Return to Home
Note: This class is being offered simultaneously online and in person at BARN. To register for the in person class, please click here.
Did you ever wonder how to get a really professional-looking finish on your woodworking project? In this hands-on class, you will learn about different types of wood stains and clear finishes. You will learn how to prepare the surface to help ensure an excellent finish, which stains and finishes work best on different types of solid wood and plywood, and which tools and techniques to use when applying stains and finishes by hand (ie, without spraying). You will also learn which products are compatible with one another — and which ones aren't.
Students participating in person at BARN will be able to experiment with numerous products on a sample board to take home and use for future reference. The class is four sessions to allow drying time while going through all of the steps, from preparing the surface to applying stain and finish, to rubbing out the finish.
Students who enroll for online participation will be able to ask questions, get the instructor's advice and learn from the experiences of the in-person students as they work on their sample boards. Online students who want to make sample boards can request a kit with wood and appropriate grits of sandpaper, but they will need to supply the stains and finishes they want to explore.
Any student who has a project that needs finishing is welcome to bring it or to share a picture of it during the class and to consult with the instructor on the best approach. (A later class will focus on refinishing — it is not the topic of this class.)
Details:
Feedback from an earlier class:
"With her professional background, Carol provides you with information that takes you beyond the easy way out of Minwax products at the big box store to the world of waterborne finishes vs alcohol-based or petroleum-based products. You get to see and work with a variety of wood species and grain patterns using penetrating and topical finish products and — what was most exciting — dyes. Most importantly you get the instructions in what not to do as well as what works for you. This is a level of information and hands-on trial that every serious woodwork needs to experience."
— Jeff Williams, former BARN woodshop lead
Instructor:Carol Fiedler Kawaguchi is a professional woodworker who specializes in restoration of antique furniture through her business, C-Saw, on Bainbridge Island. She also makes custom furniture, including the slab coffee table in the Commons at BARN.
Learn the basic features of VCarve Pro, a popular program used to make signs, engravings, intricate inlays and imported 3D shapes and models on computer-controlled routers. VCarve Pro is easier to learn than Fusion 360, the other 3D design program taught at BARN, and can be used for projects on both the large CNC router in the Woodworking Studio and the small CNC router in the ETA Lab.
This class focuses on how to use the program to design a project. You will learn how to create a CNC job, design vectors using basic shapes and basic text, edit and transform vectors, import 3D clipart and models, create tool definitions, create and manage toolpaths, and save g-code for machining on a CNC router. You will not run the router, but this class does qualify you for future studio-specific classes using CNC routers. If you want to go to the next step as quickly as possible, you may wish to register for Making Inlays Using VCarve Pro and the CNC Router, which will be offered the following week. In that class, you will design an inlay project in VCarve Pro and then cut it on the CNC router in the Woodworking Studio.
Please note: To take this class, you must have use of a laptop computer with a mouse and a working copy of VCarve Pro 10 already downloaded to that computer. Download a free trial at www.vectric.com. The software requires a PC or a MAC that has Windows installed. There is no time during the class to download the program. If you have questions or run into problems downloading the program, please email WoodClasses@bainbridgebarn.org to contact the instructor for help.
Tuition assistance is available. Click here to apply.
Instructor: Al Ebken is a retired ocean engineer with many years of computer and computer-aided design experience. (In the picture, he's using the Woodworking Studio's CNC router to make parts for face shields to protect against coronavirus infection. Using VCarve Pro, he also made the hummingbird inlay shown in the top picture.)
This class is open to both beginning carvers and those who already have some carving experience. Each time BARN schedules this class, the carving projects are new.
The instructor will use a close-up camera and projector while demonstrating techniques so you will be able to see details without needing to be closer than social distancing rules require. You will also be able to use the camera to show the instructor closeups of your work so he can give detailed advice.
Instructor: As a third-generation woodworker, Jeff Iller learned about woodworking tools and knives early on. By high school, he was winning ribbons with his wood carvings at his hometown fair. Around 1996 Jeff found room for a shop and he has carved ever since. He’ll carve most anything, but prefers to innovate with the working tools to carve multiple parts inside one piece of wood and to make physically detailed and accurate carvings of women's faces. Carvings on the entry sign to the BARN Woodworking Studio shows the quality of his work.
Iller says he was taught early on that he could make anything from wood. He is still trying to prove that statement wrong.
Share your woodworking successes and challenges and learn what others in the BARN woodworker community are doing in a new series of online meetings.
Scheduled on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of the month, these sessions will usually begin with a small bit of prepared content, such as pictures of projects that members want to show, or interviews with local pro woodworkers, or tours of home shops — whatever content members of the group suggest. After the prepared content, we’ll have a chance to touch base on areas of interest with each other. You can ask technical questions, share lessons you've learned, suggest classes you'd like to take.
If you have pictures to share or a topic to suggest, please email woodclasses@bainbridgebarn.org.
Learn how to use hand tools skillfully in this three-week component of BARN's Beginning Woodworking series.
You will build a two-compartment tote, handy for storing or carrying silverware, garden tools or other items. The project was specifically designed to give you experience with the most common hand tools. You will learn to use:
Amy has been woodworking for more than 20 years, with a strong focus on hand tool use. She has studied at the Anderson Art School, Northwest School of Woodworking, and Port Townsend School of Woodworking. Her portfolio includes custom and commissioned furniture as well as decor pieces that combine hardwoods with metal, leather, and fiber.
Marvin is a retired Broadway and Touring Stagehand. Since moving to Poulsbo and joining the BARN, he is continuing the quest to transit from a Theatrical Carpenter into a Woodworker.
Learn to make bentwood rings using thin layers of wood called veneer. In this two-afternoon online class, you will complete one ring and wind up with the know-how and materials to make five to 10 more rings on your own.
You will pick up the process the next day, once the wood has fully dried in place overnight. During this second session, you will glue, sand, and then finish the ring with fast-curing cyanoacrylate (CA) glue, giving you a finished piece that is both lightweight and durable.
The materials fee covers veneers, glue, sanding materials and other disposables. You will be able to pick up your kit at BARN or we will mail or deliver it to you. We will email registrants to work out these details.
You will need to provide the following:
Instructor bio:
Kevin Kelly is always making things: building nonprofit databases in his day job, turning bowls on the lathe in the evenings, or building new things for around the yard on the weekend. He has been making bentwood rings since 2014, when he finally gave up on his poorly-fitting wedding ring in favor of a homemade one from walnut.
This class has a prerequisite. Please see below.
Learn to use the VCarve Pro software program to design and cut inlays on the Woodworking Studio's CNC router.
Each student will attend three of the seven sessions shown as class dates. For the first session, the full class will meet in the Electronics & Technical Arts lab to review VCarve Pro, discuss inlays, and start design.
The remaining sessions will be in the Woodworking Studio. The class will be divided into smaller groups to avoid too much waiting in line. The specific schedule will be finalized at the first class session.
At its second session, each group will review/finalize designs, learn safe operation of the CNC router, set up the projects, cut the materials (walnut and maple), and glue them up. At the third session, students will cut off excess inlay material and sand the inlays.
*This class will be conducted via live streaming.**
In March 2020, McNeel & Assoc. released the 6.0 version of their software Rhinoceros3D for Windows or Mac. This glitch free, 3D modeling software has been an industry standard for boat design, interior design, model making, furniture design, and jewelry design for 30 years.
This class, taught by a McNeel & Assoc. certified Rhino trainer, Gary Dawson, is a Level I Training for the Rhinoceros3D CAD application, suitable for beginning to intermediate users of Rhino 6. Students will learn to use the command pathways necessary to utilize this software in creating files for use with BARN’s 3D printers, laser cutter, lathes, and CnC routers.
Continuing additional classes in applying Rhino 3D files to run each different tool in the Jewelry, Metal Fabrication or Electronic & Technical arts studios will be required. Please watch studio calendars or subscribe to studio email alerts for upcoming classes by clicking here.
Students should have:
Instructor Bio:
Gary Dawson is owner of Gary Dawson Designs, an online custom design operation that was featured as a “Best of the Best” by Instore Magazine. Dawson has nearly 45 years experience in creating designs that capture the personalities and stories of his customers. My "thing" as an instructor, is that with over 40 years of designing and manufacturing, I'm quite keen on passing along the skills it takes to generate digital designs that can realistically be produced. I keep "Manufacturing in Mind" in my instruction!
No experience necessary. We will be on hand to help as needed.
Start a project, finish a project, or just play with wood and see what happens. We will have some extra wood available or bring in your own.
Learn to use woodworking tools safely, efficiently and with precision while you build one or more projects of your own design. Possibilities range from cell phone amplifiers and garden totes to desk or shoe organizers and jewelry holders. Or you might want to make a toy that you can give to a child. If you don't have an idea for a project you want to build, don't worry: We'll provide examples to get your creative juices going.
This class will focus on hand tools, which take more craftsmanship to master than power tools. You will learn how to "read" a board to choose the best places to cut specific parts, how to use measuring and marking tools, how to choose and use the appropriate saw to cut out parts, how to smooth the parts with hand planes, how to assemble pieces, and more.
Instructors: Jeanne Huber and David Grant, both longtime members of the Woodworking Studio at BARN, will team-teach this class.
Build a classic Fender-style electric guitar in this six-session class held partly in BARN's Woodworkiing Studio and partly in the Electronic & Technical Arts Studio.
You will learn how traditional luthiers make their design choices and discuss tone wood and pickup choices. Then you will learn how modern electric guitars are made using computer-aided design and manufacturing tools. The instructors will demonstrate modern guitar design and manufacturing techniques, using CAD software and BARN's CNC router.
To ensure you go home with a working guitar, you will start with a precision-cut body and pre-cut neck. You will have the opportunity to customize your instrument, including designing and cutting your own headstock shape. You will use the drill press and Festool random-orbit sander as you complete your guitar. You will also assemble and solder the electronics.
The materials fee includes all the parts, including tuners, pickups, bridge, strings, and other hardware required to build a complete electric guitar.
Instructor: Doug Salot. Doug started playing the guitar about 10 years ago and occasionally tries to distract himself by building guitars and ukuleles. He studied instrument building with local luthier Alan Simcoe.
Learn to carve letters and you'll be able to make a "Welcome" sign for your entry, a custom bread board, or all kinds of projects, from plaques to boxes, that celebrate milestones in the life of your family and friends.
In this three-session class, master carver Jeff Iller will guide you in choosing a font, laying out words and carving the letters so the details are crisp and uniform. In the class, you will work on rectangular pieces of basswood. With skills learned in the class, you can go on to carve lettering on plates, boxes or other projects.
This class is for beginners and people who want to revisit their drawing skills. This class will be useful to you whatever your discipline.
Instructor: Michael Gunderson moved to Bainbridge after a thirty-plus year career in California Public education. His degree is in the arts and has taught classes in art, jewelry, ceramics and the trades, as well as serving as an activities and athletic director. He has always found a great pleasure in communicating with young people.
He thinks of himself as a person who solves visual problems. He proposes a situation and looks to openly create a visual answer, whether it be paint, wood or combinations of media. He is not political in his work - not even angry. He's looking for the fun and the whacky.
BARN will be closed and the front and back doors locked down to both Members and Non-Members beginning at 7:00 PM on Friday night as we begin preparations for the Bazaar at BARN.
Doors will reopen to all on Saturday, at 8:00 AM.
If you have questions, please contact Carla our Membership Coordinator at Membership@bainbridgebarn.org.
BARN members wishing to participate in this event must be a member for a minimum of 3 months (must join by August 31st) to participate. You can contact Carla Mackey at membership@bainbridgebarn.org for an application which will be available TBD.
Gain confidence in using a wide array of power tools safely in this three-week component of BARN's Intro to Woodworking series.
You will build a sturdy, two-step stepstool of solid wood and plywood. The project was specifically designed to give you experience with the most common stationary and portable tools in the woodshop:
Have you ever built a project and then been disappointed by the design result? By making quick, easy scaled models first, you can play around with different design solutions and settle on one that incorporates your favorite elements — before you embark on building the full-size project in wood, metal or other materials. Scaled models are also useful for artists working on projects such as books with popup or fold-out elements.
Designing anything in three dimensions really benefits from using three-dimensional models. In this two-session class, you will learn how to build scaled physical models that are classic 3-D design aids. You'll be working mostly with paper, card stock and basswood, and you will be encouraged to modify your models as you experiment with design and technique.
This two session class covers:
At the first session, you will learn about the tools and materials and make a simple model of a project suggested by the instructor. At the second session, you will make models and experiment with design options for a project of your own choosing. The overriding principle is to have fun both in making models as well as discovering how to further refine your design.
Instructor: Alec Vassiliadis studied models from a very young age. He built lots of scale models of planes, cars and boats, and painted, altered and sometimes destroyed them. "So, naturally, I gravitated to architectural school, where I excelled at building models," he said. After working as an architect for about a year, he gave up on paper as a medium of design and fell back into building models. It did not take long before he was turning his life passion into a profession. He has been building models for architects and industrial designers for the past 40 years.
