Replies

1. 
   Frank Vucolo | Dec 20, 2008 06:06pm | #1

   Islandman

   Here's a link to FWW's list
   http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideArticle.aspx?id=28165

   Unfortunately, it doesn't list any in Florida; you might have to make a trip.

   The only one I can speak for first hand is The Philadelphia Furniture Workshop. Alan Turner and Mario Rodriguez have an excellent facility and offer excellent instruction there.

   I'm not sure if that's in your travel plans but I'd take a look at their website and use it as a benchmark as you a review other schools.

   Good luck

   Frank

2. 
   bones | Dec 20, 2008 06:19pm | #2

   I would reccomend a couple of dvd's.  Someone else reccomended these to me when I first got an interest in LN planes.  Go to http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?grp=1320 and check out the videos by David Charlseworth.  He's a great instructor and I learned a lot.  Secondly, if you are going to be using your planes to take rough stock, I would also reccomend Rob Cosmons Rough to Ready DVD.  If you want any assistance in sharpening, Davids, sharpening DVD helped me.  After I spent some time learning to sharpen, I spent a ton of money at LN.  Good luck and watch the monkey, once he's on your back it's hard to stop. 

   Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
   If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
   And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
   
3. 
   troys | Dec 20, 2008 10:51pm | #3

   Not a class but tools for working wood has a great video by the late Jim Kingshott on using hand planes. Jim does a great job of explaining the parts of a plane and what they do. Then goes on to show how to use the various types of planes to flatten and square up a board. The bad thing about the video is that he shows you some very nice planes and I am now just plain envious:)

   Troy

1. 
   islandman | Dec 21, 2008 08:50am | #4

   thank all of you for the help.  i think i'm going to try a combination of your suggestions.  i've contacted a school from taunton's list to see if they have room.  since it's the weekend, i guess i'll have to wait for monday for a reply.  i am also going to get some of the videos to help me out until i can go to the school.  thank all of you very much. 

   islandman

1. 
   troys | Dec 21, 2008 10:03pm | #5

   My pleasure and good luck.Troy

4. 
   ctsjr | Dec 22, 2008 12:33am | #6

   Islandman

   If you are specifically wanting to know how to use handplanes only, then I would recommend getting a copy of Lonnie Bird's DVD on handplanes. It's available on Amazon or from Lonnie's website. If you are interested in how to use handplanes and other handtools, then I recommend enrolling in Lonnie's school and taking Woodworking Essentials. Check out the website lonniebird.com I'm heading to my third class in May 2009. You will learn more than you ever thought possible. Hope this helps. Tom

   "Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
5. 
   JMadson | Dec 22, 2008 07:41am | #7

   I've been to the Marc Adams school in Indiana twice, I love it and I've only heard good things about it.

   This class might fit your needs

    Page 42 in November 19, 2008 issue of Marc Adams School of Woodworking

   If this link doesn't work, their site is http://www.marcadams.com

    

1. 
   noviceneil | Dec 22, 2008 06:36pm | #8

   I would second the recommendation for the Marc Adams school...they do have a weekend course taught by Chris Shwartz and Tom Lie Nielsen entitled Handplanes and their uses  the last week of April...seems tailor made for your quest... they also have several week long courses that emphasize woodworking with hand tools..well worth the time and investment..also, in addition to the above named video, Rob Cosman has one called From Rough to Ready that teaches the basics of hand planes to dimension rough lumber...Chris Schwartz also has a DVD on handplanes...and if that's not enough, pick up Garrett Hacks book ...that and three or five years of experience will make you quite proficient in their use.

   Still Noviceneil, but getting close to advancement

6. 
   SawdustSteve | Dec 22, 2008 07:10pm | #9

   Go to the 'front page' of Knots. Scroll down to the very bottom of the page. There are listings for woodworking schools and woodworking clubs. There are 14 clubs in Florida. Attend a meeting or two and you will find someone who is willing to teach you hand-planing or the club has classes on hand planing. Get some clear pine, sharpen the blades, and go at it. Planing is just like any other skill, you've got to practice to make it p[erfect. Most people forget that the most important thing is that your workbench not move while you're planing, No, you don't need a 'sherman tank' of a bench, hust something reasonably solid.

   SawdustSteve Long Island, NY (E of NYC)

1. 
   islandman | Dec 22, 2008 10:29pm | #10

   Thank you for your replies.  I've got a workbench that's about 4" thick and about 350lbs.  The woodworking clubs in that list, unfortunately, are too far away to go for just an evening that they usually seem to have.  I am going to try the woodworking school in Indiana since the one I contacted still hasn't gotten back to me.  The Indiana school sounds quite good for what I'm looking for.  Again thank all of you for helping a novice trying to get started.  It sure is a great activity that I would like to be doing right now.  I'm stuck in Portland, Oregon trying to get back to my workshop in Florida and our flights been cancelled until who knows when.  Right now they're saying we may get out the 26th.  At least the motel finally agreed to let us stay.  They were overbooked and said we may have to leave.  Well, the motel has beer, and there's a good football game on tonight.  So, c'est la vie.  Thank you again for the help.

1. 
   stevo1952 | Dec 23, 2008 12:08am | #11

   Islandman,
   If you are stuck in Portland, you may want to go see Gary Rokowski at the Northwest Woodworking Studio. His place is about 1 mile south of the convention center Max stop. He's a bit of character, but his work is first rate and he might have some advice or future classes you might be interested.
   Steveo

1. 
   islandman | Dec 24, 2008 08:32pm | #13

   thanks but i just got your message and it's a blizzard outside now.  i doubt he's open christmas eve anyway.  we're supposed to fly out the 26th so i'll probably miss him.  he sure does sound like an interesting character.  is his place on front stree?

2. 
   JMadson | Dec 23, 2008 12:52am | #12

   Marc Adams takes registration on line. You can check class availability too on their site. It's usually difficult to get into the poplular classes but with the current economy it looks like their attendence is down. Good for you, bad for them. 

7. 
   jfsksa | Nov 13, 2020 06:34pm | #14

   As I was learning woodworking I was fortunate to have access to a group woodshop and learned from some more experienced woodworkers. Then I took several classes at a place in Waco, Tx. I took classes on lathes, hand tools, and built a rocking chair at the school. Videos are good, but hands-on instruction given by experts is hard to beat. Take the classes if you can, then supplement with CDs and youtube.

8. 
   DRBWWing | Nov 14, 2020 07:26am | #15

   I learned virtually everything I know about woodworking and tools at the University of YouTube & the FWW video archive.

   Kidding but not really. I have taken a couple carving classes and truthfully, I didn’t learn anything more then from a video, but it was fun watching a master make me feel totally inept.

   :-)

9. 
   sclause | Nov 19, 2020 10:22am | #16

   I often forget to look but the OP asked this question in 2008.

10. 
    mikaol | Nov 19, 2020 07:06pm | #17

    By the way, 'Tools for working wood' is a website.

1. 
   _mj_ | Nov 19, 2020 08:29pm | #18

   Actually, Tools For Working Wood is a very nice shop in Brooklyn. They do have a website for those too far away to stop by as I do.

1. 
   john_c2 | Nov 20, 2020 02:39am | #19

   Their last shop had more character than the new one. But it's still worth the pilgrimmage.

11. 
    _mj_ | Nov 20, 2020 06:06am | #20

    Yeah, kinda ware-housey.

12. 
    [email protected] | Feb 16, 2021 01:19pm | #21

    There is a school in Tampa