Eye Openers are the SDFWA’s monthly Saturday morning gathering where woodworkers of all skill levels come together to connect and get inspired. They are held in the Keck Pavilion, at the Shop [MAP].  Eye Openers start with coffee, donuts, and a chance to socialize with other woodworkers who share your passion for the craft. While you’re catching up on the latest technique, there are plenty of things to do:

• Frequently there is a SIG table, where one of our Special Interest Groups demonstrate their unique talents
• Robert Makar, a professional photographer, is often at the Eye Opener to  professionally photograph your project FOR FREE
• Lumber Cycle attends and offers major discounts on their locally sourced lumber
• You can visit the Membership table for questions or help with your membership
• The ProClass table is available for questions or help with ProClass issues.
• Tools Sales – When the shop has excess tools, they are available at a significant savings
• Bring in your latest project to show off at the brag table. We are all interested in what you have done and how you did it
• Frequently there are Hands On Demonstrations. You can learn a new technique or tool.

Eye Opener Itinerary

• 8:00 AM -Doors Open
• 9:00 SDFWA Meeting
• 09:30 Guest Woodworker

 

Next Eye Opener

October 31, 2026
Getting the Color Right

Previous Eye Openers

September 26, 2026
Tropical Exotic Hardwoods

Mitch Talcove, the founder and owner of Tropical Exotic Hardwood (TEH) will be joining us at the September Eye Opener.  Since 1972 TEH has been the go-to place for hardwoods like Cocobolo, Bocote, Parota, and Mexican Kingwood.  While specializing in Latin American species, they do source lumber from all over the world.  TEH has been a sponsor of Design in Wood for years. They care about sustainable harvesting and are in their third decade of a controlled harvesting study through the Mexican Department of Agriculture.
Many of us have spent time wandering the aisles of what is often described as a candy store for woodworkers. If you’re looking for some distinctive color or figure in your project to give it that certain “je ne sais quoi” (that’s French for bling), TEH should be a place to visit.
Mitch will describe what TEH is all about. He will also spend some time describing some of the beautiful woods they offer that are less exotic but nevertheless beautiful in their own right and very cost effective for beginning woodworks or budget projects. Woods like Black Acacia and figured maple are cost-effective while elevating your project’s beauty.

August 29, 2026
Art Page

Art Page is a retired mechanical engineer. As an avid fly fisherman, he has combined his passion for making stuff and fishing into making stuff to fly fish with.  He has made his own fly fishing rods, a bent wood laminated fishing net, and — oh yeah — a boat.

For those who attended the Design In Wood this year you couldn’t miss his latest design and build effort.   It was impressive and won this year’s DIW Best of Show award. Even if you have no interest in catching and gutting the slimy little creatures, any wood worker can appreciate the skill and artistry that went into his drift boat.

Art will have just returned from a Montana fishing trip where he put his drift boat to use and hopefully caught his limit.  He will be describing some of the design and build considerations as well as the jigs and fixtures he used to get to the finished product.

Hot Dog Lunch

July 25, 2026

Mark your calendars now for this month’s Eye Opener. We are honored to have Del Cover joining us. Del Cover is a renowned San Diego Woodworker who has made his craft a business for over 40 years. He specializes in custom built and art furniture and has had his pieces displayed in the Mingei Museum of art in San Diego and the home of James Hubbel (Ilan-Lael Foundation) in Julian. He has collaborated with artists on numerous pieces in locations around the world. He has judged at the Design In Wood exhibition as well as the Palomar College student show. Del will be presenting on art furniture. What is art furniture, important features and the history of this genre of furniture and woodworking. He hopes to inspire budding artists looking for an outlet for all that creative energy and he also hopes to see more pieces of art furniture in next years’ Design in Wood Exhibition.

We will also be featuring the Toy Special Interest Group (SIG) as the SIG of the month. Come see what they are up to and why you should join. Saturday, July 25, 8 – 10:30 AM Member Shop 5360 Eastgate Mall, Suite E San Diego, CA 92121 [map]

June 27, 2026

8:00 AM Doors open, social time, donuts, SIG of the month and Brag Table

9:00 AM Presentations

10:30 AM Digital SIG

Everyone Is Welcome

Bronze, Silver, and Gold Members

Guest Speaker Vijay Velji of Shellac Finishes

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Email: sales@shellacfinishes.biz
Vijay Velji, Proprietor
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De-Waxed Shellac Flakes for classical woodworkers at very competitive prices.SDFWA members must enter coupon code 1010 during checkout to receive a 10% discount.

Date May 30, 2026

8:00 AM Doors open, social time, donuts, SIG of the month and Brag Table

9:00 AM Presentations

10:30 AM Digital SIG

Everyone Is Welcome

Bronze, Silver, and Gold Members

Note: Robert will not be taking project photos this month but will be at the June and July Eye Openers.

May Eye Opener: Power Carving

Join us at this month’s Eye Opener to learn more about power carving. Power carving is a method of shaping wood or other materials using motorized, high-speed tools rather than traditional hand knives and gouges. It is designed to remove material rapidly, allowing for faster, less physically demanding, and highly efficient carving, making it ideal for both roughing out large shapes and creating detailed, complex textures.

 

Date: April 25, 2026

Time: 8:00 am – 10:30 am

Location: SDFWA Shop [MAP]

Everyone Is Welcome

Bronze, Silver, and Gold Members

Interested Non-Members

Guest Woodworker: Jim Strawn, Design in Wood Director

Jim will be talking about the volunteer duties such as the San Diego County Fair Design in Wood Exhibition. The Design in Wood Exhibition is the reason the San Diego Fine Woodworkers exists. 40 years ago, a group of woodworkers got together to create SDFWA to sponsor the Design in Wood Exhibition and since then it has just grown. Today the DiW Exhibition is the largest juried woodworking exhibit in the USA. The Exhibition features hundreds of exhibits from some of the most talented woodworkers in the nation. It is viewed by several hundred thousand visitors a year in its 20-day run.

The Design in Wood exhibit is completely staffed by SDFWA member volunteers. Members of the SDFWA act as both Mini Docents and 19th century chair builders. In the chair shop there are projects for all levels of woodworking skills. You will be briefed on the unique tools, how to use them safely, and how to explain them to the fascinated visitors. The mini docents provide the fair visitors with a very personal and unique glimpse into the art and craft of woodworking.

Volunteers are provided with free fair tickets, two or four per shift. You can volunteer for multiple shifts and get enough tickets to host your own fair visit. Volunteering is fun and rewarding. Jim will explain the details of how you get the tickets, where you park, and what you will do on your shift.

This is an eye opener you don’t want to miss.