Welcome to the wonderful world of woodworking! The SDFWA Education Team is committed to offering classes that emphasize both instructional quality and personal safety for learners. To that end, we offer classes that address the common issues and concerns that all new woodworkers face:
- How do I get started in woodworking?
- How do I operate woodworking machinery safely?
- My math skills are poor. Can I still learn to be an accurate woodworker?
- Don’t have much space. How and where can improve my knowledge and skills?
SDFWA Offers Four Classes Specifically for New Woodworkers
Our most popular class, this is designed for the new woodworker who has no prior experience. You will learn how to start and complete two projects, building a cutting board and a step-stool. By completing these two projects, you will learn fundamental woodworking skills that apply to large range of other woodworking projects:
- Safely operate a wide range of common woodworking machinery
- Measure wood pieces for fabrication
- Take a rough piece of wood and make it square in three dimensions
- Use wood glue and clamps
- Apply two different wood finishes
This class extends your learning from the Intro A class to further develop your skills to build a small Shaker-style table. Learning to build a small table provides you with the skills to tackle a wide-range of furniture projects that all utilize similar concepts in wood preparation and joinery.
Learning to accurately transfer plans from paper to wood is a key step for new woodworkers. You will learn how to use the tools necessary to lay-out your woodworking ideas including squares, compass, rulers, and a host of other measuring/marking tools. For those whose math skills may be less than ideal, the course will provide tips and tricks to make your life easier.
Learning how to finish your newly crafted piece is a crucial, but often over-looked aspect of woodworking education. There are hundreds of finishing products available to choose from. This class will give you an opportunity to prepare wood for a final finish, and then practice applying several different, easy to apply and readily available finishes.
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Looking for more? Try a class in one these domains to further your education.
Students learn to use chisels, hand saws, and planes, which serve to both complement and extend machine woodworking skills learned in the Introduction to Woodworking Class.
Turning wood on a lathe offers you a fun and completely different experience from skills learned in the Introduction to Woodworking classes.
SDFWA offers a wide-range of digital tool classes including CNC Router, 3D Printing, Laser Engraving and more.
Each semester SDFWA will offer one or more classes designed to provide you with new skills or complete a specific project such as Router Jigs, Veneering, Sketch-up, Shaker trays, and more.
