Courses
The aim of the courses is to deliver skills and knowledge that can be used by the students in their own garages, workshops and homes. Work will be completed using hand tools and hand held power tools wherever possible. Advice on buying timber and tools will be given and a visit to a local tool shop and timber yard can be organised if desired.
Each day of the course starts with collection from your accommodation (or a central meeting point) and a short drive up to Butterwick Cragg as our planning permission restricts the amount of traffic driving up the track. The working day runs from 9am to 5pm with morning, lunchtime and mid afternoon breaks. The pace of work is very much down to the individual and how much they want to achieve in the time available. Time at the bench will be maximised and theory will be taught in short sessions with practical examples. A selection of books will also be available to borrow overnight.
We will provide a simple lunch and refreshments during the day.
Each course is given a level from 1 to 3. They are designed to be taken in that order and higher level courses will assume knowledge of the skills covered in those at a lower level. If having read the information below you want to skip a level that's perfectly ok.
Level 1 - First principles
The fundamentals of woodworking are based on the properties of the material and the cutting tools we use to work it. Even very experienced woodworkers can gain much from looking again at the basics and for newcomers this is the perfect place to start. Courses at this level cover the strengths and weaknesses of wood, the way wood reacts to humidity and stress, preparing square and parallel surfaces, marking out joints, use of chisels, planes and handsaws, safe use of hand held power tools, cutting joints by hand and by machine, sanding and oil finishing.
Level 2 - Expanding horizons
Assuming a basic knowledge of wood and tools, courses at this level look to refine techniques and introduce new dimensions. This may include using angles and curves, specialist tools, routing using jigs and templates, joints for special circumstances, specialist adhesives, abrasives and finishes. Courses are more flexible in what each student makes during the week so if you have ideas please contact us.
Level 3 - Advanced techniques
These courses are for specific techniques and assume a good knowledge of woodworking. As such the courses will each be unique and may be taught by different experts if appropriate. Each course will look at the possibilities and limitations of the technique, examine examples of work, cover the range of equipment available and how to get the best results from it. Possible topics include steam bending, laminating, coopering, veneering and using advanced router jigs. These courses will be organised as and when there is a demand so if you are interested please contact us with more information.
Upcoming Courses
Making a workbench: 6th -10th June
- Experience: level 1
- Course Full
- £475
Perhaps the most important tool in the workshop, a good bench is versatile, dependable, and a pleasure to use. A bad bench can damage your work, hurt your back and waste your time. On this course we make a cabinet makers’ bench that suits the space it is intended for and is adjusted for the user.
The base will be made using solid hardwood and can be either jointed and glued or assembled with knock down fittings for easy transport. Space will be left for an enclosed cabinet, which could be made on a future course.
The top will be fitted with 2 vices and holes for bench dogs in all the right places. There will be a choice of design for the top using either solid hardwood throughout or a combination of wood and MDF. In a workshop with humidity variations the MDF will make a better flat surface.
The course fee does not include the cost of timber or vices, depending on the choice of top and vice the additional cost might be between £150 and £250.
The course will normally only run if at least 3 students are enrolled.
Table making: 1st - 5th August
- Experience: level 1
- Course Full
- £475
This course covers the design and construction of tables of all kinds. We will make an occasional table using a combination of traditional mortice and tenon joinery and machine cut joints. Topics include the selection and preparation of timber, marking out and cutting joints, use of hand planes, chisels, hand saws, jointing machines, scrapers and sanders and oil finishes.
The size and shape of the table is up to you (within reason!) and will be agreed before the start of the course. It could be a low coffee table, a console table or a bedside table. There will be a choice of timber again to be agreed in advance and the cost of timber is not included in the fee. Depending on the size and species this might be between £30 and £100.
The course will normally only run if at least 3 students are enrolled.
