I would like to take some woodworking classes or instruction. There is nothing available or practical for me in my community. I have seen some advertisements for woodworking schools where you can go for a few days or longer and have concentrated instruction, usually centered around some sort of project.
This would be ideal for me and my schedule, besides sounding like a lot of fun and a good vacation. Does anyone have any suggestions or experiences (positive or negative)
Once again, Thanks for the help.
Replies
Where do you live? Have you tried any art schools or community colleges?
Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
I live in Iowa. We have a community college, but they do not have any courses.
Hi PB,
Don't want to hijack this thread, but this picture should be familiarhttp://www.pbase.com/durrenm/image/44755333.jpgI was in Iowa last week for work - Webster City...(North of Des Moines about 1.5 hours.) I've also taught at the DMACC facility in Newton (not for DMACC but for Maytag)I love the big sky - but my wife loves the ocean so we'll be staying in New England.Hope you are able to find a good ww class.MarkMeasure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with an ax.
Edited 6/14/2005 7:21 am ET by Mark
I had a fabulous experience at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, in Maine. Great instructors and facilities, and a beautiful location for a family vacation. I think the website is woodschool.org.
-Lou
http://www.jdlohrwood.com/ I took this course last month and really thought it was great. Jeff has a lot of excellent ideas. Difficult to get in but worth the effort.
Does anyone have any experience with the Marc Adams School of Woodworking.
It's near Indianapolis which is drivable from Iowa.
http://www.marcadams.com/
I took a one-day seminar from him in Los Angeles several years ago, but haven't attended his school - which I've heard good things about.
Adams himself was, as I recall, exceptionally self-impressed, not terribly humble, more than just a little condescending, and not at all reluctant to badmouth other woodworkers. Maybe he's matured since then - hopefully so.
In any case, some of the woodworkers he has at his school have fantastic reputations, and the school itself is supposed to be very well equipped.
-Jazzdogg-
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.
Edited 6/14/2005 4:20 pm ET by jazzdogg
jazzdog has it right on regards his middle paragraph/Marc Adams. The other complaint is the classes are a lecture format, with little/no hands on and no interaction with the instructor.
As a professional woodworker, I am impressed by the folks at American Sycamore Woodworking Retreat. I also teach there on occasion, so I have my prejudices. Lodge-like atmosphere, great classes and wonderful people. Mike and Dana run the place, and they are totally involved in seeing to it that your experience is better than positive. They have lodging on site, home cooked lunch and snacks every day, and the school is located in the hills of Southern Indiana. Lots of Delta and Porter-Cable. This is where Delta sends its reps for in shop hands on training. Everyone goes home with project in hand. The website shows the classes and calendar.
American Sycamore Woodworking Retreat http://www.americansycamoreretreat.com/
Dave S
American Sycamore .. I use it when I can.. I LOVE that wood...
EDIT: But ASH is better...
Edited 6/23/2005 2:31 pm ET by Will George
self-impressed, not terribly humble, more than just a little condescending, and not at all reluctant to badmouth other woodworkers
Just like us in here!
I just took a week long course with Marc and found it escellent in all regards: the facility, the instruction, the hours of hands on practice and support. I was taken aback by the personal comments about Marc. It is true that he has clear opinions and high expectations- of himself. That means that he makes every effort to have the best school possible. Obviously some people respond differently, but I would recommend the school without hesitation.
BMW,
Thanks for sharing your recent experiences; glad to hear (infer) that, like most of us, Mr. Adams has changed over the years.-Jazzdogg-
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.
I teach routing year round, a one-on-one proposition, in Southern California. Could shorten some learning curves.
Penland is in the mountains of NC. Arrowmont is in Gattlinburg Tn. Anderson Ranch is near Aspen Co. I think most of these schools have 1 and 2 week courses with different instructors each week.
I recently took the woodworking essentials class with lonnie bird in dandridge tenn. His class size was ten students, hands on for a full six days. It was the most intensive training Ive had since my apprenticeship some 35 yrs ago. Each student had a workbench. lunch was furnished each day and his home is filled with his handcrafted furniture. If i had to choose one word to describe the experience it would be inspireing.
Next week Doug Stowe, a Taunton published writer, is teaching a box making class at Eureka Springs School of Arts, which is almost in your backyard (400+ miles) in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. I drive to Lincoln, Neb often and know it is an easy drive!
I took his class 2 years ago and signed up again as it was a great experience. I thought I "knew" how to make a box, but it was also a philosophical class in design, appreciation and construction. There is a full shop of machine and hand tools to use, plus the beautiful Victorian town of Eureka Springs.
These are some of the links I found:
http://www.dougstowe.com/
http://www.esartschool.com/
Bob
Here is the URL for the Arrowmont School of Arts in Gatlenburg TN. They offer some good classes in wood working and turning. I did visit the school but haven't taken a class there yet. One of my brothers has taught classes there and recomends the school.
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http://www.arrowmont.org/
Edited 6/16/2005 6:02 pm ET by ultrasea
Conover Workshops is in NE Ohio. Ernie Conover can be a great instructor. Recommend the handtool joinery class.
http://www.conoverworkshops.com/
I have had great experiences learning from 2 people:
Mike Dunbar ("The Master") at The Windsor Institute in NH (Hand tool use and of course, chairmaking). I go back every few years for another "fix".
David Finck, who lives in WVa, but travels to give courses. Check out his website at http://www.davidfinck.com. Outstanding course on making wooden planes covered sharpening, tuning, using, so that planing is no longer a chore, but a sensual experience. Went home and retuned all my metal planes, too. Second course on hand-cut dovetails included choosing and using chisels, handsaws. A great guy and excellent teacher. I'd take another of his courses without hesitation.
Both men make it a fun time. ANY level of woodworker can benefit.
With all due respect, I would advise against any type of community college or adult education woodworking course. Suppose it may be hit-miss and you may hit a decent class. However, if you stick with a well known, accomplished school, you will most certainly do well.
Another option is to hit your local library, get some videos, check out your local Barnes and Noble, etc...
You might just find out that much of what we do in the shop isn't that difficult to learn on your own. And, you may discover ways of doing things that fit your learning and style. Just be careful that you understand the danger of power tools(and sometimes hand tools). Those are areas where, unfortunately, you need to learn from others mistakes.
"I would advise against any type of community college or adult education woodworking course. "
Kevin,
I'm curious to know the basis for your statement, above.
http://www.palomar.edu/woodworking
-Jazzdogg-
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.
Edited 6/21/2005 11:39 pm ET by jazzdogg
Jazz-
Suppose I should be more careful with blanketed statements as I made above. I have taken classes locally both at a local community college and through an adult education program. Each experience was dissapointing. In fact, the adult ed program was downright dangerous as the instructor had 15 people firing up cabinet saws within minutes of walking into the class. I was literally amazed. The 2nd instructor walked in, threw a box full of magazines on the table and told us to pick out a project and he would walk around and assist as necessary. Can you imagine the faces of some of us(me included at the time) who had never so much as turned on a tablesaw?
10 years later and after receiving some training through some of the better instructors in the country...I can come very close to making this promise...
If you attend College of the Redwoods, Center for Furniture Crafts.-Peter Korn's school, Marc Adams school, etc...you are going to receive quality education. These schools strive to bring in not only great woodworkers but talented teachers as well. AND, I do believe there is a difference.
Should I base my comments surrounding community college/adult ed. classes on 2 bad experiences? Maybe not. Suppose I am just telling people to be careful. Not everyone has Palomar in their backyard. Those who do are fortunate and something tells me that Palomar is the exception in terms of what one can receive in local instruction.
Hopefully I did not offend those representing cc programs or others. That was not my intention.
Kevin,
No offense taken. Needless to say, I am extraordinarily proud of the woodworking program at Palomar college; I am also extremely curious about the programs offered at other educational institutions, and find it very disheartening when I hear blanket statements condemning programs that some folks may consider comparable to ours.
FWIW, the first course students take at Palomar, CFT-100, is one in which the vast majority of students (myself included), learn a lot about the limitations of their previous woodworking knowledge and experience. Students are treated to an eye-opening education that includes not only wood technology and an intensive safety indoctrination, but exposure to master craftsmen who are also excellent instructors.
I hope you have an opportunity to visit if you're ever in the San Diego area - I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that we have a fantastic program of which we are justifiably proud.-Jazzdogg-
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.
Jazz-
Appreciate you cutting me some slack on my post.
I have heard nothing but positives on your school. Seems I also recall seeing some of your students work in magazines/books?? Nothing short of outstanding. I would love to come to your school and will certainly look into it if I ever find myself in San Diego.
PS-being able to work wood AND surf should almost be illegal (;.
take care
"being able to work wood AND surf should almost be illegal (;."
Hey, I never said I was graceful or agile enough to surf! When I have time, I do enjoy S.C.U.B.A. diving, despite the limited visibility encountered on beach dives - does that count for anything?
Sawdust in your shoes,-Jazzdogg-
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.
Hey Jazz, were you able to tke in any of the Furniture Society confrence stuff?
I have been wanting to hear about the highlights? Keith
Keith,
Spoke to friends who attended and said it was great, but had to work myself. I'm waiting for a report at the next meeting of the S.D. Fine Woodworkers Assn.
It's likely to be covered by the better WW publications - I hope!-Jazzdogg-
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.
I don't think it's fair to compare community college courses with week-long or longer private school courses, especially if they are on specialised topics. You also can't compare weeklong courses with two or three-year college programs.I teach a two-year diploma program; I also teach 30-hour night courses in basic woodworking, and I believe it's very possible to get a good grounding at an affordable cost (I think we charge around $150 for a night course). When I run into my ex-students from the night courses, they are always very enthusiastic about what they learned, the experience they had, and what they are doing now. One guy is now teaching high school shop based on what he learned in night school.
My goal with the night courses is to teach basics, and safety, and things may get compressed, but they do not get watered down.....that's why I do it, because there are people all over the place with tools in their shops they don't know how to use properly, and I get to hear about a lot of accidents. We do one evening on routers for example.....can't compete, and not trying to, with week long courses, or one-on-one instruction, but it gets them working comfortably and safely with the tools. I have yet to teach a class where I did not have several people take me aside afterwards, and tell me either they have had a bunch of tools sitting on a shelf, or they figured the tools were not working properly, because they didn't know how to use them.....someone always says, also, "You know that thing you taught us never to do? Well, I've done that!". My job is to give students a running start, and keep them safe, not teach the A-Z's of woodworking.
I think the private schools are good....some may be great. But it's caveat emptor, and you may end up learning someone's idiosyncracies, or even bad habits. So checking them out is very wise. College courses are definitely not perfect, and I know from the inside that they could fairly easily be second-rate.....but when they are done well, you get the benefit of professional instructional design, teachers with training in adult education and broad professional woodworking experience, and excellent facilties.
So basically, I think short college courses have an important role to play for beginners and early intermediate woodworkers.....the private schools can also cover the basics, and seem to me best placed to do short, advanced skills courses for a mix of serious hobbyists and pros looking to boost their skills. For longer programs where someone is looking to learn the skills to follow this trade to make a living (not necassarily in one-of a kind furniture), that's where I think the college and university programs do the best job.......they have resources that no private school I'm aware of can think of matching. I think each level of instruction is important, but don't write off college or night courses because of a bad experience.....find a better program.cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, N.S
My short answer: Buy Tage Freid's book on joinery and finishing. That is a college course in itself.
The Undisciplined Life Is Not Worth Examining.
For a family-vacation-included woodworking program, the summer courses at College of the Redwoods in Ft. Bragg, CA (about 3.5 hours N of San Francisco) are well-thought-of and get LOTS of repeat business. (This is the school founded by Krenov.) Plus, for the family, it is located in one of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful areas of the country, and has a variety of accomodations, from Mendocino B&Bs to campgrounds, with lots of local houses available for short-term rentals. See http://www.crfinefurniture.com/
I'm currently 2 days into their 2-week 'Idea to Object' design class, and I'm up early so I can get to the school early enough to do some extra work before the instructors arrive.
Clay
I have enjoyed several hand tool woodworking classes at the Homestead Heritage in Waco, Texas. Despite ten years experience with power tools, the hand tool experience brought my skills up to a new level.
The instructors are great and ego-free. The facilities are first rate. Even the food is wonderful.
I was so impressed with the classes I took at Penland in the late 80's - early 90's that I moved to western North Carolina from California. I've since become equally impressed with the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC and the Arrowmont School in Gatlinburg, TN. I now teach at all 3 on a regular basis. They are very well run and a 1 or 2 or even 8 week class would be an excellent experience.
The great thing about these schools that you wont get with Marc Adams or Pete Korn is the other classes on campus. Sharing meals with potters, blacksmiths, jewelers, and so on beautifully rounds out the experience. You'll be staying on campus and working as late as you want every night. The energy and enthusiasm of everyone on campus is contagious. You'll go home exhausted and highly charged.
Good luck! Steve
I'm taking a week class with Garrett Hack using Hand Tools in September at the Marc Adams School, so I will report back after I attend.
I am also planning to attend the 9 month Furniture Craftsman Program in Maine next year. But the College of the Redwoods sounds like it might be equally well. I'd appreciate any input from anyone that has gone through one of the long term programs at these schools, or any others.
This would be ideal for me and my schedule, besides sounding like a lot of fun and a good vacation
Go for it.. I wish I could afford to do it!...
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