Woodworking Class at Wilson Center

[BobS]

I took a course in Basic Cabinet Making and Woodworking at the Woodrow Wilson Center last fall (2009). It was part of their evening adult education program, lasted 12 weeks, one night a week. As a beginning woodworker I learned the basic principles of woodworking such as keeping everything square, flat and level. Or, for example, an error in measurement or alignment can compound itself as you go. I also learned to use some tools I was not familiar with, both power and hand tools. We each did a project which was optional. You didn't have to do one. My project was a medium-size hand dovetailed chest made of oak. I learned to hand dovetail, which took some practice. The course was good and Ben Clough, the instructor, was very helpful. If we did a project, because of the time factor, we were limited to learning only the tools our project required. For example, I would like to have learned to use a router and biscuit joiner, but because my project didn't require these tools, I didn't get to these. The course ended too soon. To learn to use all the tools in the shop, you really would need to take the course twice, picking a project each time that would require different tools, . Overall, it was good course, and the use of the power equipment was worth the course fee.

[CarpenterSpirit]

Where is the Wilson center located? How often do they offer classes, and do they teach woodturning?

[BobS]

The class was held at the Valley Vocational Technical Center next to Wilson High School near Fishersville in Augusta County. The course only had a cursory introduction to woodturning as the instructor could do spindle woodturning but was not experienced in more advanced turning. So, he had Miles Eberhard, a member of the Central Virginia Woodturners, come in and demonstrate advance woodturning, particulary segmented items. The class is held each semester, fall and spring. The phone number for the school is 540-245-5002.