A woodworking community of learning and craftsmanship.

New Classes for Shaper Origin

The SDFWA Shop was gifted a Shaper Origin and we've now wrapped classes around it.

On the surface, this tool looks like an odd plunge router. Kind of familiar but with a screen, a USB port, a camera and other features that don't expect to see. This sense of disquiet is because it's a new category of woodworking tool that's a whole lot smarter than a plain plunge router. Better still, that “smarts” also makes it easy to use. With it you can do a myriad of things faster or with greater precision.

Inlay, mortise with through tenons and pull-handle hardware cut-out.
Completed and assembled drawer with bottom set in dado slots.
Tight box joints on back corners.

All that is pictured above was done using the Shaper Origin in a two-class series. The first class is Intro to Shaper Origin where you get to know the tool while creating the drawer face above. That four-hour session will have you using Origin to cut out the face, add chamfered edges, create a hardware cutout and carve a bead inlay. The follow-on class is End Joinery with Shaper Origin where you'll cut stop dados for the drawer bottom as well as cut mortises with through tenons in a first session followed by cutting box joints in a second session. Upon completion of both classes you will be certified to use the Shaper Origin at the Shop, if you're an SDFWA Shop member.

These new classes will be available to all SDFWA members and they cover all the bases. You'll learn the basic operation of the Origin and how to put the Workstation to use. Better still, you'll learn a series of techniques while building the above drawer. The pictures above show what a student makes, but more importantly, what a student will learn.

Already know CNC inside and out? For you we offer a different class: Shaper Origin for CNC Users. In it we cover all the same material but instead of learning by creating the drawer we simply perform demo cuts. This is a fast-moving class but if you know CNC then it can get you certified on Origin in four hours.

Check out this video from Shaper to get a feel for what's possible.

Like what you see? Click here to sign up for classes.

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.