Replies

1. 
   stephengaal | Sep 25, 2003 11:39pm | #1

   Jill:

   One of the finest places to learn to build furniture in America is in Boston:  the North Bennett Street School.  Although they have a two year fulltime program in cabinet and furniture making, they also have a series of very good workshops from 3 days to two weeks in length.  The focus is on acquiring a specific set of skills but does occasionally involve a specific thing.

   Try http://www.nbss.org

   Stephen J. Gaal

2. 
   BG | Sep 26, 2003 12:33am | #2

   Jill,

   What is it that you'd like to build?  Phil Lowe has a school up in Beverly, MA. is that anywhere near you?  Also, in Nov. Phil is teaching a weekend program on furniture legs up in Woburn at Woodcraft...should be an excellent program.  Woodcraft offers many programs on various aspect of woodworking.  
1. 
   EdHarrow | Sep 26, 2003 12:56am | #3

   Depending on how far afield you wish to go, a friend of mine just finished a two-week course up in the Camden, Maine area.  He loved it, and his experience was probably on par with yours.  Can't however, do much better than the NB School as mentioned, esp if convenient to you and your schedule.

1. 
   BG | Sep 26, 2003 03:05am | #4

   Ed Harrow,

   There is a major problem with the North Bennet St. School....it is in the heart of the North End in Boston..aka Little Italy....Walking past all those restrauants..all the fantastic smells ....to go smell white oak...well, that takes committment   

1. 
   EdHarrow | Sep 26, 2003 05:19am | #5

   ROTFLMHO!  Ya got me there.  Maybe if you do some more (by hand of course) planing (sp?) and cutting you could come out even.  ;-)

1. 
   jkrugman | Sep 26, 2003 04:37pm | #7

   I am soooo glad I posted this question here! You guys have given great info. I am very thankful.

   What do I want to build? I'd like to begin with a little desk for my computer... but maybe that's too ambitious. Maybe I should start with a nice bench-chest to store shoes and boots and put by the front door... I don't want to learn some very fancy stuff. I like simple, clean, straight lines, like a lot of Scandinavian furniture; I don't care for ornamentation. My idea of furniture aesthetics is one that does not draw attention to itself (I guess this will eliminate the need to learn many skills I would never use.) I want the wood to be simple-looking (no zebrawood for me!), beautiful, and perfectly finished, and the construction solid rock-solid... OK, I'm yammering. Time to stop.

   Again, thanks!!

   Jill

2. 
   BG | Sep 27, 2003 12:44am | #8

   Jill,

   It sounds as though you'd enjoy Shaker or Arts&Crafts style furniture.  I think there are two ways you might consider to proceed. One way is to focus on technique, as was already suggested, by taking some beginner classes....practice, and develop an understanding of the protocol to follow for the preperation and processing of a project. Get yourself a set of plans and have at it. 

   The second method is a bit more trial and error but You learn from your mistakes and people here are very helpful.  Get a set of plans, and rent vcr tapes on several different techniques...practice.  You'll waste more time this was but it is cheaper. 

3. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Sep 27, 2003 01:17am | #9

   You might look into adult-education classes at your local high schools, voc-tech, or junior colleges.   Often schools like these have wood shops, and you can gain access via an adult-education program.   Some of the programs mentioned by other posters are quite intensive;  they're full-time, and somewhat expensive.   The adult-ed approach is considerably less expensive, and does not require the same level of time commitment.

3. 
   Napie | Sep 26, 2003 04:19pm | #6

   Furniture building is just like cooking, learn technique first!  Then it is all combined to construct the finished piece.  You are far better off to take classes on lumber prep, joinery, finishing etc. than to have a class on a specific piece.

4. 
   Crunk | Sep 27, 2003 03:32pm | #10

   If you're in Boston, then you are in Mecca as far as woodworking is concerned.

   I'd go to the North Bennett Street School if Iwere you.

1. 
   firemarshalmike | Sep 27, 2003 07:01pm | #11

   I've taken two classes at North Bennett. Fundamentals of Fine Woodworking and Fundamentals of Machine Woodworking. The courses I took were on Saturdays. I believe the courses ran 8 or 10 weeks. My work has steadily improved since I took the classes. These courses provide a great base to start from or in my case to get from woodbutcher on the path to someday, I hope, a craftsman. The North End of Boston is fantastic. Members of the class wood go out for lunch trying different sandwich shops each week. I got to bring bread, cookies and cannoli(sp?) home to my wife and family as well. 

   Good Luck!

   Mikev

5. 
   puterinyanky | Sep 28, 2003 12:28am | #12

   Jill,

    I've been a Licensed Carpenter for the last 15 yrs and have been primarily been creating / building furniture for the last 5yrs for other peolpe everything from bedroom suits to entertainment centers to Kitchen cabinets to dining room tables and chairs also houses and buildings as well as fences and everytime I get ready to start making a new peice I start with a pad of non lined white paper and a nice sharp # 2 wood pencil and a ruler. I simply just start scetching what I have in mind it helps if you know how to draw in 3 diminsions but its not a must.  I've also gotten ideas from magazines and news papers but I only use them for ideas I always modifie the peice for what I want or need. Well GoodLuck and be sure to show us all some pics on your projects

    Sincerely , James Clark