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Woodworking Basics: Prepping Lumber for Projects

Learn how to "read a board" and prepare it for use in your woodworking projects.

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Woodworking Basics: Prepping Lumber for Projects

Woodworking Basics: Prepping Lumber for Projects

Learn how to "read a board" and prepare it for use in your woodworking projects.

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About

In fine woodworking, everything starts with the wood. Before you can focus on joinery or fancy details, you need to make a board foursquare, with surfaces that are flat, straight, parallel, and square. And then you need to cut the lengths, widths, and thicknesses you need, in a way that positions the pieces where the grain direction makes the most sense.

In this class, learn:

  • Why wood cups, twists, and bows, and what to pay attention to when you selecting wood.
  • How to use the jointer, planer, and table saw to get a board to the point where it can be used in furniture making.
  • How to read a board when you're laying out parts, so that you use the wood efficiently and wind up with grain directions that are pleasing to the eye, functional, and structurally sound.

Details

A $25 materials fee, included in the class fee, covers all the materials you will need.

Prerequisites

Class Policies

  • Ages 14 and up are welcome.
  • You must wear safety glasses and closed-toe shoes, tie back long hair, and avoid loose-fitting clothing and jewelry. We recommend bringing your own safety glasses.
Instructor
Ted Newman

Ted studied woodworking and has taught classes at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine. He is active in BARN's woodworker group and volunteers as a safety monitor.

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