A woodworking community of learning and craftsmanship.

NOT ALL CLASSES ARE TAUGHT EACH MONTH

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Check CURRENT CLASS OFFERINGS the first of each month to see new course offerings.

Introduction to Hand Tools

Description: All woodworkers can benefit from learning how to set up a plane, use chisels and hand saws.  This course is designed for woodworkers at any skill level who wish to learn how to purchase, set up, and use hand tools including: squares, marking gauges, bench planes, saws, and chisels.

Level: Beginner

Prerequisites: Age > 18  

Format: 1 session, 4 hours

Cost: $95

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Hand Tool Sharpening

Description: Students will learn and practice the principles of sharpening and maintaining chisels, plane blades and cabinet card scrapers, without jigs.  This is a foundational class for all woodworkers but especially those who wish to work with hand tools. 

Level: Beginner

Prerequisites: Age > 18

Format: 1 session, 4 hours

Cost: $100 

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Special instructions for this class: Students should purchase and bring an unused chisel, minimum 3/4″ wide; a card scraper, preferably an .8mm thick BAHCO; and a plane that is complete and in good condition.  If a student does not own a plane, one can be provided if given advance notice.

Full refunds for cancelations more than 14 days in advance or if class is cancelled; 50% refunds for cancelations more than 7 days in advance; No refunds for cancelations less than 7 days in advance or for failure to appear.

Hand Tool Joinery

Hand Tool Joinery is a series of three classes which build on each other in terms of skill development.

  • Class 1. Basic skills and Lap Joints (Basic)
  • Class 2. Mortise -Tenon Joinery (Intermediate)
  • Class 3. Dovetails (Advanced)

 

Add your name to the class interest list.

In the Fall of 2024, these topics will be reviewed in the Hand Tool Special Interest Group, meeting the first Thursday of very month, 7-9 pm; registration not required.

Class 1. Basic Hand Tool Skills and Lap Joints

Description: There are several key skills in hand tool joinery that will be taught in this class: accurate sawing, making v-cuts, chopping and paring chisel work along with accurate layout techniques.  These skills will be applied to making several different lap joints.

Level: Basic

Prerequisites: Age > 18; Sharpening and Intro to Hand Tools suggested. 

Format: 2 sessions, each 4 hours

Projects you will make: Lap Joints

Cost: $200 

Class 2. Mortise and Tenon Joinery Using Hand Tools

Description: Mortise-tenon joinery is the fundametal joint of table, dresser and chair construction.  This class will teach blind and through MT joints and demonstrate wedged tenon and drawbore joints.

Level: Intermediate

Prerequisites: Age > 18; Class 1 in this series.

Format: 1 session,  4 hours

Cost: $100 

Class 3. Hand Cut Dovetails

Description: Dovetails are the classic hand tool joint for drawers, casework and decorative applications. You will learn to make through and half-blind dovetails.

Level: Advanced

Prerequisites: Age > 18; Class 1 and 2 in this series.

Format: 1 session,  4 hours

Cost: $100 

Special Instructions for this class: A tool list will be provided prior to class.

Full refunds for cancelations more than 14 days in advance or if class is cancelled; 50% refunds for cancelations more than 7 days in advance; No refunds for cancelations less than 7 days in advance or for failure to appear.

Make a Mallet with Hand Tools

Description: You will make your own woodworking mallet using a range of hand tools including saws, planes, spokeshave, rasp, file, chisels, brace and bit and more.  Construction includes both functional and decorative elements which will give you experience to transfer these skills to future projects.

 

Level: Beginner

Prerequisites: Age > 18; Sharpening and Intro to Hand Tool strongly suggested. 

Format: 2 sessions, each 4 hours

Projects you will make: Woodworking mallet

Cost: $150

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Craftsman Referral Terms

BACKGROUND
The San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association (SDFWA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to the education, promotion, and execution of the principles of fine woodworking.
The SDFWA frequently receives requests from people seeking the service of a woodworker. Therefore, although custom woodworking for hire is not the purpose of our organization, we offer this referral service to the public so that they might connect with a woodworker.

SCOPE
SDFWA does not screen or warrant the skills or work of any craftsman. The public should use their own discretion and due diligence before hiring any craftsman, from any source, including this one.
The sole role of SDFWA in this referral service is limited to providing our member woodworkers with your completed form. It is up to each craftsman to initiate a contact with the requester.

PROCEDURE
After a requester submits a project, the form will be emailed to our list of participating craftsmen. If a craftsman is interested in the project, they will contact the client directly, and a two-way conversation can begin.

As the craftsmen themselves choose which projects to respond to, this means that it is probable that some project requests will receive no response. If you do not receive a response in a reasonable time, please submit your request again, using the provided referral form.
Note that contacting SDFWA directly will not achieve the desired results.

DISCLAIMER
By agreeing to these Terms, and by continuing to submit this Referral Form, and by utilizing one or more of the services of any of these craftsmen, you are agreeing to contract exclusively with that individual craftsman and to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the SDFWA Organization, its officers, officials, employees and volunteers from any and all claims, injuries, damages, losses or suits including attorney fees, arising out of or in connection with the performance of this agreement, and any and all failures, damages, or otherwise negative outcomes caused directly or indirectly by the craftsmen you employ to do any project initiated by this Form. This does not preclude you from pursuing legal remedies from the individual craftsman that you employ. But any remedy you pursue is restricted to that individual craftsman, and does not include the SDFWA organization or any of its volunteer members.