Welcome to the web page for my upcoming
Introduction
to Woodworking and Patternmaking class at The Crucible, a non-profit art center located in West Oakland. This class is for those who are completely new to woodworking, those who have some experience but want to fill in the gaps in their formal woodworking education, and for the experienced woodworker or artist looking to explore the possibilities of cast metal. And for anyone wishing to experience the pleasure of a guiding a sharp chisel through a piece of sweet timber.
This site contains an overview of the curriculum, the syllabus,
a list of recommended tools and supplies,
as well as class notes, suggested projects, and other resources.
I’ll be developing material and updating the site as I go along, so
check back often. If you have signed up for this class, I would
appreciate hearing from you before the first session so I can better
fit the material and projects to your needs.
This class grew out of a group of 3 hour classes given at the East Bay DIY Skillshare dealing with hand tool use and maintenance, as well as several 15 minute “drive-by” workshops dealing with basic woodworking operations. I’m just old enough to have caught the tail end of the era of serious Industrial Arts education in the public schools, which was characterized by a rigor and thoroughness not much seen these days. Over the years of working in different trades and with other artists and craftspeople I’ve realized just how lucky I am to have had this background. I hope to pass on some of this “old knowledge” in this class.
This class might well be called Introduction to Precision Woodworking or Technical Woodworking, or Woodworking with Hand Tools. Though I have only occaisionally made patterns, the techniques and approaches presented in this class have formed the foundation for my work in musical instrument making, architectural millwork, furniture, turning and production woodworking.
The wooden pattern is still the basis of the metal casting industry. Wood is light, strong, inexpensive, and easy to form. Because a pattern is used to produce multiples of cast part, the emphasis is on accuracy. And because a pattern is a one of a kind object, and may be of any size, it is often more economical to form all or part of it with hand tools.
Likewise the needs of the sculptor or artisan in wood are often better served by hand tools, but the modern emphasis on power tools, as well as their availability, combined with the decline of hand tool education and the usually poor condition of the hand tools at hand, has often blinded the woodworker to the pleasure and utility of the older methods. Both as an end unto itself, and a means to more efficient use of power tools, this class will try to set this right.
Basic measuring and layout and edge tools will be provided for the use of each student. If you wish to bring your own, the tools used in the class are listed below. Students are encouraged to bring flea market saws, planes, etc to class; we'll refurbish
them as part of the various handtool units.
To view the class schedule and syllabus click here. For more info, contact Stewart Port or The Crucible.
Click here for information about Woodcarving classes at the Crucible.