The next season of seminars at Lee Valley Tools Ltd. Coquitlam begins the day after New Years Day with Make Your Own Smoothing Plane taught by yours truly. Together, we will be making wooden, laminated smoothing planes while I regale you with tips, theory, options, alternate techniques and stories of goofs that I’ve made in my early attempts.
Later in January, I will be teaching the ever-popular Fundamentals of Hand Tool Joinery. This class will be a great introduction to cutting joinery by hand. I will teach and demonstrate core techniques for cutting clean and accurate joinery before you cut your own joint using tools including a hand plane, marking gauge, square, marking knife, saw and chisel. As you work, I’ll share some of my own tips and alternate methods of accomplishing the task, as well as insights into why certain tools might be preferred over others.
Can you think of a better way to spend a cold Saturday in the middle of February than in a climate-controlled workshop with me as you Make Your Own Veritas Wooden Spokeshave? Neither could the folks at Lee Valley, so this Valentine’s Day, you have the opportunity to be one of the first to take this class. Starting with a Veritas Spokeshave Kit and a fine piece of hard maple, we will work together to produce our very own adjustable wooden spokeshaves useful for all sorts of shaping tasks (including twisting table legs!).
The toned-down version of my Make a Monstrous Mallet seminar is scheduled for March 5. In Make a Mallet, we will each build a medium-sized mallet useful for normal tasks such as driving chisels or adjusting planes, or shelling pecans (mmm… candied pecans!). I’ll bring in some samples of mallet styles and sizes and you will be able to customize your mallet to your liking (sorry – no Monstrous Mallets will be made in this seminar!).
I really enjoy teaching seminars and they are fun for all involved. Come and learn some new techniques while meeting other passionate woodworkers, or bring a friend or family member for a fun and memorable learning experience!
Pre-registration is required and can be done by calling Lee Valley Coquitlam at 604-515-8896. Details of the aforementioned seminars can be found at the bottom of this post.
Links:
Sculptural Woodwork by Chris Wong 
Gee Chris, too bad I’m at the opposite end of the country, sounds like your seminars will be interesting and fun. I’m sure you will have a blast with the many that are sure to attend. Have a wonderful holidays and be safe.
RR.