Classes

By Andrew Hunter

October 24th, 2021
11am - 1pm PST / 2 - 4pm EST

$50 non-members
$40 members (use Coupon Code from newsletter)

Class recordings will be available to all participants for 2 weeks.
Links to zoom class will be emailed the day before class is scheduled.

Introduction to Japanese Woodworking

Traditional Japanese woodworking has much to offer the West, particularly those of us with an interest in working wood with hand tools. Japan’s blacksmiths are renowned for the quality of their blades, and the carpenters are equally respected for the skill with which they use them to create strong and beautiful joinery. In this live Zoom presentation, Andrew Hunter will introduce the audience to the magical world of Japanese woodworking.

Whether you are totally new to Japanese tools and want to learn more about what makes them unique, or you have taken classes with Andrew before and enjoy listening to him go on about the things he loves about them, this class is for you.

Andrew will not only include instructions on how to get started using Japanese tools like saws, chisels and planes, he will also get into the philosophy behind them and will share what it is about Japanese tools that got him hooked in the first place. He will make an effort to explain how to apply many of the ideas and techniques into a western shop.

Please join us for this special opportunity to get expert guidance at a reduced price, and add another dimension to your woodworking!

By Brian Holcombe

Saturday, November 6th, 2021
11am - 1pm PST / 2 - 4pm EST

$50 non-members
$40 members (use Coupon Code from newsletter)

Class recordings will be available to all participants for 2 weeks.
Links to zoom class will be emailed the day before class is scheduled.

Introduction to Japanese Chisel Setup

In this class, you will learn about the design and strengths of the Japanese chisel, along with in-depth knowledge of how to set them up to perform at their best.

Japanese chisels, due to their laminated construction, can be honed incredibly keenly and yet remain easy to sharpen. And handles, often reinforced with metal hoops, can be struck with steel hammers and still last decades with the proper setup. This class will cover preparation of the blade, handle and hoop.

For those who cannot make the live class, or who want to follow along with their own tools later, access to the video will be available for download for two weeks after the live lesson.

Tools recommended for class:

• Half round file or a flat file and a round file
• Pencil
• Spare chisel
• Hammer and anvil or heavy block of wood
• Hoop installation device (not required)
• A way to remove the hoop, either a socket or round piece of wood
• Fine sharpening stone
• Diamond plate or a way to flatten the stone

By David Wood

Sunday, November 7th, 2021
11am - 1pm PST / 2 - 4pm EST

$75 non-members
$60 members (use Coupon Code from newsletter)

Class recordings will be available to all participants for 2 weeks.
Links to zoom class will be emailed the day before class is scheduled.

Japanese Plane Setup and Tuning

In this class, David will walk you through the steps for bringing a new Japanese hand plane into full working order.

To start he will give recommendations to beginners for purchasing their first plane, as well as suggestions for refurbishing an older one. David will then take students through each step in tuning up a block plane. He will demonstrate how to prepare the blade, including tapping out and flattening the blade back. He will also show the fitting of the blade to its pre-cut block and offer tips for getting a snug fit. Chip breakers will be discussed briefly with descriptions on how to tune and fit one to your plane. David will demonstrate a number of techniques for profiling the sole of the plane and will wrap up by covering the body mechanics of cutting on the pull stroke.

There is a lot to cover in 2 hours, so David is not expecting students to follow along with their own plane; rather he is hoping for plenty of questions and a thoughtful discussion.

By Wilbur Pan

Saturday, November 13th, 2021
11am - 1pm PST / 2 - 4pm EST

$75 non-members
$60 members (use Coupon Code from newsletter)

Class recordings will be available to all participants for 2 weeks.
Links to zoom class will be emailed the day before class is scheduled.

Introduction to Japanese Saws

Interested in using a Japanese saw, but don’t know where to start? This class is for you. In this class, you’ll learn why Japanese saws are a great option for hand saws, what makes them work so well, the types of Japanese saws, and practical ways to use them in your workshop.

This class is intended for any woodworker interested in Japanese saws. You don’t have to use Japanese tools, and you don’t have to be a hand tool woodworker to benefit from this class. There will be many demonstrations, and plenty of opportunities for questions and answers.

If you have a Japanese saw to bring to class, it may be useful to follow along with.

By Jeff Bearce

Sunday, November 14th, 2021
11am - 1pm PST / 2 - 4pm EST

$75 non-members
$60 members (use Coupon Code from newsletter)

Class recordings will be available to all participants for 2 weeks.
Links to zoom class will be emailed the day before class is scheduled.

Introduction to Sharpening Japanese Tools

Join Jeff Bearce for a class on the basics of sharpening Japanese chisels and planes by hand. You’ll learn how to use water stones to maintain the bevel and back of your blades to form a razor sharp cutting edge. Beginning with techniques for flattening sharpening stones, we’ll go on to cover topics like optimal bevel angles, sharpening stone grits, methods for holding blades while sharpening, flattening the back of blades while maintaining the hollow, and removing burrs.

By Andrew Hunter

Saturday, November 20th, 2021
11am - 1pm PST / 2 - 4pm EST

$75 non-members
$60 members (use Coupon Code from newsletter)

Class recordings will be available to all participants for 2 weeks.
Links to zoom class will be emailed the day before class is scheduled.

Impractical Sharpening

This online class is the sequel to David Wood's class on practical sharpening. As the title implies, Andrew's presentation is intended to take the conversation of sharpening one step further. What Andrew likes to call "Sunday afternoon sharpening", where there is a boss telling you that you are spending too much time fiddling with your blade. It is a time to practice new techniques, and to push yourself and your tool to do its best.

Andrew will start with the basics, covering the foundation of sharpening and what it means to be truly sharp. From there he will jump into more complex ideas and help the student see and understand what is happening on a microscopic level at the cutting edge. He will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a variety of sharpening stones and how to get the most out of what you have. And how to create different kinds of edges that perform in various types of situations and materials. Most importantly, you will leave this class inspired to advance yourself and your craft. So please join Andrew and bring on your questions!

By Josh Villegas

Sunday, November 21st, 2021
11am - 1pm PST / 2 - 4pm EST

$75 non-members
$60 members (use Coupon Code from newsletter)

Class recordings will be available to all participants for 2 weeks.
Links to zoom class will be emailed the day before class is scheduled.

Dai Cutting

In this class Josh will demonstrate how to cut a dai, the wooden block of a kanna. Along with a full demo, Josh will describe all the considerations one should make when going down the road of cutting your own dai. All students should walk away with the necessary knowledge and practical techniques to cut a dai, including specialty dai, like nakin-ganna, shi-ho-zori, along with many others.