This series of workshops are designed to address additional home improvement projects other than those taught in the DIY regular courses we offer in the evenings and at weekends.
If you plan to tackle more jobs around the house, these weekday workshops are geared to increase your confidence and give you a chance to practice techniques before you let yourself loose around your home.
They are all led by Ruth Thomson, who has worked as a site carpenter for many years as well as teaching NVQ levels 1 and 2 at various adult training courses. There is no admission requirement and no test or qualification at the end. If you just want to learn the techniques and processes to get the jobs done at home, these days offer a relaxed and patient environment to up your skills.
The use of all tools and materials is included. Suitable for beginners.
This two-day course will focus on timeless variations on wood joints that can be used for an endless amount of woodwork projects. Develop your skills with a saw, chisel and plane so that you can measure and mark out your work, cut, fit and glue joints accurately, ensuring your woodwork is strong, durable and darn good looking.
Learn these classic wood joints while you hone your making ability, and set free your ideas for furniture, box-making and all things fabulous.
-The half-lap joint can be used to make frames for pictures, perimeter door frames for panel or glass doors, dust dividers in cabinets and in many other situations. Because the half-lap does not add any thickness to the pieces of wood being joined, there are virtually no limitations for using it.
– The mitred half lap joint is an elegant yet strong corner joint, with its diagonal cut constructed with an internal half lap.
– The tee halving joint is a versatile joint which is often used in internal cabinet frames and simple framing and bracing.
– The half dovetail joint is a very strong type of joint because of the way the ‘tails’ and ‘pins’ are shaped. This shape makes it difficult to pull the joint apart and virtually impossible when glue is added. This type of joint is used in box constructions such as draws, jewellery boxes, cabinets and other pieces of furniture where strength is required.
Having expended some patience getting your chisel well honed, it will not take long to bring it back to sweet sharpness each time you feel it losing its keenness. ‘How often do you have to sharpen your chisel?’ ‘As often as you need to.’
Perfect if you are planning to revive a kitchen. Learn how to use modern joints to make a small plywood unit. You will use a router and a biscuit jointer to make a handsome birch plywood cupboard 40cmW x 30cm D x 72cm H The unit is fitted with concealed hinges to hang the door and a split batten for fixing it to the wall. You will also have a chance to join two kitchen worktop surfaces. This is a great confidence builder if you are planning to make cupboards for any room in the house.
This day workshop shows you how to select the appropriate flooring for your home and how to set out the project and lay the floor. With lots of tips on getting a first rate result you will learn how to measure and cut accurately and what problem areas to avoid.
If you need to fit skirting boards or trim around the floor, this workshop will give you practical experience in marking out and cutting external and internal angles on chamfered and Ogee mouldings and kerf curves around bay windows. You will construct your own mitre box that you can take home.
Door problems? This workshop is ideal if you need to rehang or replace a door in your home.
Learn about the different types of doors and their uses. Select and accurately fit the appropriate hinges in the correct position while holding the door safely while working on it. The day will also include techniques in fixing a door that jambs or sticks.
Learn the basic woodwork skills to enable you to secure your home with standard latches, mortice locks and Yale fittings. Practice the fitting process from measuring, marking out, drilling holes and chiselling out for the ironmongery and receivers. Learn how to fit a standard door latch and handles, a five lever mortice lock and handle and a Yale-style night latch.
This practical day workshop will provide a firm knowledge base from which learners can tackle other styles of lock, such as a bathroom type lock. Exercises will be worked on door blocks held in a wood vice, but the day will also include teaching methods of holding the door fast while in situ and on blocks if the door is removed.