Sign up using the email links in the class postings. There is no deposit, payment is first day of class, cash, check or Zelle. Please notify me A.S.A.P if you need to cancel.

Please arrive at least 15 minutes early on the first day to take care of payment and sign waiver. Shop opens at 8:30, classes run 9:00 to 5:00, I provide lunch at noon. 

Just Joints

April 6th and 7th, 2024       9:00 to 5:00              $310


On the first day we will learn to lay out and cut several basic woodworking joints. Learning to layout joints, saw straight, cut to the line and chop and pare with a chisel to your mark. Working our way up to dovetails on day two. We will also cover wood movement and why joints are made the way they are.

Whether for drawers or case work dovetails are actually pretty basic woodworking. At first it can be a bit difficult to keep it all straight. Pins first? Tails first? What’s a pin or tail? Which piece is the waste? What’s a half pin? How do you keep the pieces organized? It will all become clear as you learn to layout, saw and chop this signature woodworking joint. We will do through and half-blind joints, then make a box! Bring the tools you have. I have some I can loan you.

email mike@schoolofwood.com to enroll

Sitting Bench

April 20, 2024         9:00 to 5:00                       $180

This is a great place to get your feet wet in woodworking and make a useful and attractive piece of furniture. The handcut joinery is strong and simple and easy to repeat at home. We will plane a taper, use a bow or coping saw, chisel a dado, and auger holes for wooden pegs. Bring the tools you have. I have some I can loan you.

email mike@schoolofwood.com to enroll

Northern woods

April 25 - 28, 2024, The 40th annual exhibition of work by the members of the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild (mnwwg.org) held in the Eden Prairie Center, Eden Prairie, MN

MWTCA Tool Meet in Hastings,MN 

Sunday, May 11, 2024, Hastings, MN , 7:30 to 12:00 noon


Where: MN National Guard Armory 3050 Highway 316. Hastings, MN 55033

You must be a member. You can join at the door I believe. There are three meets a year. Typically two in Hastings and one in Medina. LOTS of old tools.

Description: Midwest Tool Collectors meets are a great place to look for tools and visit with like minded people. Bring a few tools to sell, buy tools, view tool displays. Registration starts at 7:30, Trading starts at 8:30. 

I will be demonstrating.

Classes below have already occured. I am working on the new postings.

Build A Nicholson Workbench  

Dec. 16th, 17th, 18th, 2023   $575, with vise $700


Pound for pound and dollar for dollar I believe the Nicholson bench is the best bench you can build. Especially with hand tools! We will use some machines aided by hand tools for this project. Sign up closes Dec. 5th so I can get the materials in. If you want a vise or a bench over 6 feet long let me know. Bring the tools you have. I have some I can loan you.

email mike@schoolofwood.com to enroll

Introduction to Woodturning

January 6th and 7th, 2024                     $300


On day one we will turn spindles. Day two bowls. This a very basic intro to wood turning.
Get your feet wet! Bring the tools you have. I have some I can loan you.

email mike@schoolofwood.com to enroll

Sharpening Chisels Plane Irons and Scrapers


Jan. 20th and 21st, 2024                                  $300

Sharpening is probably the chief skill to learn, everything goes better with sharp tools! On day one we will sharpen chisels, plane irons, and scrapers and tune up a plane. Bring your tools for assessment, a # 4 size plane is a nice size to tune up but bring what you have. I also have some planes for sale if you need one. On day two we will learn how to use planes and try out many different types of specialty planes. 

email mike@schoolofwood.com to enroll

Tool making: Moxon Vise, Gauge, Mallet and Knife

Feb. 3rd and 4th, 2024                                           $350

We will be making a traditional double screw vise, a mallet, a marking gauge, and a marking knife. You will use hand tools to make these four very useful items for your shop and gain the ability to make more of them as needed. Hand chopped mortises, boring with a brace and bit, threading with a screwbox and tap are all covered. We will do a bit of metal work on the marking knife, grinding and filing the blade to shape then hardening and tempering the steel. The tools alone are worth the cost of the class! Bring the tools you have. I have some I can loan you.

email mike@schoolofwood.com to enroll

Handsaw Sharpening, Make a sawbench


Feb. 17th and 18th, 2024                            $325

Sharpening your own saws keeps them in top shape, no sending them out to be sharpened! It also enables you to restore old saws. We start out on an 8 point crosscut saw, then you do your 5 1/2 point ripsaw. Bring your saws for assessment and to sharpen. I have a few saws for sale or to practice on. 

On day two we learn how to properly use our saws to rip and crosscut while making a sawhorse.


email mike@schoolofwood.com to enroll

Small Sea Chest 


Mar. 2nd and 3rd, 2024                                $325


Use hand tools to create a small „Sea Chest“ with angled sides. The finished chest will be about 12×12×24 with dovetailed corners. You will learn to make angled dovetails as you build this traditional form.  Bring the tools you have. I have some I can loan you.

email mike@schoolofwood.com to enroll