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Education Calendar
Instructor - Mike Sandmann
Assistant - Ezra Richards, Matt Grommes
Prerequisites: Completion of Intro to the Guild (all members) and Getting Started (beginners only)
This class is designed for the member to become certified on the "Core tools" and is required to work in the Guild machine room or to take classes using the “core” power tools.
The class consists of three 4-hour sessions and will certify you on the commonly used "core” power tools: chop saw, bandsaw, jointer, planer, table saw, stationary sanders and the drill press. The first two sessions will be instruction and the third session will be a time for you to begin a simple project using the skills you have learned in a closely monitored environment.
The instructor will demonstrate using each tool and discuss safe practices. There will be the opportunity to practice using each tool. By the end of the class, one should feel comfortable operating each tool safely. Upon successful completion, the instructor will certify the member on the 7 core tools.
Materials will be provided.
Do not register for this 3 session class unless you are able to attend all sessions. We cannot reschedule you if you are not able to attend all sessions and no refunds will be given for missed sessions.
Students should bring these items: Personal and required PPE, pencil, and tape measure. Bring a copy of this document, either digitally or printed, Core Tool Handout . Bring a combination square, if you have one. Don't go out and buy a cheap one for the class. We have plenty to borrow and we'll discuss the benefits of investing wisely in a quality square.
Please contact Kimberly Grommes with questions.
Check out the Guild Scholarship Program to see if you qualify for the various scholarship we offer.
Staying Home When Sick: Members are urged to prioritize their health and the health of others by refraining from attending Guild events, workshops, or gatherings when experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness, especially those associated with Flu, RSV or COVID-19.
Class Cancellation Policy
Instructor - Stuart Brown
Assistant - Tom Nelson
BUILDING CUSTOM CABINETS FOR YOUR HOME
Instructor - Bill Gemulla
Class Assistants - Allie Menard & Gerry Murphy
Prerequisites:
Core Tool Certification Sufficient experience to confidently work with powered hand tools and machine tools
Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced. Intermediate woodworkers have some woodworking experience on most machines
Description: This two day class is an introduction to residential cabinetmaking. We’ll review the basics of layout, design, materials, hardware options, construction, installation and the tool kit. Our emphasis will be demonstrations and the hands-on building of a simple cabinet. Each student will build and take home a paint-grade utility cabinet that includes a door, a drawer and an adjustable shelf. The cabinet will be approximately 24" wide, 36" tall and 24" deep.
Class Goal: Learn the basics of residential cabinet making.
Tools Used: Table saw, nail guns, staple guns, plate joiner (biscuit cutter), drill and driver, planer (optional), router (optional; certification not required).
Materials:
Guild provided: Guild will provide lumber, plywood, hardware (drawer slides, hinges, screws) and project supplies. Student Provided: PPE Recommended Tools: You'll get more out of the class if you bring your own tools, and our class will progress more smoothly. The Guild will supply tools that you don't bring though our inventory is limited. Instructor will provide a detailed list of tools you should bring if you have them.
The Guild promotes and encourages all members to act responsibly in matters of health and safety by adhering to the following measures:
Getting Started – Shop Safety for Beginners - CANCELLED.
Instructors: TBD
Class Assistant: TBD
Prerequisite: Introduction to Guild Safety
The Getting Started class is a continuation of the safety process in good woodworking practices taught in the Intro to the Guild class.
Getting Started is a required class for those needing experience with the safe and appropriate use of portable power tools, prior to starting the path to the Guild’s Shop Certification classes.
This is a four-hour class, with ~2½ hours of practice with a jig saw, a trim router, a random orbital sander, drill motors (battery), and installing their accessories.
Curriculum includes:
The final section of the class will be using these tools to create a cutting board. Material provided by the Guild.
Please review the Guild’s PPE (personal protection equipment) policy from the Intro to the Guild class.
Have all your PPE for this class. Approved wrap around safety glasses, hearing protection, a dust mask (these tools are not connected to the dust collection system).
Class size is 6 students. Each student will have their own area in the Shop with each tool to be demonstrated. No tool sharing. Safe distancing.
Dress appropriately for working in the Shop. (hair tied back, no dangling sleeves, bracelets, strings etc)
The handouts will be reviewed in class.
These items will be used during class pencil, combination square or similar, razor knife, tape measure, notebook, piece of chalk, blank piece of paper for drawing and a straight edge.
Please bring your own PPE and pencil.
Upon completion of Getting Started, members can sign-up for the Core Tool Certification classes.
For more information on the Shop Certification process:https://guildoforegonwoodworkers.org/Safety-Classes-&-Shop-Certification
Instructor - Dennis Dolph
Assistant - Dave Dixon, Mark Klein
Shop Attendant: Ruth Warbington
Prerequisites: Introduction to Guild Safety
Core Tool Certification required if working in the machine room
Women of the Guild! Come join other women for fellowship, conversation, some learning, and making some sawdust if you like.
5:00 -7:00 Open Shop time: this is for using either the bench room or the machine room. Limited number of spaces available. Register for Open Shop. This will include the program time later in the evening.
6:30-7:00 Social time and show and tell in the Bench Room. If just attending this part and/or the Program, please register for Program
7:00-9:00 Program to be determined. If just attending this, please register for Program.
Introduction to Guild Safety
Instructor: Education and Membership Team
Welcome to the Introduction to Guild Safety class. For every Guild member wishing to take Education classes, use the Guild shop for personal projects, or participate in the Community Project sessions, this is a required class, regardless of experience or skill level.
This class is presented by the Education and Membership Team. In addition to important information about shop safety, we will provide an overview of Guild Education, Community Projects and Open Shop programs. You will also learn about how to volunteer because the Guild only succeeds with active volunteers!
Included in the class is a tour of the Guild Shop, introducing the stationary tools and their function.
This class is about 3 hours.
Please include your name in the list of attendees so the Instructor can track attendance and make your Guild shop name badge. It is only visible on the class registration list to other Guild members.
Complete the following before class:
Print out and complete the self-evaluation section (left side) of the New Member Experience Assessment/Shop Certification form. Bring the entire form to class.
Be sure you have read and then checked the box on your member profile acknowledging that you have read and agreed to the Liability Release form.
Read the attached resources and take the Guild Safety Test. Bring your answers to class on paper or a device.
General Safety
Guild Safety Manual
Policy on the Use of Personal Protective Equipment
Material Guidelines
Upon completion of the Intro to the Guild Safety class, you will be directed to:
1. A second beginning class, Getting Started; required for those with little or no experience with portable power tools.
OR
2. Bypass the Getting Started class and start the path to the Shop Certification classes.
For more information on the Shop Certification process: https://guildoforegonwoodworkers.org/Safety-Classes-&-Shop-Certification
Check out the Guild Scholarship Program to see if you qualify for the various scholarships we offer.
Staying Home When Sick: Members are urged to prioritize their health and the health of others by refraining from attending Guild events when experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness, especially those associated with RSV, flu or COVID-19.
ROUTER AND ROUTER TABLE BASICS AND CERTIFICATION
Instructors - Jim Meyer
Class Assistant - TBD
Prerequisites: Core Tool Certification
This class is about safe use of router and router table and is designed to provide you with Certification on these machines.
The router is one of the most versatile tools in the shop. It is commonly used to do routine cutting of slots with a straight bit, but has great flexibility in edge profiling and in use with jigs. The router is a simple motor 1, 2¼ or 3½ horsepower with a changeable collet that can hold thousands of bit styles. It can be mounted in a table for exquisite control or hand held when the project is too large to get onto the table. If you are not confident in your mastery of this machine, then this is the class for you. We will discuss best practice for each operation, you will see it demonstrated, and then you will have the opportunity to perform the procedure yourself, hands on. By the end of the class, you should feel comfortable that you can operate these machines safely. Materials will be provided.
Bring your PPE.
The guild promotes and encourages all members to act responsibly in matters of health and safety by adhering to the following measures:
Instructor - Mark Klein
Assistant - JJ Hoffman, Micah Stolowitz
BOX SIG
Bring your boxes for show and tell! Bring your questions for help on solving problems. After the program, those who wish to continue the conversation will walk up the street for some food & drink.
Guild classes are Member-only classes. Not a member? Visit the Membership webpage and Join Now.
Instructor - Scott Demming
Hand Tool Mentoring
Mentor: Tim Moore and others
Shop time
Here is your chance to come in to the Studio and work on a personal project. Whether it is a leatherworking project, sharpening your chisels, fettling a plane or building a ukulele, you are welcome to sign up for the hand tool mentoring session from 1 to 5:00 and talk to one of our experienced shop attendants. We generally don't have a big crowd, so this is your chance to get something done!
The time will be charged like machine use in open shop - $15 per hour with a 1 hour minimum. After 1 hour, the time is charged in 30 minute increments. Please purchase shop time before coming.
This is an open agenda session. That means participants come with questions or hand tool tasks that you would like some help on and the instructor will be there as a resource. Perhaps it is to sharpen a chisel? Maybe there is a hand tool that you would like some advice on. This is an ‘open-door’ session so you can show up at any time during the session.
Tim suggests that you contact him with questions and anticipated arrival time so that he can plan the afternoon. tim.moore@guildoforegonwoodworkers.org
CHAIR MAKING SIG
Leader: Bruce Schafer
Register for this Free event
Are you interested in making chairs?
Chairmaking is a fascinating branch of woodworking with many special considerations. In addition to aesthetics, a good chair needs to be comfortable and strong enough to withstand the forces and loads to which it will be subjected. Chairmaking topics range from use of templates, angled joinery, curved parts, steam bending and many others.
This forum is dedicated to the building of chairs where we can share ideas, learn new techniques, and help each other with projects and challenges. Whether you are just getting started, already building chairs, or just interested in building chairs, we want this group to support your needs and interests.
If you have questions, please contact Bruce Schafer at blschafer1@gmail.com
Please stay home if you are sick to protect our community from illness. Thank you.
Instructor: Chip Webster
To get the most out of your 14" bandsaw (or any woodworking bandsaw), you need to become proficient at cutting to the line free-hand and learn when and how to use simple jigs effectively.
These bandsaws are capable of very accurate work, from cutting precise mortise and tenons and resawing the densest wood straight and smooth, to cutting fluid curved shapes.
This hands-on workshop with Chip Webster is based on Michael Fortune's material and experience, and is focused on learning and practicing these skills.
The gGuild promotes and encourages all members to act responsibly in matters of health and safety by adhering to the following measures:
CNC SIG
If you are interested in learning more about CNC in woodworking join us. Beginner or advanced. CNC is a rapidly developing method of woodworking that is providing new opportunities for woodworkers. The SIG is a great way to develop relationships with other CNC users, share your creative ideas and propose ways to enhance the expertise of Guild's CNC community.
NOTE: The SIG has a "lead." But it is largely a self organized group. This means everyone gets to contribute toward setting topics for discussion, participation and keeping the group active. If you want a discussion on a topic, send your ideas ahead of time to the SIG lead.
Register and join us. For 2026, we meet on the 2nd Thursdays of Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep and Nov from 7 - 9 PM at the Guild Studio.
Staying Home When Sick:
Hand Plane Skills
Instructors: Ruth Warbington
Students: 5 (if you're directed to the waitlist, class is full)
Prerequisites: Intro to Guild Safety
A hand plane is a powerful tool for woodworking; it complements power tools and other hand tools beautifully. Learn and practice the most common applications of the most-used hand planes: the jack (#5), smoother (#4), and block plane. If you only use power tools, you'll be exposed to the ways hand tools assist and augment machine work. We’ll flatten, joint, smooth, shoot, bevel, and chamfer quietly and effectively with hand planes. You’ll take apart, reassemble and adjust the planes so that they perform well for each task, learning first-hand the importance of sharpness and tool adjustment. We’ll also use workshop standbys such as hand saws, squares, straight edges, winding sticks, and shooting boards, as these are the companions of handplanes. If you are new to hand tools this class will be a good start; if you have a little experience you'll gain more.
We’ll have the planes and accessories which are needed. Bring your own planes if you have them and any of the other items mentioned in the description, but don’t go shopping until after class.
Please try to bring these basic tools, if you already have them: Pencil; 12” combination square; try square or small combo square.
Getting Started – Shop Safety for Beginners
Instructors: Jim Meyer
Class Assistant: Ginny Benware
MARQUETRY SIG
The Marquetry SIG is a time to share what you're doing with marquetry. Bring your pieces for show and tell. These can be either complete or in progress. We'll also discuss the challenges we're having. There may be opportunities to share materials so be thinking about what you have and what you'd like to have.
The SIG will be meeting quarterly. For more information, contact Carol Boyd.
Instructor - Jim Meyer
Assistant - David Neff
PantoRouter Certification Class
Instructor: Pat Shuff Class Assistant: TBD
Prerequisites: Core Tool Certification and Router Certification
Cost: $90
The PantoRouter™ is an innovative tools that utlizes a router to create highly precise joinery, including mortise and tenon joints, dovetail joints, box joints, and other specialized joint types.
In this class, students will cover both safety as well as the basics of using the PantoRouter™ to create accurate, reproducible mortise and tenon joints. During the class the 4 students will jointly create a table base using mortise and tenon joinery while learning how to set up, calibrate, and safely operate the PantoRouter™. While completing this class, each student will practice setting up the machine for a cut, aligning work pieces, and safely cutting multiple joints.
After successfully completing the class, students will be certified to use the PantoRouter™ during Open Shop periods. While the class uses mortise and tenon joints for teaching purposes, PantoRouter™ users can consult the manual as well as the extensive online library at PantoRouter.com to learn how to apply their skills to other joints, including dovetail and box joints.
Students should bring personal protective equipment, including safety goggles and hearing protection.
Instructor: Mark Allen
Class Assistant: Dexter Payne
Prerequisite: Intro to Guild Safety
This four-hour class is designed to bring your chisels and hand planes up to an acceptable level of sharpening, good enough to get back to woodworking quickly. We will focus on how we sharpen the Guild's own tools, primarily using our Veritas sharpening jig since it is relatively simple and the results are repeatable. We will also briefly cover other approaches, such as sandpaper (Scary Sharp®) and a basic jig, such as the Eclipse and its clones. You are encouraged to bring your own tools in to sharpen and if time permits, we can talk about other sharpening challenges, such as small or skewed blades, scrapers, etc.
Fundamentals of Veneering
Instructor - Chip Webster
Chip Webster has been restoring fine old furniture for over 20 years, often requiring
repairing or making new veneer panels for doors, cabinet tops and other components.
Class Assistant - Bob Mack
Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Class Goals: to learn the fundamentals of veneering using a variety of clamping systems and process techniques.
Veneers are often used to apply expensive exotic woods or woods with figure or a beautiful grain pattern to a less expensive board. They are also used to create decorative elements, such as inlaid pictures or banding, in projects.
In this workshop we will make a small panel to take home suitable for use as a lid for a small box. We will explore the use of commercially available veneers and shop sawn veneers, where to use each and how to apply them. Different substrates and adhesives will be discussed and used during the class. Cutting and jointing veneer, and the process of securing and clamping, including a vacuum press, will be practiced. We will also make various edge treatments and discuss the requirements and process to produce a curved panel.
Veneer, tape and other materials will be provided. Students will be required to bring a #11 XActo knife or Olfa utility knife.
Students should also bring, if they have available, a sharp low angled block plane and several 12" F style clamps (Harbor Freight is a great source for the F clamps at a very reasonable cost).
We will be working with a bandsaw, jointer, planer, drum sander, and table saw in this workshop.
Students should plan to bring lunch or visit a local establishment.
Instructor - Micah Stolowitz
Assistant - Mike Sandmann
Instructor - JJ Hoffman, Jim Meyer
Assistant - Micah Stolowitz, Tim Moore
Instructor: Tim Moore
Assistants: TBD
This 4-hour class is for students who want to design and produce durable and attractive leather sheaths for woodworking tools such as draw knives, spoke shaves, small saws and hatchets. This will allow them to store and transport edged tools more safely. Students will also get to try various leatherworking tools, in order to help them buy their own in the future. They should be able to go home with one sheath of their making, sewn and ready to apply a finish.
All basic tools for cutting and shaping leather, using the saddle stitch, will be provided.
Consumables such as leather, thread and needles will also be provided. Students are welcome to bring their own mallets, dividers, cutting mats, etc. Tim will provide a suggested tool list during class.
TheGuild promotes and encourages all members to act responsibly in matters of health and safety by adhering to the following measures:
Class Cancellation Policy - except in the case of emergency or illness, requires 7 days prior notice of cancellation for full refund. see policy for details.
LUTHERIE SIG
SIG Leads: Janet Starck & Tim Moore
Requirements: Intro to Guild Safety
This SIG is for anyone interested in Lutherie no matter your skill or knowledge level. Come and learn or share your knowledge and love of stringed instruments with other Guild members.
For additional information or to be added to the Lutherie email list contact Tim Moore.
All Guild Members are welcome at no charge. Please Register.
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Not a member? Visit the Membership webpage and Join Now.
Hand Tool Special Interest Group
The Guild of Oregon Woodworkers Hand Tool SIG meets the 4th Thursday of the Month (except November and December) from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm in the Guild Studio.
Topic: TBD
If you are not on the Hand Tool SIG email list please contact handtool.lead@guildoforegonwoodworkers.org to be added to the Hand Tool SIG email list.
All Guild members are welcome at no charge. Please Register.
Introduction to CNC Routing
Interested in learning about CNC Routing and how you can incorporate this highly versatile tool into your woodworking? This class is for you! It starts at the very beginning, describing what CNC routing is all about and how it can be used in woodworking. You’ll then get experience using the software needed to design, create toolpaths, and cut your work on the Guild’s CNC machine.
This is a hands-on class; you’ll need to bring a laptop with the (free!) design software already installed. You’ll work at your own pace through scripted exercises that will teach you to create a design and toolpaths for a personalized sign. When complete, you’ll cut the sign and take it home!
To help support effective and efficient learning, this class includes one-on-one mentorship for each student. Imagine having a CNC expert at your side to guide you every step of the way through the self-paced exercises and machine operation. Enrollment in this all-day class also includes a follow up one-on-one mentorship session in the shop (or maybe the shop of your mentor) to reinforce your newly learned skills.
After completion of the course and approval of your mentor, you’ll have access to the Guild’s CNC machines when attended to by any CNC mentor. You will also have the skills to create simple CNC projects of your own or access literally thousands of designs available through Vectric or on third party Internet sites.
You may be wondering if you’ve got the “right stuff” for CNC. We can help you decide! Click this link for an introductory document and computer skill self-assessment to see if CNC is right for you.
Students need to bring a Windows desktop (or Macbook with virtualized Windows) and will pre-load the (free) Vectric VCarve design software. There is some additional homework required prior to the class. Detailed instructions provided at this link.
Note: This class includes an introductory Zoom call the Saturday 2 weeks prior to the class date from 9:00-11:00am. Attendance is required. If you do not attend the call, your registration will be cancelled.
Price: $230- Includes 10 hours of One on One Instruction (2 hours online + 8 hours in person), 4 hours of individual CNC mentoring (scheduled separately) and routing materials. Lunch: You have the option to obtain lunch in the Village, but we highly recommend you bring your own lunch so we can "talk shop" while we break for a bite.
Members are urged to prioritize their health and the health of others by refraining from attending Guild events, workshops, or gatherings when experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness, especially those associated with Flu, RSV or COVID-19.
Register and join us. For 2026, we meet on the 2nd Thursdays of Jan, Mar, May, July, Spetember and November from 7 - 9 PM at the Guild Studio.
2.Be sure you have read and then checked the box on your member profile acknowledging that you have read and agreed to the Liability Release form.
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