The four types of joinery we will cover in Joint Gymnastics are the mitered corners with splines, butterfly joints, wedged mortise and through tenons, and handcut dovetails. While students are welcome to sign up for the specific joinery they are interested in learning, the sessions are organized so we will start with the most forgiving joint and work our way towards the most complicated. These classes will build students' confidence in handsaw and chiseling skills.
Butterfly joints are used to either join two pieces of wood together or to reinforce cracks in wood by inserting a key into the compromised wood. Joint Gymnastics Part Two: Butterfly Joints will utilize chisels, hand saws and the bandsaw to create the components of the butterfly joint. Students will draw their own key shape, learn to chisel a mortise, transfer the shape of the mortise to their key material, then use the bandsaw or hand saws to make the key. Students can choose whether to practice joining two pieces of wood together or reinforce a crack.
The materials fee for this class is $25 and is included in the admission cost.
* We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status *
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Taught by Aria Kampfer and EB
Build a cedar bench for your patio, garden, sauna, or anywhere else you want to sit and enjoy the outdoors! The dimensions of this bench are 47 inches long and 14 inches deep (this is the maximum size- you could choose to customize your bench length to fit your space). Students will use a miter saw to cut 4x4 beams of cedar to size and the biscuit jointer and drill to assemble. Benches will be left unfinished.
The materials fee for this class is $150 and is included in the admission cost.
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Make a cutting board while learning how to use power tools. We will cover using the electric planer, ripping on the table saw, cross cutting on the miter saw, curved cuts on the bandsaw, and finishing. This is a great chance to get to know, or brush up on the most powerful tools in the shop. Take home your very own cherry or maple cutting board at the end.
The materials fee for this class is $20 and is included in the admission cost.
Email hello@fireweedwoodshop.org to request ASL interpretation for this course.
Taught by Meena Mangalvedhekar.
Whether you're hanging artwork, mounting shelves, curtain rods, or installing grab bars for accessibility, knowing how to safely and confidently work with your walls is a must-have skill for any homeowner. In this hands-on workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of wall-mounting—from understanding wall types and locating studs to choosing the right anchors and tools for the job. The goal: to leave with the confidence and know-how to mount objects securely, beautifully, and accessibly in their own homes.
Students will practice mounting a framed object (such as a small artwork or mirror) and a functional item (such as a shelf or assistive grab bar), using a variety of fasteners and techniques suited to drywall, plaster, and masonry. We will also demonstrate and practice patching the small holes we make and preparing for paint touch-up.
Taught by Jules Bunch.
Open shop is a time for you to bring in any projects or crafts you are working on and have access to the tools and the space. While we will have an instructor on staff to help open shop run smoothly and make sure tools are being used safely, this is a self-directed work time NOT class time. Open shop is capped at 7 participants and needs 5 participants to run.
Registrants of open shop MUST have taken power tools 101 or be comfortable and experienced using power tools. Every attendee of open shop must register. Please no guests without registration!
Until further notice, NO GREENWOOD ON THE BANDSAWS.
NO LATHE USE AT OPEN SHOP. Instead please register for one of our Open Turning Sessions.
Please email hello@fireweedwoodshop.org if you have any questions about open shop or what tools are available to use.
* We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status * _________________________________
Facilitated by Aria Kampfer
This craft hang is gathering in the hand tools classroom at Fireweed Woodshop. The purpose of a Fireweed Crafting Hang is for students and members to get together around making and crafting , share skills and chit chat, get to know each other, enjoy the Woodshop's space, community, and belonging. It's perfect for students who started a spoon in class and would like to use Fireweed's carving knives to finish up. Other handcraft projects could include woodblock carving, figure carving, Kolrosing, chip carving, hand sanding, etc....
6:30-8:30pm Registration is free or give what you can without pressure!
Bring your own hand-carving project to the shop for some company, community, and sharing tips and tricks. This is NOT A CLASS, just a hangout.
What to bring:
a mask (fireweed masks up indoors; extra masks are always available too)
-your project (all handcrafts welcome!)
- your carving tools (we usually have some spoon blanks for sale)
Table design is often where furniture makers begin. Two ingredients—legs and aprons—are the parameters for designing a sturdy table. As the apron holds the leg in place, the maker is free to play with proportions, scale and shadow. In this class we will talk through fundamentals of wood and designing with joinery in mind, covering examples and applications. For our table design, we will be working with variations on the T-bridle joint. Joinery will be done by hand, with hand saws and chisels. There will be two options for table sizes to choose from prior to the class: a console table or a coffee table. Come learn how to think through design while playing with proportions and curves to create a contemporary table with the traditional joints.
Wedged mortise and tenons are a beautiful way to showcase joinery, where a strong, durable, and visible connection is desired. They are often used on furniture to attach legs to stretchers on tables, chairs or beds. Stuents will use pull saws, chisels, marking gauges, and angle finders to create this joint. Students will learn how to chisel on an angle and techniques in precision. While perfecting this joint may take a few repetitions, students will be provided with material to make a bookend or small shelf.
The purpose of this class is to provide a supportive learning environment for those identifying as women, transgender, agender, or non-binary to work with their hands, using traditional and modern tools to learn the craft of timber frame building.
Timber framing is the craft of joining wooden timbers together without the use of nails or metal fasteners. Timber frames are simple, strong, and elegant, and have stood for centuries around the world. In this class, students will learn the fundamentals of timber framing, from the use of hand and power tools to the layout and cutting of mortise and tenon joinery. On the final day of the class, students will work together to raise the frame they have built and will go home with the knowledge and skills to continue their timber framing practice and build structures of their own.
Wednesday (5pm - 7pm): Introduction to timber framing, project design, and square rule layout.
Thursday (9am - 5pm): Cutting mortises and tenons with hand tools.
Friday (9am - 5pm): Designing for strength - learning to cut wind braces, and continue working on individual pieces.
Saturday (9am - 5pm): Introduction to power tool use in timber framing. Students finalize their individual pieces. Discussion of raising day logistics and preparation.
Sunday (9am - 3pm): Assembly of the frame and community raising celebration
Taught by Jenna Pollard with assistance from Aria Kampfer.
It can be hard to find just the right picture frame--especially for one-of-a-kind art--and custom frames are expensive. Solve that problem by learning how to build your own! We'll use the table saw, miter saw, and v-nailer to construct basic frames out of oak, maple, or cherry. Students should come to class with dimensions of the piece they want to frame, and we'll take it from there!
The materials fee for this class is $15 and is included in the class admission cost.
Taught by Julie Arnold
Join us for a special BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) centered class to practice the basics of Power Tools
This class is intended for BIPOC students.
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Taught by Meena Mangalvedhekar (@meenanew) Bio 1. Bio 2.
Learn to tile while making a beautiful and functional serving tray! In this class, students will learn how to cut tile using two methods, how to mix mud, use a trowel, lay tile, and create clean grout lines. These skills will show the basics of tiling, to support a student with their home DIY projects. Students will then build a serving tray to display their tiling. The dimensions of the tray will be 12-by-16 inches wide, and 3 inches tall. The tray will be an introduction to using a table saw, cutting 45-degree angles on the miter saw, brad nailer, and drill press to make the hand-holds. Students will have the opportunity to personalize their tray using the bandsaw and router table for adding a profile.
The materials for this class is $35 and is included in the admission cost.
Taught by Abbey Dickhudt and Aria Kampfer
Come learn how to turn your own bowl on the lathe! We will start with a freshly cut bowl blank and take it all the way to its finished shape. You will be learning parts of the lathe, how to mount your blank, and how to use bowl gouges, scrapers, and different chuck attachments. We will also cover how you will later on dry, sand, and finish the bowl. In this 4 hour class we will go at a pace at which everyone is comfortable, leaving plenty of room for demonstration, questions, and hands-on time.
The materials fee for this class is $30 and is included in the admission cost.
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Taught by Abbey Dickhudt
Learn how to carve a spoon from a fresh cut tree using traditional Nordic carving techniques. We cover tree anatomy, axing out a blank (roughed out spoon shape), knife holds for the hook & sloyd knife, drying, and finishing. This class is great for the beginner or the person wanting to learn Sloyd style carving. The class fee includes tool rental, materials, a finishing kit, and safety gloves. Please wear pants and close toed-shoes, as we are going to make some wood chips!
Taught by Katie Speckman
This basket, made with black ash splint, is highly functional for everyday needs. It can appear rustic or refined. It can be filled with veggies from the market, groceries from the store, or binders and paperwork for meetings. It can also be a perfect fit for in-between the bucket seats of most automobiles. The course will start with an in-depth discussion of the harvesting process, including log pounding and material storage. From there, students will try their hand at splitting using two techniques: hands and a "splitting brake," followed by prepping our pre-selected raw materials using sharp knives, scissors and a slitting gauge. Participants will learn about twill and start/stop weaving, and tension and form as we lay-out and weave our baskets. After drying, we will construct the rim system, prep thicker splint for handles, and finally, wrap the handles with choice splint. The finished basket will measure approximately 4" x 13" at the base, 9" x 16" at the opening, with a height of 11". With handles attached, this brings the overall height of the basket to 17". Weighing in at just under a pound, it will be capable of carrying up to ten pounds quite comfortably. Note, this project requires some hand strength to complete.
The materials fee for this class is $60 and is included in the admission cost.
~Power tools 101 is a prerequisite for this course~
Learn how to transform rough lumber into finished sizes while making a mitered box. This class will cover how to use the tools to create parallel sides and perpendicular corners before building the box. Through box-making, we will learn how to make several forms of joinery including miters, splines, and dados. This class is open to students of all levels of ability, and we will make accommodations for anyone with a disability.
The materials fee for this class is $25 and is included in the admission cost
Taught by Aria Kampfer
The materials fee for this class is $15 and is included in the admission cost.
The materials fee for this class is $15 and is included in the admission costs.
Taught by Jeanette Torkelson and Ema Thoen
Elderberry is a powerful ally for cold and flu and Covid season, and an easy herb to love to take! In this class, herbalist Emily Pearson Ryan will introduce students to the many uses of Elder-berry (and blossom!) - most famously the plant's immune-boosting power. Then we will craft a delicious warming syrup together.
Students will take home one 8-ounce (or two 4-ounce) bottles of fresh syrup and recipes to make more.
The materials fee for this class is $20 and is included in the admission cost
*** We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status***
Taught by Emily Pearson Ryan
Make a handmade toy for your little one or a little one in your life! You can design your own or use one of the patterns available. This class will teach a few basic woodworking skills, and you will leave with a finished toy. You will be using a bandsaw, drill press, belt sander, laminate router (optional), hammer, and sandpaper.
--------------------------------------------This class is taught by Kate Schiffler(@bbfurnituremn)
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