WOODWORKING CLASSES FOR EVERY SKILL LEVEL
No matter where you fall on the skills spectrum, you’ll find Weekend with WOOD classes well suited to take your woodworking to the next level. From basic joinery and finishing fundamentals, to dovetails and cabinetmaking, to fine furniture techniques such as wood bending, veneering, and inlay, Weekend With WOOD classes give you the know-how and confidence to challenge yourself with a new technique, or simply solidify your skills. Even seasoned woodworkers come away with tips and tricks to get the job done smarter, safer, and more accurately.
Achieving Dovetail Success
VIC TESOLIN
The hallmark woodworking joint has to be the dovetail. However, many woodworkers are intimidated by the thought of cutting them, especially by hand. Vic will share all the tips and tricks he has learned over the years to make dovetails a breeze. You’ll learn a combination of some shop-made jigs and a simple set of training wheels that will get you started successfully.
Sponsored by Lee Valley
In this class, Jeff demonstrates the easy methods for adding inlay, an eye-catching element, to any woodworking project, such as a picture frame, jewelry box, or piece of furniture. You’ll learn how to cut the grooves for straight and curved stringing, as well as how to inlay simple shapes. And double-bevel inlay for more complex shapes.
Want to cut perfect circles? Resaw with ease? The bandsaw is the best tool for the job. You’ll learn about a handful of simple shop-made jigs that make these operations a breeze. In this class, Jim will cover single-point resawing and drift compensation, along with basic bandsaw setup.
Making keepsake and jewelry boxes is a great way to learn new skills while also creating beautiful, giftable projects. In this class you’ll learn how to craft three decorative, functional, strong joints on the tablesaw and router table.
Beyond the Basics
of CNC
RANDY JOHNSON
If you’re already familiar with how to perform the basic routing tasks made easier by CNC, this session will take you deeper into the design and machining capabilities of CNC routing using V-Carve Desktop, including how to design and machine intricate inlays, and how to machine two-sided 3D models on a 3-axis machine.
Note: Good working knowledge of CNC software and equipment is a prerequisite for this class. You’ll download free software on your own computer before you come to Weekend With WOOD, which you should install on a laptop computer, if you have one, and bring it with you to the class. If you don’t have a laptop, we may be able to provide a computer for use during the class. You will be contacted, by email, prior to the start of WWW 2019 with instructions for downloading the software.
Sponsored by Next Wave Automation
Breadboard ends help to stabilize flat surfaces, such as tabletops. In this session, Glen will demonstrate the best techniques for creating and installing breadboard ends, and tell you which methods to avoid. You’ll learn the tips and tricks to keep your breadboard ends tight and your tops flat, and discover breadboard ends designed to deceive.
What’s more eye-catching than dovetails? Why, double (or inlaid) dovetails, of course. In this session Bob will discuss when this attractive joint makes sense for your projects, and walk you through how to create them using a router and router table.
Building Cabinet Doors
kevin boyle
In this session, you’ll learn how to build doors with different joinery methods. Kevin will also explain the different types of doors, from inset to overlay, and how to fit them properly into your cabinet or furniture projects.
Drawers should be so simple—they’re just boxes!—but some woodworkers are intimidated by the very thought of making them. In this session, Kevin demonstrates how to design and build drawers including sizing, slide selection, joinery options, and final fitting into the case.
How do you cut perfect dadoes and rabbets for cabinet construction? What’s the easiest way to square a cabinet as you assemble it? How do you make a perfectly sized face frame for your cabinets? What’s the order of operations that leads to great cabinets? You’ll find out in this class, plus see a great shop-made jig that makes adjustable shelf holes a breeze. Note: This is a two-part class, presented in two consecutive sessions. If you sign up for part 1, you must also take part 2.
Cabriole Legs for Furniture
glen huey
Many woodworkers shy away from making cabriole legs; they appear complicated and difficult. Because mass-manufactured cabrioles lack period design, you need to make your own. During class you’ll discover the simplistic effort required to coax the perfect cabriole leg from a block of wood, including proper layout and orientation, required tools (it’s a smaller list than you think) and how to sequence your work for the best results.
Whether you’re a beginner or veteran turner, nothing compares to the fun of crafting a bowl on the lathe. Brian will demonstrate step-by-step how to turn a bowl with crisp details and how to eliminate torn grain. Brian will also share sanding techniques to prepare for a great finish.
Life isn't always straight grain and rainbows. Knots, splits, and unusual grain patterns may be considered “defects” to some people, but to a woodworker, they’re often desired design features. In this class you’ll learn methods to include defects in your work, or how to avoid them. Matt will demonstrate how to stabilize splits using bowtie inlays, fill others with epoxy, and more.
Sponsored by Triton Tools
Dovetails by Hand and Machine
john olson
Dovetail joints can be one of the most intimidating woodworking techniques to attempt. In this class, John combines hand- and power-tool techniques to show you the best methods for making through, half-blind, and mitered dovetails to add this signature joint to your next box or drawer build.
Finding Cheaper Lumber
craig ruegsegger
Save big money by finding and working with rough-cut lumber from hardwood dealers and sawmills. Learn the terms and language, and the proper sequence and techniques to mill rough-cut lumber flat, square, and straight for use in your projects.
5 Steps to Better Glue Joints
bob behnke
Wood glues can affect the wood as it is being assembled and being prepared in advance will eliminate costly joint failures and frustrating disassembly. In this class Bob demonstrates proper techniques for successful wood gluing, from dry assembly to waiting for the glue to dry. You’ll learn what to watch out for when the glue hits the wood, why failures occur, and why there are so many different wood glues. Bring your gluing questions, as this is a discussion not just a presentation.
Sponsored by Titebond
CNC machining is undeniably in the future of hobby woodworkers. If you’re ready to start exploring the concepts of CNC, you’ll learn how this exciting new technology can help in a home woodshop, and each attendee will design and machine their own project. Note: To get the most out of this class, you’ll download free trial software to experiment with on your own computer a few weeks before you come to Weekend With WOOD. It is recommended that you install it on a laptop computer, if you have one, and bring it with you to the class. If you don’t have a laptop, we may be able to provide a computer for use during the class. You will be contacted, by email, prior to the start of WWW 2019 with instructions for downloading the software.
Sponsored by Next Wave Automation
In this class, you’ll learn the fundamentals of using SketchUp Make project-design software. While modeling a coffee table, April will teach the simple commands to draw, size, and give dimension to project parts, plus more. She’ll also show you how to create a shopping list and cutting diagram before you even set foot in the shop. You’ll leave this class ready to design your next project with a solid understanding of SketchUp. Note: Although April will teach this class as if you’ve never opened the program, you’re encouraged to download a 30-day free trial version of the program on your own laptop before bringing it to Weekend With WOOD. If you don’t have a laptop, we will provide a computer for use during the class.
Sponsored by Triton Tools
Gluing Facts and Fiction from the Internet
bob behnke
As Abe Lincoln once said, “You can’t believe everything you see on the Internet.” Online influencers and videomakers are sincere in their desire to teach woodworking, but some get it right, and some… well, not so much. In this session, Bob right-sizes the online obsession with glue strength, and explains why some joints fail and the best glue choice for any task. Along the way, you will pick up some tips and tricks to make gluing less stressful and find some unique uses for wood glues you may not have known about.
Sponsored by Titebond
Going Sideways: Make the Most of a Horizontal Router Table
STEVE lamberti
You know that some routing operations are easier and safer when that router is upside down in a router table. But some tasks are made easier when split the difference. In this session, Steve will demonstrate several techniques—including raised panels and mortising—made easier and safer by a horizontal router table.
Hand Plane Tuneup
Vic Tesolin
There are many vintage planes available on the market today, but which ones are worth tuning up and which ones are plane-like objects? Vic will guide you though how to decide and will show you how to fettle the plane to get it working it’s best. Don’t miss an opportunity to clean up your diamond in the rough.
Sponsored by Lee Valley
Making decorative boxes using a bandsaw opens a world of curvy, creative opportunity! In this class, Craig will demonstrate several ways of making bandsaw boxes, starting with the basics, and moving up to some cleverly elaborate concepts.
How to Make Curved Panel Doors
guy dunlap
Curved doors and panels add elegance to any project, but don’t let the non-rectilinear nature of the parts intimidate you! In this session, Guy discusses choice of materials, and demonstrates how to make a bending form and use a vacuum bag for clamping.
How to Make Perfect Raised-panel Doors
jim heavey
So many of your furniture and cabinet projects could be improved with handsome raised-panel doors, and there are many styles from which to choose besides the “standard” raised panel—arched doors and divided lites, for example. In this class, Jim will provide the know-how, as well as all the tips and tricks you’ll need, to make perfect cabinet doors of all types.
How to Turn a Lidded Box
Keith Lackner
Turned boxes make great gifts, and in this class, you’ll learn how to proportion a pleasing box, hollow it, turn a perfect-fitting lid, and more as Keith demonstrates each step—start to finish—before your eyes.
Sponsored by Jet/Powermatic
Inlay for Period Furniture
glen huey
How do you take your woodworking to the next level? One answer is to use inlay. Line & berry work, sand-shaded fans, stringing and edge banding are typical examples. The techniques to make inlay from shop scraps and install your work into a project are a snap. And the results are extraordinary. Glen shares the necessary “dos and don’ts” to make your woodworking stand out.
Where do ideas come from for a design? What is the thought process involved in coming up with a new idea? Jeff will talk about the process of generating/finding design ideas, as well as a variety of techniques and methods that can help you start designing your own furniture. Next, you’ll learn how to develop and refine the design by generating drawings, models, and/or prototypes of the idea. Jeff will cover some of the basic techniques of getting your ideas out of your head, as well as the basic criteria for critiquing the evolving design. Note: This is a two-part class, presented in two consecutive sessions. If you sign up for part 1, you must also take part 2.
Joinery Planes:
A How-to
vic tesolin
So, you want to take the plunge into hand-cut joinery but you’re not sure which tools do what? Vic will explain and demonstrate tools, such as the plow and rabbet plane, as well as some shoulder plane tricks that you may not have known about. He will also show you the myriad of tasks you can do with the router plane. Forget the power tools for 90 minutes and learn a quieter way to work.
Sponsored by Lee Valley
Turn your bandsaw into a sawmill. You can easily turn fireplace wood into usable lumber. What a great way to turn the tree from your backyard into an heirloom project. You’ll also learn about what it takes to air dry lumber, and to prevent it from cracking and cupping.
Making a Shaker Box
steve lamberti
In this session, Steve demonstrates the techniques to build oval Shaker-style boxes. You’ll learn how to safely and consistently rip the wood strips, steam-bend them around forms, and more.
Make Your Own Knobs, Pulls, and Handles
bob hunter
Why settle for store-bought when you can craft your own “hardware” using leftover project stock or those scraps of exotic hardwoods you’ve been hoarding? In this class, you’ll learn how to fashion attention-grabbing pulls that you’ll want to grab and pull, using your tablesaw and/or router table.
Miter joints can be frustrating to make—the tiniest inaccuracy in your tools is multiplied eight times on a four-sided frame. In this session, John will show you how to set up your tools to make accurate miters, measure and mark stock, trimming miters for a perfect fit, and clamping strategies.
Mortise and Tenon Joinery by Hand
jeff miller
Mortise and tenon joinery is at the very core of woodworking. And although most woodworkers rely on machines for these joints, it is very satisfying and effective to cut them by hand. Jeff will take you through the basics of layout, and then chopping and paring mortises, and sawing and fitting tenons. Jeff has also developed a few simple jigs that can help make cutting the mortise and tenon by hand as accurate and repeatable as with any machine.
Thanks to its large glue surface, this joint is one of the strongest in woodworking. From handsaws to bandsaws, and from drills to dedicated machines, there are a dozen ways to make it, but the “best” method is the one that uses tools you already own. Jim demonstrates how to make mortises and tenons with a tablesaw and router (and a simple shop-made jig for each). We'll even provide the jig plans!
When you need to repeat a workshop process accurately and reliably, it’s time to build a jig. In this class, Steve will build a barstool while demonstrating four jigs for repeatable drilling, positioning, shaping, and more.
The Right Way to Make Lumber Project-ready
guy dunlap
Stop breaking the bank buying home-center lumber, and instead save money by squaring and surfacing rough-cut stock. In this class, Guy will show you how to get the best-looking project parts from any piece of stock, rough-cutting those parts, and then the proper sequence of machining steps to get them to final dimensions.
Shaping and Bending Curves
jeff miller
Mastering curves can open up a whole range of projects, and help bring your woodworking to a new level. In this session, Jeff will discuss layout, cutting, smoothing, and refining curves, including three dimensional curves. He’ll also demonstrate bending-wood techniques.
It’s the most basic of woodworking tools, yet chisels are capable of so much more than just chopping away at wood. In this session you’ll learn how to use chisels properly, and make a lot of other work in the shop easier.
With all of the gadgets, guides, and gizmos available for sharpening flat cutters, such as chisels and plane blades, how does one even get started? We’ll cut through the confusion and show you the simplest way to produce a keen edge with a minimum of work.
Sharper Turning Tools
brian simmons
Don’t get a dull spirit turning because your tools aren’t sharp. With a keen edge, you’ll find that your turnings are smoother, and the tools are easier to use. Let Brian show you how to quickly and easily sharpen gouges, skews, parting tools and scrapers.
Some woodworkers dismiss shellac as an old-school finish not worthy of considering in the age of polyurethane and pre-catalyzed lacquer. In fact, this versatile finish should often be the first one you reach for—even if you plan to use another one. Guy will show you how to mix and apply different “cuts” of shellac, how to do French polish, and more.
Simple Divided-glass Doors
glen huey
Kick up your furniture projects with shop-made, true divided-light doors. Glen will demonstrate a couple of simple steps at a tablesaw that will have you producing glass doors that exhibit professional results. (It's as easy as assembling a puzzle once you have the parts made.) Plus, you'll learn how to increase the overall strength of your doors, as well as add to the design if you pull another couple of shop tools into the mix.
Specialty Tools: What They Do and How
george vondriska
If you want to see the ins and outs of some specialized woodworking tools—without getting a sales pitch—here’s your chance. In this session, George demonstrates a variety of unique woodworking tools (including Festool Domino, Leigh D4, and more) and shares his unbiased opinion on how each might fit into your woodworking.
Sponsored by Pantorouter
In this session, Jim will walk you through the ins and outs of an HVLP turbine sprayer, and the benefits of using one. You’ll not only learn the theory behind spraying but will have the opportunity to get your hands dirty and spray different finishes using a turbine spray system. Jim will cover proper technique, maintenance procedures, and how to fix any challenges that may arise both during and after your spray session.
Sponsored by Fuji Spray
Stacked and Shaped: Techniques for Cutting Curves
glen huey
To become better woodworkers we have to push ourselves. A great first step is to move away from the straight and narrow. Design and build using curved furniture parts. Lamination may seem difficult, but techniques for curvy parts are straightforward and elementary when accurately sequenced. From cold laminations to brick work, discover the best ways to stack and shape your table aprons and drawer fronts to expand your woodworking skills.
Do you panic as you get close to completing a project because you worry about ruining all your hard work with a bad color job? Never fear. In this class, you’ll learn how dyes and stains work, and how to prep any wood species—even blotch-prone ones—to accept them. Let Jim show you a few simple tips and techniques that will make coloring your next project predictable and consistent.
Sponsored by Varathane
You can do so much on a tablesaw equipped with a stacked dado head. In this session, George will demonstrate how to use this powerful combo to machine accurate dadoes, rabbets, half laps, cross-halving, and more.
Ask a hundred woodworkers which tool is the centerpiece of their shops, and 97 of them will say “tablesaw.” If you’re eager to see what else it can do besides rip lumber to width and crosscut it to length, then this class is for you. Jim will cover basic tablesaw safety and operation, as well as many applications that may be new to you. Of course, there will be plenty of free jig plans and more ideas than you can shake a (ripped and crosscut walnut) stick at.
3 Hand-applied Finishes
vic tesolin
Not every woodworker can spray finishes in their home shop. Vic is going to demonstrate techniques for his three favorite hand-applied finishes. You will learn how to work with shellac, tung oil, and polyurethane to bring out the beauty of your next project.
Sponsored by Lee Valley
Turning Resin-infused Wood
keith lackner
In this session, you’ll learn how to fill the voids in beautiful burls with casting resin, and then turn a vessel from the resulting mixed-media blank. As he turns a bowl during the class, Keith will demonstrate the best speeds and tools for turning resin, as well as the proper sanding and finishing techniques.
Sponsored by Jet/Powermatic
Using Patterns to Create Perfect Parts
Guy Dunlap
Making matching—or even mirrored—parts is easier if you start with a pattern, especially on parts that aren’t straight or square. Guy will acquaint you with the different router bits used, show you how to make and use holding jigs for your router table, how to create perfect patterns, and more.
Veneer a Starburst Pattern
guy dunlap
Executing a stunning starburst pattern on a tabletop is easier than it looks once you learn the secrets of radial-matching veneer. Guy teaches the tricks to choosing the right number of segments, laying out and accurately cutting the veneer wedges, and more.
Veneering for Furniture
kevin boyle
There’s artful veneering, and there’s practical veneering. In this session, Kevin demonstrates the complete step-by-step process of making a simple (but beautiful) book-matched veneer panel. You’ll learn how to prep the veneer and substrate, precisely book-match the veneer, glue, clamp, and trim the panel.
Woodturning Apologetics
brian simmons
What’s all the hype with skews and gouges? Are carbide tools the answer for your turning needs? Learn how tools cut, why they catch and why there’s so much contradictory advice on bevel angles and tool profiles.
Live-edge furniture is more popular than ever, and in this session, Matt will teach you how to source parts from larger slabs, ways to integrate live edges into your work, different methods for treating the live edge, and more.
Sponsored by Triton Tools