Description: Hand Tools

This is a class to train dedicated beginner woodworkers in the use and care of their hand tools. Students will come to class with their own basic tool kit: low-angle block plane, chisels, and cabinet scraper. Over four classes, students will flatten all the tools, hollow grind and hone the plane iron and chisels, and burnish the cabinet scraper. This will be done on a variety of stone types and grinders. Students will learn how to free hand hone as well as use a fixture.  A strop will provide the final touch to create an edge durable enough to shave with, let alone do woodworking. 

Joinery Series:

There was a time when metal fasteners didn't exist, and joinery was the only method for building homes and furniture. The photo below shows the main hall (Kondo) of the Horyuji temple in Nara Japan, built without a single metal fastener. It is the oldest wooden structure in the world, built in 730 AD. At the time, joinery was the only method available to create such a building.

This joinery series is broken into three class levels: beginners, intermediate, and advanced. There are multiple classes in each level and all classes in a level are a prerequisite for the level to follow.  A short hand tool course is required to begin this series. 

These classes are designed for those who wish to gain an advanced knowledge of joinery and begin their arsenal of tools. For this reason, some classes have required tools and the students will be responsible for purchasing these. Recommendations for low cost and high end versions will be given by the instructor.

Class Goals:

Every student will arrive with a basic hand tool kit and leave with a full understanding of how to sharpen, hone, and maintain the edges they created in class, as well as the ability to use them properly.

Prerequisites:

None. This class is a prerequisite for all subsequent joinery classes.

Materials:

Tools necessary for class (prices are at the low end):

            -Low angle block plane $20

            -Basic set of four or five wood chisels $30

            -Cabinet scraper $10

Example of acceptable tools from home depot are the Irwin Marples 4-piece chisel set and the Buck Bros 7" block plane.  Plane must be of the low angle variety. Cabinet scrapers can be purchased at Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, in Cambridge. (Contact the instructor or Asylum staff for more recommendations.)

Instructor Biography:

Prior to attending the North Bennett St School for carpentry Peter Montague worked at Joe VanBenton Furniture Makers in Brookline as the chief finisher.  After attending N.B.S.S. and spending some "off the grid" time in New York State he studied timber framing in northern Maine.  The last ten years have been spent working for a local finish carpentry firm where he was able to work in some of the area's most beautiful homes.  He is now running his own company focusing on restoration.  He dabbles in stained and leaded glass, custom doors, landscape structures, furniture and painting.