by Brian Holcombe

September 19th, 2020
11am - 1pm PST / 2 - 4pm EST

$75 non-members
$60 members (use discount code from newsletter)

Limited to 15 persons

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

Cutting Mortise and Tenon with Handtools

Learn to layout and cut mortise and tenon joint by hand using a saw and chisels. The basic mortise and tenon joint is the foundational joint of all woodworking, it can be made by hand using simple tools.

Please have a Japanese saw for crosscut and rip cut, a bench or mortise chisel 1/2" in width, a kebiki marking gauge, measuring tool, knife and a square.

By Andrew Hunter

October 3rd, 2020
11am - 1pm PST / 2 - 4pm EST

$75 non-members
$60 members (use discount code from newsletter)

Limited to 15 persons

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

Good woodworking starts with sharp tools. In this Zoom class Andrew will discuss and demonstrate what it takes to get sharp. 

Starting with the basics, he will lay out the fundamentals of blade sharpening.  Naturally, the focus of the class will be on sharpening Japanese tools with water stones, but western tools and methods will also be touched on.

With so many sharpening stones on the market it can be overwhelming deciding which stones to use.  Andrew will discuss what to look for when buying new stones and cover the unique qualities of each type.  No, he won't tell you which stone you should buy, but he will give you all the information you need to make an educated decision yourself.

He will not only share his personal sharpening routine, he will also discuss a variety of options ranging in experience levels -  from sharpening guides to natural Japanese stones Andrew will cover all the bases. 

With a limit of only 15 students there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.  Whether you are just starting out or you are a seasoned pro there is always opportunity for improvement, so please join in!

By Brian Holcombe

October 24, 2020
11-1pm PST / 2-4 EST

$75 non-members
$60 members (use discount code from newsletter)

Limited to 15 persons

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

This class will provide students with a basic understanding of how to prepare boards by hand using hand planes. This foundational skill set will feature the use of winding sticks, comparative measuring tools and scribes to joint, thickness and edge boards by hand.

Please have prepared a long and short hand plane, marking gauge, winding sticks and a straight edge. In addition you will need a setup for planing (planing beam or bench) which is stable and sturdy. Please also make certain that your planes are sharp and ready for work and please choose a board which is at least 6-7" wide, 24" long and of material that is easy to work with featuring mild grain.

By Dale Brotherton

October 17th
11-1pm PST / 2-4 EST

$75 non-members
$60 members (use discount code from newsletter)

Limited to 15 persons

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

Basic Joinery Techniques

In this class Dale will lead students through layout and cutting of Japanese post and beam construction joints starting with basic square-pinned Mortise and Tenon. Both entirely hand cutting and pre-drilling methods will be covered. Students are welcome to follow along with their own tools and wood stock:

• Two short pieces of minimum 2.5" up to 6" square material are recommended.
• At least one chisel 1/2" size for small stock, 3/4" for 3 1/2" stock, or 1" size for 4 1/2" and larger stock. Also, other sizes will be useful, if available.
• A 240mm to 300mm rip or ryoba saw and a 210mm to 240mm dozuki, crosscut or ryoba saw.

The knowledge gained from this course will be readily adaptable to any scale of project. Please join us for two hours of working with wood as it's done in Japan.

November 14, 2020 11-1pm PST / 2-4 EST

$75 non-members
$60 members (use discount code from newsletter)

Limited to 15 persons

Hands on class

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

Tearout is a fact of life when using hand planes. In this class, you will learn how to manage and eliminate tearout when using hand planes.

Topics covered include:

• how to select and read a board to minimize tearout
• how to set up and use a chipbreaker and why that works
• techniques to use when planing a board.

Although this class is centered around Japanese planes, using these techniques with western planes will be discussed as well.

To enjoy the class, you will need your workbench, a board to practice on, and a plane (Japanese or western) with a blade that is well-sharpened.

By Brian Holcombe

December 5 & 12
11-1pm PST / 2-4 EST

$150 non-members
$120 members (use discount code from newsletter)

Limited to 15 persons

2-day hands-on class

Day 1: Focuses on preparing the blade and chip breaker utilizing the technique of ura-dashi. Ura-dashi, also known as tapping out, allows us to form the back of the plane and chip breaker flat. This is followed by detailed step by step of sharpening by hand, without fixtures, using water stones.

Day 2: Covers the process of bedding the blade followed by installing the chip breaker and tuning the dai sole for finish planing.

Have your own plane and tools ready--you can ask questions during the class.