made as a full size or as a queen size. Sign up soon- class size is limited to eight students. Tuition: $645.00 plus materials

Section 072808A: Monday – Friday, July 28 – August 1, 9:00am - 4:30pm

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Build a Serpentine Front Marlborough Table (the “other” Chippendale style) - with Will Neptune

Most people think “ball & claw leg” when they think of Chippendale style furniture - but the Marlborough leg with its straight lines and more architectural effect is the complement to the naturalistic cabriole with its ball and claw foot and is just as important to the style. In this week-long hands-on class each student will build this unique table which will surely compliment any hallway or living room in your house. The basic construction of the table includes forming the serpentine curve on the front apron, bricklaying and using veneers along with extensive carving and ornamentation which offers the student craftsman countless challenges and opportunities. Will’s unique, methodical and imaginative approach to problem solving and furniture instruction insure that all participants will have a great experience (and they usually learn more than they had bargained for!) We will use shop made "scratch stocks" and molding planes to profile the leg surfaces, and then learn the carved embellishments that are used with this style table. Highlights of the carving in this project include the pierced C-scroll bracket along with several carved moldings including rope and gadrooning. If you have been intrigued by carving and want to begin learning how to incorporate it into an actual piece then this is a great beginning for you. Development of patterns, layout, carving tool selection and sharpening, along with Will’s years of experience and infectious enthusiasm will make this a memorable class you should not miss. Tuition: $695.00 (plus materials.)

Section 080408A: Monday – Saturday, August 4 - 9, 9:00am - 4:30pm

 tool list marlborough table 2008   (will open in a new window)

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