Fundamentals in Hand Tool Woodworking
There is a basic range of techniques to be first understood and once understood mastering them in practise is relatively simple and improved with further doing. Urban Woodworker courses are hands-on focussed and with some early success the knowledge is not easily lost.
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Hand Tool Courses.
Urban Woodworker courses focus on core techniques that are learned by doing. Students are not required to bring their own tools and in fact we prefer that students use our tools during the courses. The tools at Urban Woodworker are of exceptional quality typically made by Lie-Nielsen Toolworks and Veritas of Lee Valley Tools and are considered by most users as the best available, flawless performers and a pleasure to use, enhancing the learning experience and a great opportunity to try the various tools and types of tools before making the investment for your own.
Below is a summary of some of the course past and present.
WOODWORKING UNPLUGGED LEVEL 1:
The foundation skills course in Hand Tool Woodworking. This course is for everyone and is the ideal primer to woodworking in general even if power tool woodworking is your focus. Learn techniques for sharpening, preparing the wood, adjusting and using planes, using saws and chisels, layout tools and an introduction to spoon carving. Materials are provided. Come prepared to take notes and we appreciate your help in cleaning clean up before the end of each session.
6 sessions.
WOODWORKING UNPLUGGED LEVEL 2
Expand your knowledge of wood and create an heirloom by building on the skills you learned in Unplugged Level 1. Learn to make grooves, rabbets, bevels and pinned finger joints or rabbeted corner joints. A complete kit of premium grade hardwood is supplied. Prerequisite: Unplugged Level 1. Come prepared to take notes and we appreciate your help in cleaning clean up before the end of each session.
7-9 sessions.
WOODWORKING UNPLUGGED LEVEL 2/3
LEVEL 2/3 (19+)
Up for a challenge? Learn to make the iconic through dovetail joint and other more advanced techniques. A complete kit of premium grade hardwood is supplied. Prerequisites: Unplugged Level 1. Come prepared to take notes and we appreciate your help in cleaning clean up before the end of each session.
9 sessions.
What to expect;
Our beginner courses all focus on;
- Developing an understanding of wood,
- how trees grow and how this influences the lumber we use,
- how it is milled into lumber and the lumber classifications
- the constant movement of wood that affects its dimensions in both width and thickness
- milling and dealing with internal stresses
- Project planning
- Methodologies for achieving consistency / repeatable results.
- Methods of work in using the tools – specific to whether the course is a Hand Tools or Power Tools course.
These are moderately technically demanding courses requiring people who are completely new to woodworking, to come to each class as prepared as possible. Learning support materials and tutorials are supplied in electronic format. It is important that you arrive at the first class ready to take notes/photos for future reference and to prepare for the next class by doing your own research and reading the supplied materials to become as familiar as possible with the various concepts that are new to you. While the intent is to primarily to have a fun learning experience it is true the more you put in, the more you will get from the experience.
We hope to see you soon.
