Woodwork Course

Lesson 1 • Workshop Safety Rules and Practices

Establishes non-negotiable safety behaviors for the shop environment. These rules govern every practical session in the course.

Lesson 2 • Understanding Wood as a Material

Covers wood anatomy, grain direction, and moisture content. Establishes material literacy needed for every subsequent cutting and joining decision.

Lesson 3 • Personal Protective Equipment

Identifies required PPE for each woodworking task. Proper gear selection directly reduces injury risk throughout all hands-on chapters.

Lesson 1 • Measuring and Marking Tools

Introduces precision layout instruments and their correct use. Accurate marking is the foundation of every dimensionally correct woodworking project.

Lesson 2 • Chisels and Mallets

Covers chisel types, sharpening, and controlled paring technique. Chisel work underpins mortise cutting and joint cleanup in later chapters.

Lesson 3 • Rasps, Files, and Scrapers

Introduces shaping and finishing hand tools for curves and flat surfaces. These tools bridge rough shaping and final surface preparation.

Lesson 4 • Hand Saws and Cutting Technique

Covers rip, crosscut, and dovetail saw selection and body mechanics. Proper stance and grip produce straight, controlled cuts with minimal tearout.

Lesson 1 • Miter Saw Precision Cutting

Covers miter, bevel, and compound angle cuts for frames and trim. Accurate miter saw technique reduces waste and improves joint fit.

Lesson 2 • Drill Press and Portable Drill Use

Introduces drilling techniques for accurate, perpendicular holes. Proper bit selection and speed settings prevent burning and tearout.

Lesson 3 • Circular Saw and Jigsaw Fundamentals

Covers blade selection, guard use, and freehand vs. guided cutting. These portable saws handle sheet goods and rough dimensioning tasks.

Lesson 4 • Router Basics and Bit Selection

Teaches router setup, feed direction, and common profiling operations. Router skills enable edge treatment and joinery in upcoming chapters.

Lesson 1 • Jointer Operation and Face Flattening

Covers jointer setup, infeed/outfeed table alignment, and safe face-jointing technique. A flat face is the reference surface for all subsequent milling steps.

Lesson 2 • Ripping and Crosscutting to Final Size

Applies table saw and miter saw skills to cut parts to final width and length. Accurate dimensioning at this stage ensures tight-fitting joints later.

Lesson 3 • Thickness Planer Use and Calibration

Teaches feeding technique, depth increments, and snipe reduction on the thickness planer. Students produce parallel faces to a target dimension.

Lesson 1 • Dovetail Joints by Hand

Covers layout, sawing, and chopping of through and half-blind dovetails. This joint is the benchmark of hand-tool skill and drawer construction quality.

Lesson 2 • Box Joints and Finger Joints

Teaches machine-cut interlocking joints for boxes and carcasses. A router table or table saw jig produces consistent spacing for strong glue surfaces.

Lesson 3 • Dado, Rabbet, and Groove Joints

Teaches housing joints used in shelving, cabinets, and drawer construction. Router and table saw methods are both demonstrated for each joint type.

Lesson 4 • Mortise and Tenon Joinery

Introduces the strongest traditional frame joint for chairs, tables, and doors. Students cut mortises by hand and machine, then fit tenons to precise tolerances.

Lesson 1 • Panel Glue-Up Technique

Covers edge preparation, glue application, and clamp placement for wide panels. Proper technique produces flat panels without cupping or gaps.

Lesson 2 • Wood Adhesive Types and Properties

Compares PVA, polyurethane, epoxy, and hide glue for different applications. Adhesive choice affects open time, gap-filling, and finishing compatibility.

Lesson 3 • Frame and Carcass Assembly

Teaches dry-fitting, glue sequencing, and squaring techniques for frames and box structures. Assembly order prevents racking and misalignment.

Lesson 4 • Troubleshooting Assembly Problems

Addresses gaps, racking, and glue starvation during and after assembly. Students learn corrective actions before glue sets and after cure.

Lesson 1 • Topcoat Finishes: Oil and Wax

Introduces penetrating oil and paste wax finishes for low-sheen, tactile surfaces. These finishes are easy to apply and repair in the field.

Lesson 2 • Finishing Problem Solving

Identifies and corrects common finish defects such as runs, fisheye, and blush. Diagnosing problems before they cure saves rework time.

Lesson 3 • Sanding Sequence and Abrasive Selection

Teaches grit progression from 80 to 220 and abrasive backing types. Skipping grits leaves scratches that show through any topcoat.

Lesson 4 • Film Finishes: Shellac, Lacquer, and Varnish

Covers brush and spray application of film-building finishes. Film finishes provide durable, moisture-resistant surfaces for furniture and cabinetry.

Lesson 1 • Finishing and Project Evaluation

Applies a complete finishing schedule and evaluates the result against design intent. Self-assessment builds critical judgment for future projects.

Lesson 2 • Final Assembly and Hardware Installation

Covers glue-up sequencing, hardware fitting, and final adjustments. Proper hardware installation completes structural and functional requirements.

Lesson 3 • Milling and Joinery Execution

Applies the milling sequence and joinery techniques from earlier chapters to actual project parts. Sequencing errors here affect fit and finish quality.

Lesson 4 • Project Design and Cut List Creation

Teaches scaled sketching, dimensioned drawings, and cut list generation. A complete cut list prevents material shortages and sequencing errors.