Woodworking Skills Course

Lesson 1 • Understanding Wood as a Material

Covers hardwood vs. softwood, grain structure, and moisture content. Establishes material literacy needed for every subsequent technique.

Lesson 2 • Lumber Dimensions and Grading

Explains nominal vs. actual dimensions and grading standards. Enables accurate material estimation and purchasing decisions.

Lesson 3 • Workshop Layout and Safety

Defines safe tool placement, traffic flow, and emergency procedures. Directly supports injury-free practice throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Sharpening Systems and Maintenance

Establishes a repeatable sharpening workflow for all edge tools. Sharp tools are the single greatest factor in cut quality and safety.

Lesson 2 • Planes: Setup and Use

Teaches bench plane anatomy, blade setting, and planing technique for flat and edge work. Planed surfaces are the foundation for glue-ready joints.

Lesson 3 • Saws: Selection and Technique

Covers rip, crosscut, and dovetail saws with proper grip and stroke mechanics. Accurate hand-sawing underpins joinery work in later chapters.

Lesson 4 • Chisels and Mallets

Covers chisel geometry, sharpening, and controlled paring and chopping. Chisel skill is essential for fitting joints and cleaning up machine cuts.

Lesson 1 • Table Saw Fundamentals

Covers blade selection, fence use, and anti-kickback technique. The table saw is the primary dimensioning tool in most workshops.

Lesson 2 • Band Saw and Scroll Saw

Covers blade tensioning, fence use, and freehand curve cutting. These saws enable curved components introduced in later project chapters.

Lesson 3 • Jointer and Thickness Planer

Teaches face jointing, edge jointing, and thickness planing sequences. Properly milled stock is the prerequisite for accurate joinery.

Lesson 4 • Drills, Sanders, and Finishing Tools

Covers drilling techniques, sanding grits, and random-orbit vs. belt sander use. These tools complete the power tool toolkit for project work.

Lesson 1 • Box Joints and Finger Joints

Teaches uniform finger joint cutting using a table saw sled. Provides a machine-efficient alternative to dovetails for box construction.

Lesson 2 • Mortise and Tenon Joints

Teaches layout, chopping, and fitting of mortise-and-tenon joints by hand and machine. This joint is the backbone of frame-and-panel construction.

Lesson 3 • Dado, Rabbet, and Groove Joints

Covers shelf-supporting dados, edge rabbets, and panel grooves. These joints are fundamental to casework and cabinet construction.

Lesson 4 • Dovetail Joints

Covers through and half-blind dovetails cut by hand and with a jig. Dovetails are the benchmark of hand-tool skill and drawer construction.

Lesson 1 • Surface Preparation for Gluing

Covers freshly planed vs. sanded surfaces and contamination prevention. Proper prep is the most critical factor in glue-joint strength.

Lesson 2 • Panel Glue-Ups

Teaches edge-jointing, alternating grain, and clamping sequences for wide panels. Wide panels are required for tabletops and cabinet sides.

Lesson 3 • Adhesive Types and Properties

Compares PVA, polyurethane, epoxy, and hide glue for different applications. Correct adhesive choice directly affects joint strength and repairability.

Lesson 1 • Sanding Sequence and Technique

Establishes grit progression, sanding direction, and scratch removal verification. Thorough sanding is the foundation of a flawless finish.

Lesson 2 • Oil and Wax Finishes

Teaches penetrating oil application and paste wax buffing for low-sheen results. These finishes are ideal for hand tools and furniture with natural feel.

Lesson 3 • Finishing Problem Solving

Diagnoses and corrects runs, fisheye, blush, and grain raise. Troubleshooting skills prevent costly refinishing of completed projects.

Lesson 4 • Film Finishes: Varnish and Lacquer

Covers brush-applied varnish and spray lacquer for durable protective coats. Film finishes provide the highest moisture and abrasion resistance.

Lesson 1 • Hardware Selection and Installation

Covers hinges, pulls, and drawer slides with layout and installation technique. Proper hardware installation completes functional furniture.

Lesson 2 • Frame-and-Panel Door Construction

Covers rail-and-stile joinery, panel floating, and door fitting. Frame-and-panel construction accommodates wood movement in large flat surfaces.

Lesson 3 • Casework Design Principles

Covers proportion, structural logic, and wood movement allowances in case furniture. Design decisions made here determine joinery and assembly choices.

Lesson 4 • Drawer Construction and Fitting

Teaches drawer box joinery, bottom panel fitting, and slide installation. Drawers are among the most common and demanding furniture components.

Lesson 1 • Bent Lamination and Steam Bending

Covers thin-strip lamination over forms and steam-box bending for curved parts. Curved components expand design possibilities beyond rectilinear furniture.

Lesson 2 • Reading and Creating Shop Drawings

Teaches orthographic views, section cuts, and cut lists from measured drawings. Shop drawings are the communication tool between design and construction.

Lesson 3 • Veneering and Inlay Work

Introduces substrate preparation, veneer pressing, and decorative inlay cutting. Veneering extends design options and uses rare wood efficiently.

Lesson 4 • Project Management and Quality Control

Teaches sequencing, time estimation, and inspection checkpoints for complex builds. Systematic project management ensures on-time, defect-free completion.