woodshop clinics
Learning is a lifelong process. Our woodworking clinics aim to create smaller blocks of instruction that expose students to new ways of making, opening up fresh possibilities in the woodshop. These clinics are intended to build-upon or broaden a base of skill, and may require prerequisites such as our ‘Foundations’ or ‘Beginner Woodshop’ class.
These clinics are intended to build-upon or broaden a base of skills — some require prerequisites such as our ‘Foundations’ or ‘Beginner Woodshop’ class, and most are free to woodshop members.
We host a balance of clinics every month across daytime, weeknight, and weekend timeslots. Specific clinic availability and eligibility are noted within booking links.
Want to just be in the know about new clinic releases? Join our ‘clinics’ waitlist.
upcoming clinics
Project prep & planning
Every successful woodworking project has a mix of planning and serendipity. This clinic helps you nail the ‘planning’ part, with methods in project design, species selection, stock planning, and the stock prep process — taken together, this clinic is about ‘learning how to think’ and demystifying the initial stages of a project.
Power tools
Love them or hate them, power tools are an indispensable part of the woodworking process — and knowing how (and when) to use them is essential.
These clinics introduce students to the three ‘core’ power tools (the table saw, band saw, and thickness planer), as well as other supporting power tools such as drills, drill presses, biscuit joiners, and others. Students who complete the introductory clinics are eligible for a certification (free for members), which then permits them to use these tools during open shop hours.
Subsequent clinics build upon power tool skill and introduce students to techniques and approaches to joinery and stock prep via power tools.
Hand tools
The recess grove woodshop is ‘hand tool first’ — meaning the projects created here are brought to life through the magic of hand tools (and the hands that hold them). Power tools play an important and complementary role in that process, but it’s usually the hand tools that enable the key elements of the design, from its shaped form, to its joinery, and its surface details.
Our hand tools are really special.. Many of them are vintage and have a cool story to tell. Others are new, but of another era — and still highly relevant to the contemporary craft. We’re obsessed with them, and you will be, too.
These hand tool clinics focus on unique types of hand tools, from hand planes and chisels to ‘boring’ tools (like braces and their various bit types), and carving tools.
Joinery
Joinery is the architecture of wood, and entails the carefully constructed elements that hold a workpiece together. Joints range in form and complexity — they can be as simple as two boards glued together, or as intricate as interlocking dovetails. Some joints permit a workpiece to be disassembled (‘knocked down’), while others are made to ensure something stays solidly connected for generations. Whatever the method or style, joinery is what transforms disparate boards into a unified form.
Our joinery clinics introduce students to specific types of joints and their common applications in woodworking, allowing time to familiarize ourselves with the methods of laying out and cutting a given joint, plus practice with constructing the joint itself.
Finishing
Finishing is where the magic happens. This is where the aesthetic beauty of wood literally shines through a project, emphasizing a species’s coloration and hues and the unique and nuanced graining of a particular piece of material.
Our finishing clinics explore the entire process, and help students familiarize themselves with various types of surface treatments, with an emphasis on natural and traditional materials, from homemade paste waxes, to linseed oil, milk paint, shellac, and even ebonization.
Sharpening
When it comes to hand tool woodworking, a sharp tool makes all the difference. And being able to sharpen the tool’s blade yourself — understanding aspects like bevel angle and shape, honing grit, and what to check throughout the process — is essential for self-sufficiency (and enjoyment!) in the shop. Our sharpening clinics demystify this ancient process, from the steel used in our tools, to the various stones and jigs that help make the tools sharp. And, trust us: it’s faster than you’d think and more meditative than you’d expect.
‘do it’ classes
The ‘do it’ series of classes are all about learning practical, around-the-home skills and empowering yourself to get stuff done.
— Yes, you can!! And it may even be fun!
‘Hang it!’
Our clinic that’s all about getting things onto the wall.
Whatever you’re trying to hang — That beautiful photo from that wonderful trip? That cool entryway shelf that’ll hold your keys and wallet? Your TV which takes up way too much floor space? — you can hang it all with an understanding of the right tools, fastening hardware, and your wall itself.
This is a friendly, fun, and approachable 2-3 hour clinic that’ll open new doors — walls — of possibilities.
‘Light it!’ — coming soon
Yes, even light-duty electrical work is within grasp. This clinic will explore the basics of lighting, and incorporate elements of soldering, wiring, and installation. Along the way, we’ll create a basic lamp that integrates the core elements covered in the class, driving home the concepts and giving students something to take home and be proud of.
This is a friendly, fun, and approachable 3 hour clinic that aims to demystify the basics of electricity and empower students to take on basic, at-home project work
want to join a clinic?
Start your journey with ‘Beginner Woodshop’ or ‘Woodworking Foundations’
