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 TURNING AT OPEN SHOP. Instead please register for one of our Open Turning Sessions.
Please email fireweedwoodshop@gmail.com 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
~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
* We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status *
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Taught by Aria Kampfer
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.
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.
Open shop but for turning! This open shop is only for students with previous turning experience or those who've taken a turning class with Fireweed. Bowl blanks will be available for purchase but feel free to bring your own prepped wood if you've got a project you are working on. Instructor Abbey Dickhudt will be at the shop to make sure everyone is staying safe. This IS NOT a class. This is a time for self-directed work to make shavings, make mistakes, and ask questions. *Woodshop lathes accommodate limited size blanks. If you have any questions about the wood you want to bring or the lathes, please reach out in advance.
Registrants of open shop MUST have taken Bowl Turning or be comfortable and experienced using turning tools and the lathe. Every attendee of open shop must register. Please no guests without registration!
Facilitated by Abbey Dickhudt
Join instructor Theoren Keenan for a walk on East River Road learning about common tree species to the Twin Cities! This course will cover summer identification features including leaves, bark, and branch arrangement as well as uses of the trees for craftspeople and foragers.
This course will be held in unfavorable weather such as rain but will be rescheduled considering extreme heat, thunderstorms, or air quality warnings during the scheduled instruction time.
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Taught by Theoren Keenan.
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.
The materials fee for this class is $25 and is included in the admission cost.
Taught by Jules Bunch.
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.
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
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