Courses

Learn safe operation of woodworking power equipment and hand tools to craft a Shaker Side Table from rough lumber to assembly in one semester. Students learn about wood species and their properties, creating a materials list, selection and purchasing of rough lumber, wood milling process and classic joinery techniques. A secondary project will be completion of a “lap joint” using only hand tools.

This two-semester course sequence will use machines for dimensioning stock and hand tools for fine joinery details. The project is a Shaker hanging wall cabinet with a raised panel door. There will be classroom discussions regarding principles in furniture design.

In the second semester, the project is a basic case constructed cabinet with doors and a drawer. Students will be introduced to designing and installing moldings and edge profiling.

This two-semester course sequence is the application and reinforcement of techniques learned through Furniture Construction IA, IB, IIA & IIB to construct a student designed and detailed project in Furniture Drawing courses.

The construction and assembly of the project emphasize how an excellent plan and materials list are necessary for furniture construction. The student will select wood and use the material list to dimension the lumber, layout furniture parts and mill for final assembly.

This two-semester course sequenced is the culmination of all that students learn in the previous Furniture Construction Courses. The student constructs a project using a plan with materials list developed by the student and approved by the instructor. Students will progress from learning modern joinery and using sheet material. This class will emphasize both machinery and hand tools to construct furniture. Students will refine skills to become a successful woodworker.

Projects built in this class will incorporate advanced woodworking techniques to make a visual difference from factory production furniture.

Beginning drawing techniques are taught including free-hand sketching, lettering and dimensioning. Use manual drafting tools to create orthographic drawings, paraline drawings, sections and joinery details. Drawings will be used to develop furniture designs and proportions.

An overview of computer systems as it relates to commercial CAD (computer-aided drafting) programs.  Introduction to CAD menu structures to draw simple geometric objects, using editing techniques: extrusion, sweeping and revolving. Create 2D drawings from 3D models, drawing sheet set up and drawing output. Course is open to non-majors.

The sketch to the left is a pencil "value study" of a typical chip carving exercise of a Canadian Maple Leaf. The sketch below is a pencil drawing of a traditional "Acanthus Leaf" found in furniture and architectural woodwork.

CAD drawing development using text editing, associative dimensioning and layering information. Advanced objects formed by grouping entities for multiple edits and generating sections from the CAD object. Intelligent attributes to generate schedules and tables from the CAD object. In future courses, CAD objects integrated with a CNC (computer numeric control) system to produce the object in the shop. Course is open to non-majors.

CNC for Woodworking provides the student with an introduction to basic CNC Router operation as related to woodworking projects. Upon completion of this course the student will have an understanding of CNC Router usage including safety practices, tool path generation, router bit selection and machining practices.

This course teaches the basics of wood carving beginning with proper sharpening of chisels and knives. Next, students will learn how to: select and prepare rough wood stock for carving; layout and follow patterns; rough out a shape and add details. The instructor will introduce students to several types of carving such as wood sculpture, bas-relief and chip carving. Students will complete three projects: a swan, a half shell and a ball &claw.

This class is the second in the sequence of Wood Carving courses. Students will complete a project consisting of an acanthus leaf.

This class is for the beginner interested in wood turning. The student will be introduced to the basics starting with a discussion of lathes, tools and tool sharpening. Then students will learn techniques required for furniture making to produce table legs and chair parts. An introduction to bowl turning will be taught.

This class is the second in the sequence of Wood Turning courses. In this course students will learn advanced bowl turning techniques. Additional techniques required for turning bowls, boxes and other hollow forms will be taught.

Make a set of beautiful oval Shaker boxes. Oval boxes continue to be the most popular product the Shakers ever offered to the outside world. Originally the boxes were produced for their practicality because nesting boxes inside each other required little storage space. They have become collector’s items for their simple beauty. Other craft items undertaken are Shaker carrier and trays. The beginner and experienced wood worker are both welcome.

This class is the second in the sequence of Wood Crafts courses. This course students will learn additional techniques required to complete a band saw box and finger joint box with cover. If time permits other craft projects will be introduced.

This course is the second in the sequence of the Windsor Chair Construction courses. In this course students will complete the Windsor chair started in the first course.

Each of the three Wood Technology courses is independent of the other two and there are no prerequisites. Although these courses are independent, the Wood Technology courses together provide a comprehensive overview of woodworking that enlightens both the novice and the experienced woodworker. The courses give students a better understanding of woodworking by:  examining wood properties, knowing how machinery is maintained and used safely, and the preparation of wood for the application of finishes.

An overview of all major woodworking machinery introducing: machinery alignment, adjustment and sharpening; clamping and jigs; wood bending, veneering and lamination; lathe turning; shaping and molding blades, cutters, and bits. In this course students do not construct a furniture project but study the woodworking machinery and the related components.

Wood anatomy (also basic forestry and tree farming), wood species and uses, lumbering (self and industrial), drying (self and industrial), lumber grading and wood products, glues, wood coloration and color shifts, joinery theory, shop safety (dust collection, toxic woods, hearing protection), fasteners and hardware. Environmental requirements by government agencies.

Surface preparation (sanding and scraping), staining (oil, alcohol, water, gel, dye chemicals), wipe-on finishes, brush-on finishes, spray-on finishes, waxes, and finish care. These lessons are applied to sample boards for a hands-on learning experience. Also, environmental requirements by government agencies are discussed.