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North Bennet Street School

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Woodworking

Woodworking 101

$297

with Haniel Wides CF ’24

Calendar Jul 1, 2025 at 6 pm, runs for 2 weeks

Dates: Tuesdays & Thursdays, July 1-10 (4 meetings)

Hours: 6:00 - 9:30 pm

Instructor: Haniel Wides CF '24

Teaching Assistant: TBA

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.

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

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

Prerequisite: None

Picture Frames

$286

with Rachel Prentki CF '18

Calendar Jul 12, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Saturday, July 12th & Sunday, July 13th (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Rachel Prentki CF '18

Students will learn how to make a mitered picture frame in this 2-day class. Each student will make a frame using the table saw, router, and various fixtures. Students can choose from various router bits to mold their frame to give it a unique look. We will talk about different techniques to glue up the frames and each frame will be splined to give it added strength.

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

Flat Edge Tool Sharpening

$195

with Brad Wolcott CF '12

Calendar Jul 13, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Date: Sunday, July 13th 

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Brad Wolcott CF '12

This one-day seminar presents the theory and practice of hollow grinding and honing flat-edge tools. Students will work on chisels and card scrapers. Hand planes will be covered as time permits. The techniques covered in class are applicable to other tools as well. Students can expect to sharpen two or three chisels/tools during this session.

Tools & Supplies: Please bring your own chisels, card scraper, and hand plane. We suggest a 1" and 3/4" chisel as good sizes to start with. All other 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

Fundamentals of Machine Woodworking

$1,144

with Dan Weissman CF '20

Calendar Jul 14, 2025 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Monday, July 14 - Friday, July 18 (5 meetings)

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Instructor: Dan Weissman CF '20

Teaching Assistant: Haniel Wides CF '24

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

Shaker Oval Boxes

$286

with Kolin Schmidt CF '21

Calendar Jul 19, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Saturday, July 19th & Sunday, July 20th (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Kolin Schmidt CF '21

In this class, students will learn to make oval bent-band boxes using basic hand tools and steam bending. These boxes are of a traditional style often called "shaker" boxes. * Working with prepared box bands, students learn to bevel, steam, and bend bands; then fit and tack them to lids and bottoms. Students will make 3 different-sized nested boxes, and some techniques for finishing them will be covered as well. All skill levels are welcome!*The term "Shakers" refers to the people of The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, a religious group that separated from the Religious Society of Friends (also known as "Quakers") during the 18th Century. While the group itself is no longer active, their aesthetics of simplicity and utility were highly influential to the history of American furniture making in what has come to be known as the "Shaker style." They were also known for their communal culture, pacifism, abstinence, and equality of the sexes at a time when this was well outside of the mainstream. Both "Shaker" and "Quaker" are terms, originally pejorative in nature, that were given to these groups by outsiders.

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.

Introduction to SketchUp

$300

with Kolin Schmidt CF '21

Calendar Jul 26, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Saturday, July 26th & Sunday, July 27th (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Kolin Schmidt CF '21

SketchUp is a program for creating 3D models for construction, woodworking, jewelry, and craft projects.  Some 3D Modeling software can be complicated, expensive, and impractical for many makers.  SketchUp is a great way to learn about 3D modeling and get to work quickly without wasting time or money on advanced software you don’t need.  In this class students will learn the basics of navigating a 3D space, creating objects, and organizing a 3D model.  Time permitting, students will work through some more complex projects, as well.

Tools & Supplies: Please bring the following required supplies to the first day of class.

Required:

  • Any version of SketchUp 
  • A laptop or Chromebook that meets the minimum requirements to run SketchUp
  • Your laptop or Chromebook’s power cord

Recommended: 

  • Notebook and pen or pencil
  • A 3-button mouse (left, right, and clickable scroll wheel) is highly recommended.

 Prerequisite: None

Woodworking 101

$297

with Kevin Hopkins CF '18

Calendar Jul 26, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Saturday, July 26th & Sunday, July 27th (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Kevin Hopkins CF '18

Teaching Assistant: TBA

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

Fundamentals of Fine Woodworking

$1,650

with Rachel Prentki CF '18

Calendar Jul 28, 2025 at 9 am, runs for 2 weeks

Dates: Monday - Friday, July 28 - August 8 (10 meetings)

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Instructor: Rachel Prentki CF '18

Teaching Assistant: TBA

This comprehensive course builds foundational hand skills that are essential to completing many fine woodworking projects. The class is suitable for both beginners looking to jump-start a hobby in woodworking and intermediate/advanced students looking to refresh their skills. Topics include sharpening, tuning, and the use of basic hand tools, including paring chisels, hand planes, dovetail saws, card scrapers, and marking gauges; characteristics of wood and wood movement in furniture making; and cutting dovetails and mortise and tenon joinery using flat and square reference surfaces. Demonstrations and exercises develop skills such as chopping and paring with a chisel and hand planning. Traditional cabinet-making practices are explained throughout the course, and instructors emphasize how these methods can be used systematically in any woodworking project. Each student will complete a box with a sliding lid. This course focuses on handwork at the bench. Check out our Fundamentals of Machine Woodworking class if you are looking to learn more about machines. 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: Please bring the items on this supply list to the first day of class.​ Need an item? Our NBSS Store/Gallery carries dozens of tools and supplies in addition to NBSS branded items and handmade goods. You may make purchases online, in person (Monday-Thursday 7:30 am - 2:00 pm), or via email at store@nbss.edu. Tool orders must be made via email or over the phone.

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





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