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Woodworking & Furniturecraft

Timbered Workbench: Early American Style

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Course Overview

Have bench, will travel? Indeed, with this workbench you can do both! A fine workbench is an essential fixture in the home workshop. In this class, students will build a sturdy timbered workbench based on early American designs, using simple and classic joinery that echoes timber framing techniques. Mortise and tenon joints of different sizes are used so the finished bench is held together with wedges and can easily be disassembled. The portable, knock-down features of this workbench make it a versatile addition to your workspace and easy to load to bring home.  Dimensions: 38"H x 72"L x 30"W (with some variations possible).  The bench is made using white pine timbers for the legs and top, and ash for the wedges.

The bench's clean and classic lines may inspire some students to use it as a rustic dining room table; the resulting table is slightly shorter than the workbench. The top's rustic timbered character will speak for itself (table builders are asked to communicate their desires at registration). Options for finishing the bench/table ranging from natural oil to milk paint will be discussed. For workbench enthusiasts, options for vises and hold down clamps will be discussed.

Dates

Fri, Feb 8th, 2019  –  Sun, Feb 10th, 2019

Course Details

Length: 3 Days
Skill Levels: Beginner to Intermediate
Hours: 9am-5pm
Tuition: $545.00
Materials fee: $245.00

Required

You will need the following tools for this class:

I hesitate to require tools, but if you have tools bring them because it is beneficial to use the tools you are familiar with or in some cases learn to use the tools you own.  If you don't own tools and plan to buy them, it is perhaps better to wait until after the class at North House in which we will discuss tools and the right tools to buy.

Optional Tools

  • square
  • drawknife
  • blockplane
  • mortising chisels-wide and narrow
  • electric drill
  • safety glasses
  • tape measure

More Information

Once registered, students will receive a confirmation email with further class information. Please call us if you haven't received it within 24 hours.

Latest Update: View recent changes →

Meet the Instructor

North House Folk School photo of instructor, John Beltman
John Beltman
Suomi, MN

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Timbered Workbench: Early American Style - 2/8/2019