If you’re a hand-tool woodworker, a shave horse is an indispensable tool. But it’s not something you can easily purchase off the shelf—if you want one, you’d best make it yourself. In this class, students with some woodworking experience are invited to build their very own shaving horse to take home. The design taught in this class combines elements of various traditional shave horses, with a focus on versatility, functionality, and portability. Better yet, the building process provides an opportunity to learn some mortise and tenon joinery, drawknife skills, and even a little spindle turning on the lathe! The result is a functional and elegant tool that will find a prominent place in any woodshop. This class requires a moderate level of exertion, hand strength, and the ability to lift up to 25 lbs.

Required Tools

• Closed-toed footwear
• PPE: Safety glasses and hearing protection are provided for students and required for certain tools in our workshops, but you may wish to bring your own for fit and comfort

This course will be part of Wood Week 2027. Plan to arrive a day early for the Carvers Conference on Friday, March 12, which features demonstrations, speakers and community gatherings all day, offered as a benefit to students enrolled in Wood Week coursework. Full schedule available online in early 2027.