Hand Tools 101

Making things could be challenging. Making tangible things in the city could be more challenging. Space is limited and power tools could be a little messy and noisy. That’s where hand tools come in. The noise, space, and debris produced is super manageable and the results – super admirable.

Theme
Empowering people with the skills and confidence to get things done at home without a full-blown shop or a noise complaint from your neighbor in apartment 3C.

What You Need To Bring
Enthusiasm — nothing else

Your Physical Takeaway
In this first session we’ll make a trivet out of white oak to keep kitchen items elevated off your counter like pots, kettles, and glasses. I use mine everyday to keep my hot glass coffee container on our kitchen table. You'll learn the essential techniques that scale up to make larger items.

Other Durable Takeaways
- Working knowledge of wood
- The ability to make 4 essential cuts that will enable you to make larger things like a bench:
    - Cut with the grain of wood (rip cut)
    - Cut across the grain (cross cut)
    - Cut a wide groove (dado)
    - Angled cuts

Tools You’ll Use
- Japanese Pull Saw (Ryoba)
- Combination Square
- Protractor
- Tenon Saw
- Hand drill
- Chisel
- Router plane
- Sand paper
- Food safe wood finish

Safety
Safety and patience go together — we’re not rushing through anything.

Two Different Workshop Sessions
All sessions include a 1-hour lunch break (because we all need to eat).
- Sept 24 11-3pm
- Oct 01 11-3pm

Location
- My workshop in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn — exact location shared after signing up.
- 5-15 minute walk from the Q, B, or F trains.

Policy
Workshop passes are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Capacity
Each workshop session is limited to 2 people.