Classes

Here is the line up of classes for the summer of 2013! Classes are held in my shop on a quiet rural setting 35 miles north of the Twin Cities. We do our best to make our classes fun and relaxing as well as educational. With a maximum of 8 students in a class you will get plenty of one on one time with your instructor. Beverages will be on hand throughout the day and a healthy lunch will be provided. The shop is air conditioned. For the sake of other students you will be asked to please turn off your cell phone during class, you can check messages on breaks and at lunch. We also have a Wi-Fi connection. You will be expected to sign a liability waiver before you can work in the shop. The easiest way to sign up is to send me an e-mail confirming that you are coming. If you need to cancel let me know asap so I don't get materials for you. You can pay on the day of the class.

St. Louis SAPFM demonstration

April 11 – 15, I will be demonstrating Tall Case Clock Construction and Making Working Drawings from Photographs. Come to the meeting if you are in the area. More infromation at http://www.sapfm.org/forum/index.php?…

The Northern Woods Show

April 25 – 28, The annual show the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild more information at http://www.mnwwg.org/nwds.html

Sharpening and Using Handsaws

Date: Saturday morning, May 11th, 8:00 – 12:00
Cost: $65
Materials: included
Skill Level: All

A gateway skills class

Course description

Most people have never used a properly sharpened handsaw so they don't realize how well they work. Find out what you are missing! Mike will demonstrate how to bring an old saw back to life. We will go over what to look for in a handsaw and how to sharpen a saw. Mike will demonstrate the mechanics of sawing and how to cut square and straight. We will supply files and vises. Bring a saw to sharpen, between 10 and 6 points per inch and a saw vise if you have one. If you don't have a saw that you want to practice on Mike has some practice saws.

Tools

Bring an 8 point cross cut saw that needs to be sharpened and a saw vise if you have one. If you don't have a saw you want to practice on Mike has some practice saws.

Making a Saw Bench Using Handsaws

Date: Sunday afternoon, February 10th, 1:00 to 5:00
Cost: $75
Materials: included
Skill Level: All

A gateway skills class

We will use our sharp saws to make a saw horse/saw bench, giving you the opportunity to practice your sawing skills and make an important workshop accessory.

Tools

Your sharp handsaws, cross cut and rip.

MWTCA Hastings

May 19, I will be demonstrating at the tool meet, a great place to buy tools!

HandWorks

May 24 – 26, Don't miss this all hand tool event, great vendors and fantastic door prizes in Amana, IA. Stop by my booth and say Hi! http://www.handworks.co/

Sharpening Chisels, Plane Irons and Scrapers

Date: Saturday Morning, June 1st, 8:00 – 12:00
Cost: $65
Materials:
Skill Level:

A gateway skills class

Course Description

Getting your tools sharp is possibly the most important skill a woodworker can learn. Sharpening should be a quick and easy task. Mike will show you what it takes to obtain and maintain a good sharp edge. We will discuss various sharpening systems as well as different bevel angles and why they are used. You will also get ideas for setting up a sharpening station in your shop. Our goal is for you to achieve the 5 minute edge, the time it takes to remove and sharpen a plane iron, replace it, and get back to work.

Tools

Bring your dull planes and chisels and your sharpening stones.

Note

If you sign up for both sections on Saturday lunch is included (sandwiches and beverage) Those who sign up for both days of plane classes will receive enrollment preference over those who only take one or two sections.

Tuning Hand Planes

Date: Saturday Afternoon, June 1st, 1 – 5 (see note above)
Cost: $65
Materials: none
Skill Level: All

A gateway skills class

Course Description

In this course you will learn what it takes to make a plane work properly, whether you are flattening a board and removing lots of material, jointing an edge, or smoothing for a finished surface. We will discuss when an iron needs camber and when an iron should be straight, and the nuances in between. Please have the rust and gunk cleaned off of your planes before you come, all screws should be loose(not seized with rust) and all adjustments should function. You will learn what to look for in a plane, and what to avoid and how to correct deficiencies in your planes.

Tools

Bring your planes

Using Hand Planes

Date: Sunday, June 2nd, 10:00 – 4:00
Cost: $120
Materials: Includes materials and lunch (sandwiches and beverage)
Skill Level: All

A gateway skills class

Course Description

We will put our properly sharpened and tuned planes to work to flatten boards, make glue joints and trim end grain. Mike will demonstrate work holding techniques to make your planing simple and accurate. We will try out specialty planes for cutting grooves and dados and making sash and moldings.

Note

Those who sign up for both Saturday and Sunday plane classes will receive enrollment preference over those who only take one or two sections.

June 10 – 14 Workbench

Holtzapfel Style Workbench,

Date: 6 days, June 10th – 14th, 8:30 to 4:30
Cost: $900
Materials: Included
Skill Level: Intermediate/all

Course Description

Holtzapfel Style Workbench,
The work bench is the main work holding device in a wood shop. We will build a good, solid, simple, functional work bench for your shop that disassembles easily for moving. Mike's 16” jointer and 24” planer will help make quick work out of flattening the 2 ½ “ thick tops. We will also cover some workbench appliances like the holdfast, the sliding deadman and the bench hook. To simplify things Mike will order in enough lumber for all of the benches so they will be the same. The hardwood lumber used will be purchased to get the best price, and provided at cost plus machining fees. Let Mike know how long of a bench you wish to build. If you want to bring your own lumber contact Mike for specifics. Mike has quick release vises rescued from a High School that he will sell on a first come basis to those in the class for $50.

Tools

chisels
mallet for chisels
smoothing plane
jointer plane if you have one
block plane
marking gauge
hammer
card scraper
marking knife
square, rule
measuring tape
hearing protection
safety glasses
dust mask.

June 24 – 29 Huntboard or server

Huntboard or Harvey Ellis #802 Server

Date: June 24th – 29th, 8:30 to 4:30
Cost: $850
Materials: Included
Skill Level: Intermediate/all

Course Description

We will build either the handsome Harvey Ellis server made by Gustav Stickley or a Federal Style Huntboard. We will use Quartersawn Oak to achieve that distinctive Arts and Crafts/Mission style look for the server and walnut or cherry for the Huntboard. You will practice mortise and tenon construction, hand cut dovetails, and handplaning

Tools

Dovetail and/or carcass saw
chisels
mallet for chisels
smoothing plane
block plane
marking gauge
hammer
card scraper
marking knife
square, rule
measuring tape
hearing protection
safety glasses
dust mask.

Three Side Tables

Date: 6 days, July 6th – 11th, 8:30 to 4:30
Cost: $800
Materials: Included
Skill Level: All/intermediate

Course Description

Build a small side table in one of 3 styles, Federal, Arts and Crafts, or Shaker. Learn what variations change the basic form into a specific style. You will hand plane all of your surfaces ,hand dovetail a drawer, and cut mortises and tenons. We will also cover inlaid stringing.

Tools

Smooth plane
block plane
dovetail saw
marking gauge
knife
chisels
mallet for chisels
hammer
card scraper
square
rule
measuring tape
hearing protection
safety glasses
dust mask

Your Choice of Chests

Date: 6 days, July 23rd – 28th, 8:30 to 4:30
Cost: $900
Materials: Included
Skill Level: Intermediate/all

Course Description

You will know how to cut dovetails when you leave this class! We will construct a scaled down version of a Pennsylvania Blanket Chest with half blind dovetails on the back corners and through dovetails on the front corners and on the straight bracket feet. Or a sea chest or tool cest of similar size. Students will have design choices available through the course of the class. Practice layout and cutting of dovetails, hand planing, tool sharpening and planing/routing of moldings. Completed chest will measure approximately 20×20×36 inches.

Tools

Dovetail and/or carcass saw
chisels
mallet for chisels
smoothing plane
block plane
marking gauge
hammer
card scraper
marking knife
square, rule
measuring tape
hearing protection
safety glasses
dust mask.

Demi-Lune Table

Date: 6 days , August 3rd – 8th, 8:30 to 4:30
Cost: $800
Materials: Included
Skill Level: Intermediate/all

Course Description

We will be building a small Demi-Lune table with a bent laminated apron. We will be hammer veneering the top and aprons. Tapering the legs and cutting mortise and tenens and bridle joints.

Tools

Dovetail and/or carcass saw
chisels
mallet for chisels
smoothing plane
block plane
marking gauge
hammer
card scraper
marking knife
square, rule
measuring tape
hearing protection
safety glasses
dust mask.

Making a Moxon Double screw vise, a Marking Gauge, and a Mallet

Date: Saturday and Sunday, August 10th – 11th, 9:00 – 4:00
Cost: $225
Materials:Included
Skill Level: All

A gateway skills class

Course Description

We will be making a traditional double screw vise as shown in Randal Holme and Moxon. Also a mallet and a marking gauge.

Sharpening and Using Handsaws

Date: Sunday morning, August 17th, 8:00 – 12:00
Cost: $60
Materials: included
Skill Level: All

A gateway skills class

Course description

Tools

Bring an 8 point cross cut saw that needs to be sharpened and a saw vise if you have one. If you don't have a saw you want to practice on Mike has some practice saws.

Making a Saw Bench Using Handsaws

Date: Sunday afternoon, August 17th 1:00 to 5:00
Cost: $75
Materials: included
Skill Level: All

A gateway skills class

We will use our sharp saws to make a saw horse/saw bench, giving you the opportunity to practice your sawing skills and make an important workshop accessory.

Tools

Your sharp handsaws, cross cut and rip.

Just joints

Date: , August 18th, 9:00 – 4:30
Cost: $125
Materials: Included
Skill Level: All

Course Description

Whether for drawers or case work dovetails are actually pretty basic woodworking. Learning to saw straight, cut to the line and chop and pare to your mark. At first it can be a bit difficult to keep it all straight. Pins first? Tails first? What's a pin or tail. Which piece it the waste? Whats a half pin? It will become clear as you learn to layout, saw and chop this signature woodworking joint. We will do through and half-blind joints. We will also cut mortise and tenon and bridle joints.

Tools Needed:

Dovetail saw (for small joints)
Carcass saw (for casework joints)
Sharp Chisels
Mallet
Marking Gauge
Marking Knife
6" Square
Smooth Plane

Sharpening Chisels, Plane Irons and Scrapers

Date: Saturday Morning, August 24th, 8:00 – 12:00
Cost: $65
Materials:
Skill Level:

A gateway skills class

Course Description

Tools

Bring your dull planes and chisels and your sharpening stones.

Note

Tuning Hand Planes

Date: Saturday Afternoon, August 24th, 1 – 5 (see note above)
Cost: $65
Materials: none
Skill Level: All

A gateway skills class

Course Description

Tools

Bring your planes

Using Hand Planes

Date: Sunday, August 25th, 10:00 – 4:00
Cost: $120
Materials: Includes materials and lunch (sandwiches and beverage)
Skill Level: All

A gateway skills class

Course Description

Note

Those who sign up for both Saturday and Sunday plane classes will receive enrollment preference over those who only take one or two sections.

Woodworking In America

Date October 18th – October 20

I will once again be taking the Hand Tool Olympics to WIA in Covington, KY. Stop by and say Hi! Try your hand at the events and have some fun!