Building a Small Bench
Course Syllabus
Building a Small Bench, also known as Foundations -3, is a course designed to teach and prepare students with the techniques and skills required to build fine furniture. Foundations -3 focuses on the construction of a small project that will incorporate most of the elements in the furniture process of design, selection of wood, rough milling, final milling, cutting joinery, shaping, tapering, carving details, surface preparation and assembly. Students will be able to design and build this bench from “scratch” beginning with the milling of rough lumber.
Description: Registrants will be instructed through lecture, demonstrations, and hands on experiences in the following areas and/or topics:
A. Joinery III
1. How to hand plane one face of a board flat
2. How to surface a wide board when it is too wide for a jointer
3. Learn about various types of joinery used to keep a wide board flat
4. Edge joining using several techniques including use of a jointer, shooting board and hand plane
5. How to make a cut list
B. Project Construction
1. Discussion and demonstration of how to apply through and half-blind dovetail joinery to a project
2. Use of various clamps to glue up projects for accuracy
3. Applying through/wedged mortise and tenons
4. Purpose and use of cauls and numerous other woodworking techniques
5. LAB: Students will build a project utilizing and applying all the steps outlined above
Instructional Level: Basic to intermediate
Prerequisite: Must have some general knowledge of hand & power tools. Foundations 1 & 2 would be extremely helpful but not required. Some dovetail cutting experience is necessary.
What to bring; eye protection, hearing protection, marking pencil, marking knife, knife marking gauge, combination marking gauge, sharp ¼”, 3/8”, and ½” chisels, sliding T bevel, small square (4-6”), back saw, coping saw, block plane. There will be a complete list of tools and equipment to bring to the class upon registration.
Homework: Homework will be assigned to include practicing learned techniques, reading assignments.
Length of Course: 3 days (24 hours)
Course Fee: $375.00 plus a $75.00 materials fee