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North Bennet Street School

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Woodworking

Machine Woodworking: Building a Cutting Board

$275

with Mark DeVeber CF '21

Calendar Oct 11, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Saturday, October 11th & Sunday, October 12th (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Mark DeVeber CF '21

This two-day workshop provides an introductory foundation to machine woodworking techniques, focusing on the creation of a functional and beautiful cutting board. Students will gain hands-on experience with various woodworking machines, learning essential skills and safe tool usage through practical demonstrations. 

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class.

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions.

  • Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
  • No loose clothing
  • Long pants suggested
  • No loose jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Advanced Woodworking Technique: Tapered Octagon Leg

$275

with Ellen Kaspern CF '03

Calendar Oct 18, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Date: Saturday, October 18th

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Ellen Kaspern CF '03

Teaching Assistant: Alana Schwartz CF '25

This course focuses on the steps to execute a tapered octagon leg using the table saw. The trick to creating perfect tapered octagon legs is in building the right fixture for the table saw. In the class, we will work off a drawing and together build a fixture that will hold the leg. Each student will cut a sample leg using the table saw and fixture. As well, we will discuss different applications for a tapered octagon in class, such as chairs and splayed leg tables.

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class. 

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions.

  • Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
  • No loose clothing
  • Long pants suggested
  • No loose jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Machine Woodworking or equivalent experience. If you have questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu. 

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Fundamentals of Machine Woodworking

$1,150

with Dan Weissman CF '20

Calendar Oct 19, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 5 weeks

Dates: Sundays, October 19 - November 16 (5 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Dan Weissman CF '20

Teaching Assistant: Alana Schwartz CF '25

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the safety, setup, and use of some of the most common woodworking machines. This class is suitable for both beginners looking to jump-start a hobby in woodworking and intermediate/advanced students looking to refresh their skills. Students learn to perform basic machine procedures while gaining the confidence to undertake more complicated operations. We cover the use of the planer, jointer, table saw, radial arm saw, bandsaw, and additional machines as time allows. Each student is given the chance to install and set blades on each machine, along with the necessary fences, guides, and fixtures. Proper techniques for operating each machine safely and for recognizing potentially dangerous situations are emphasized. Each student completes a box with a sliding lid, beginning with milling rough lumber. This course focuses on machine work. Check out our Fundamentals of Fine Woodworking class if you are looking to work at the bench and improve your hand skills. Many students take both classes. If you are just looking to get your feet wet in the shop, check out our Woodworking 101 class.

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class. 

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions.

  • Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
  • No loose clothing
  • Long pants suggested
  • No loose jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Danish Modern Plant Stand

$225

with Rachel Prentki CF '18

Calendar Oct 25, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Date: Saturday, October 25th

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Rachel Prentki CF '18

This one-day class introduces students to mortise & tenon joinery and the lap joint, which are traditional furniture making techniques. This class is a great way to familiarize yourself with woodworking and is perfect for those who are curious about the craft. The students will use the table saw, mortiser, and router to construct the plant stand and learn basic skills. The plant stand is designed to fit a 10-inch diameter by 10-inch high planter. The plastic planter and wood will be supplied in class.

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class.

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions. 

  • Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
  • No loose clothing
  • Long pants suggested
  • No loose jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Introduction to Bowl Turning on an Electric Lathe

$490

with Eric Goodson

Calendar Oct 25, 2025 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Saturday, October 25th & Sunday, October 26th (2 meetings)

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Instructor: Eric Goodson

This two-day class will introduce students to bowl turning on a western-style electric lathe.  Students will learn how to turn a finished bowl straight from a freshly felled tree (once-turned), and how to create bowl blanks that can be dried and turned again (twice-turned). Topics like wood selection, blank preparation, tool sharpening, methods of attaching the bowl to the lathe, ways to dry your bowl/blank, and various finishes will also be covered. Each student will have a dedicated lathe and will produce two or three bowls.

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class.

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions. 

  • Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
  • No loose clothing
  • Long pants suggested
  • No loose jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Bellflower Inlay

$225

with Kevin Hopkins CF '18

Calendar Nov 1, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Date: Saturday, November 1st

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Kevin Hopkins CF '18

The bellflower inlay is a common decorative motif found in furniture of the Federal period (roughly 1780 - 1820).  In this class, students will learn how to sand shade and inlay a traditional bellflower. 

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class.

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions.

  • Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
  • No loose clothing
  • Long pants suggested
  • No loose jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: Students should feel comfortable using sharp tools. 

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Introduction to Chairmaking: Make a Milking Stool

$400

with Charles Thompson

Calendar Nov 1, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Saturday, November 1st & Sunday, November 2nd (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Charles Thompson

Teaching Assistant: TBD

Participants will learn the basics of staked furniture by way of making their own three-legged stool with hand tools. We’ll learn how to make tapered chair legs, either by hand plane or draw knife. Then, we’ll figure out seat layout, splay angles, and discuss what those mean in relation to design and function. Lastly, we’ll saddle a seat and join it to the legs with a tapered mortise and tenon joint.

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class.

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions. 

  • Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
  • No loose clothing
  • Long pants suggested
  • No loose jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back 

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Woodworking 101

$300

with Rachel Prentki CF '18

Calendar Nov 4, 2025 at 6 pm, runs for 3 weeks

Dates: Tuesdays & Thursdays, November 14-18 (4 meetings)

*Class does not meet on Tuesday, November 11th

Hours: 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Instructor: Rachel Prentki CF '18

Teaching Assistant: Stephen Thrasher

Interested in woodworking and looking for a way to get started? This introductory course is designed to give beginner students an overview of shop safety as well as some of the most common machines and hand tools used in woodworking. We work towards the completion of a small project while building basic skills and getting comfortable with machinery and working at the bench. This class is geared toward beginners looking to get a peek into woodworking. For more in-depth skill-building, check out our Fundamentals of Fine Woodworking and Fundamentals of Machine Woodworking classes. Many students choose to take Woodworking 101 before a Fundamentals class, but it is not required. 

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class.

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions.

  • Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
  • No loose clothing
  • Long pants suggested
  • No loose jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 





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