Hand tool classes in Midwest?

[whit richardson]

After seeing the raves on the Philadelphia Furniture guys place but seeing it's too far for me (Indiana) I'm asking if any one knows of similar folks/schools that teach planecraft, dovetailing etc. in the same price range and time frams (1 to 3 days classes). I know I have Marc Adams but most of his classes are a whole week and well over $500.


So who's around in the Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky area?

[Mike Davi]

Check here for a list. Don't know if it's complete and I can't speak to any schools in your area.

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesArticle.aspx?id=28165

[Johnny Kleso]

Whit,
After viewing the posting that Al Navas was so kind to post about the Frank Klusz class and reading the links on the web and maybe buying one or two videos thier is only so much watching can tech you :)

Get some scraps of work and get to work..
Althought cutting scraps is nothing like when you have to fit four corners but you will learn 10x more from cutting scraps than watching or reading..

[whit richardson]

Thanks I do believe in learning by doing and I've been doing and making shavings and mistakes. But I also now know that good instruction can get you there faster and doing the right thing.

[Al Navas]

Thanks I do believe in learning by doing and I've been doing and making shavings and mistakes. But I also now know that good instruction can get you there faster and doing the right thing.
Whit,

You have my attention.

In order, what specific classes would you have in mind? Please share with us.

Where I am coming from:
I will soon be posting videos (on my blog) on the use of bench planes, and later, on sharpening a hand scraper. Both will be videos I shot during Woodworking in America. Please hang in there!


Thanks!


.

[Adam Cherubini]

I'm teaching in Kentucky in March and Minnesota in May. I'll be covering basic (period) hand tool skills required to work 100% by hand. I think this is a little different than working kinda sorta by hand.

email me off list for more info

Adam

[Mike K Wenzloff]

Whit, Kelly Mehler is in Berea.

Take care, Mike

[Luke Townsley]

You might check out this link on my site:
http://www.unpluggedshop.com/views/schools

[Dick Tysen]

Whit
I was in the Indianapolis Woodcraft and Rob Cosman will be there in January.I think he will have three session; dovetails,tool care and mortise & tennons.
Don't know if this is what you are looking for but it sounds informative.

Dick Tysen

[Whit AndersonIL]

Whit--

Nice name, you don't see a lot of people named Whit.

Both of the links above include Jeff Miller:

http://www.furnituremaking.com/

I've taken several of his workshops and always felt that they were worth my time, effort, and money.

--Whit

[Dave Anderson NH]

Another approach which I constantly remind people of is your local woodworking guild or club. Check through the websites of the major woodworking forums, the websites of the magazines, and links on other woodworking websites. There are often listing for clubs. There are several advantages to this approach.

You meet new friends and potential mentors

Classes are often free or extremely cheap

You get connected to a network which can offer advice, sources of supply, and demonstration meetings.

Clubs maintain a schedule of events and usually have a newsletter with tips, notices of events of interest, and other timely items

[Pam Niedermayer]

American Sycamore (http://www.americansycamoreretreat.com/) is in Indiana, as good a place as any to start.

Also, check out community colleges for woodworking programs, as well as local clubs/guilds.

I hired an experienced hand tool woodworker in Houston for a day, great idea, learned a lot.

100 years ago I took a short course at a local museum in the Boston area.

But really, in these days of dvd's and other videos, there's no need to travel at all for quite a while.

Pam

[Mark Wyatt]

The Mark Adam's school of woodworking is in Indiana, about 30 minutes south of Indianapolis. My Father-In-Law took a weekend course where he built a mahagony cedar chest using mostly hand tools. He raves about the course.

http://www.marcadams.com/home.html

[whit richardson]

Thanks and thanks some more...

What interested me about the Philly guys were they have 1 and 3 day classes under $400. i.e. Planecraft 1 day $160, Hand tools foundation 2 days $300.

For the others Marc Adams, Sycamore or Kelly Mehler and the like are all very expensive and most require a whole week off. I see some things are weekend but not that much selection.

Pam - Indiana doesn't have that fine system of Jr. Colleges like Texas. I'm still a native Texan in Hoosier county. ;-)

The Woodcraft here cancelled four classes indefinately I had tried to take so I gave up on them.

I did take a class at the Indiana Art Center which was good and priced well. Your instructors are good local tradesmen but it's a bit luck of the draw and they are sometimes trolling for hobbist who might end up being customers.

Al - Where I'm coming from is I've knocked stuff around in my shop with hand tools (I use power and hand both) but been frustrated with results. Learned a bit at the conference in Berea but also see I need to know more about proper hand tool operation, use and care. Like how not to crush the top of your mortise with your mortise chisel, sorry Frank. btw your blog and videos are great!

I'll keep checking into the local resources like Marc Adams, maybe they have some shorter classes that aren't so much. I'm not cheap just have to budget the money between tools, machines and training.

Mike W. the saw class in Berea was very helpful and yes if you could of spent three hours and we could kick about 7 people out that would of been great! But it was still good... I've been whacking away on a beater I almost threw out.

Hey Whit that's a great name. With a name like Whit I always met the principal very quickly each time I changed schools (military brat) as new kids are so good with new names. ;-)


Again thanks alot for sharing resources, tips and time.

[Pam Niedermayer]

Well, $500 for a week costs $100 / day, much less than $160.

Pam

[Bill McDermott]

Whit,

Here's another vote for Jeff Miller, in Chicago. I've taken a number of classes from him and always feel I received good value. He offers one or even half day classes. The "lecture format" classes are a real bargain. It's always a very small group. You deal directly with him and get lots of interaction, questions and answers. Other classes are a combination of lecture with enough hands on to get the hang of it.

If I were to suggest one class, I'd steer you toward the table making class. You take home a table as a reward that is worth much of the money you spent. The course takes place over three Saturdays. So you need to be able to drive in and out. This format gives you time and opportunity to learn something about all the steps in the process. It's a good mix design, hand tool, power tool work and finishing. You get mini lectures at each step of the way and lots of individual coaching as you build the table. Sort of like taking 3 classes in one, plus a nice table you made.

http://www.furnituremaking.com/workshophome.html

BTW, I took this course with my Dad. What a great way to schedule and spend quality time with someone important to you.

Enjoy.

Bill

[whit richardson]

Well, $500 for a week costs $100 / day, much less than $160.

Pam

Most of those are well over $500 that was just "about or more" number. Examples - Kelly Mehler Basic hand tools 5 days $775, Marc Adams 5 days $735. Again it's not being cheap but targeting the most bang for my buck and time. I get 3 weeks a year off and my family gets the biggest chunk which is the right priority. The Berea event was nice because they used weekend days to cover 3 days worth so I only needed a day or two off.

Bill McD - thanks for more about jeff miller I will check into that.. Chicago is a 3.5 hr drive though.. still could be worth it.

[Michael Gibbons]

Whit, Check with Ernie Conover at Conover Workshops in Parkman, Ohio. I took a two day-two class program. Saturday was handplane tuning and Sunday was handcut dovetails. You have to find your own lodging somewhere nearby. Possible B&B.

[Harold Beck]

Try Todd Herrli. He is north of Indy an hour or two and teaches wooden plane making. Got a lot of goog plane instruction from him also. Gives 1, 2, 3 day classes.

Good Luck,

HB

[whit richardson]

Again thanks folks for info. I'll check all this folks and see if I can find what Adam C. was referring too about his schedule.

In the meantime I intend to keep praticing, get some DVD's maybe and just keep pluggin' away because you learn that way too.


later

[Michael Hammers]

Check out Don Weber in Berea. He has hand tool intensive classes and a schedule on his site.

[John Dykes]

I'd also recommend Don Weber. Haven't taken a class, but spent hours watching \ learning from him at WIA in Berea. Seems like his classes might be lower than some...

- jbd in Denver

[Mike K Wenzloff]

I'd also recommend Don Weber. Haven't taken a class, but spent hours watching \ learning from him at WIA in Berea. Seems like his classes might be lower than some...

- jbd in Denver
I haven't taken a class with Don either. But I will. Just gotta learn to do some Welsh Windsors with him.

Visit with Don when we were at Berea.

http://wenzloffandsons.com/temp/wia/webers_dina_01.jpg

And the Hayrake table that will appear in an upcoming PopWood.

http://wenzloffandsons.com/temp/wia/weber_shop_01.jpg


I will enjoy a week or two with Don.

Take care, Mike

[David Cockey]

Tillers International just outside of Kalamazoo, Michigan offers several woodworking classes. Some are one or two days on a weekend. The woodworking tends towards "country" type, not fine. Cost is quite reasonable and includes a good lunch. They have some accomodations, you can park your van, camper, etc and sleep in it, or stay nearby.

http://www.tillersinternational.org/

Schedule is at: http://www.tillersinternational.org/classes/wood.html

Watch Roy Underhill's visit, show 2711, at: http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/schedule/video.html

[Johnny Kleso]

Their is Lonnie Bird in KY
http://www.lonniebird.com/Lonnie_Bird_2.jpg

http://www.lonniebird.com/

One day I hope to attend one of his classes..

[Chris Schumann]

Check your area Woodcraft stores. The one up here has one coming up called The Unplugged Workshop I with Tom Caspar. It is on 11 consecutive Thursday evenings.

33 hours of class for $395.

From the course page:
Description: This unique hands-on class is all about hand tools. You'll learn how to sharpen chisels, planes and scrapers, plane a staight edge, make an mortise and tenon joint, shape a cabriole leg, cut dovetails and much more. We'll cover the basic tools you'll need in the first class and give you a special course textbook. Tom Caspar is Editor of both American Woodworker and Woodwork Magazines and has spent many years as a professional furniture maker. This year an additional night has been added per Tom's reguest. Sign up quickly for one of our most popular classes.

[whit richardson]

Thanks, thanks and good leads! Again on the Woodcraft - Rockler type stuff it's been a bust when I tried so I gave up on them. I think if you are looking for Tablesaw 101 they can deliver but not on the better stuff.

Lonnie Bird????? again sorry but about $1000 for six days = one week of vacation gone and a Rikon 14" bandsaw with extras... hard to say yes on a budget. I know he is a great woodworker/teacher but..