Wood is a living, moving material. This curriculum teaches you to work with it, not against it.
Most beginners buy a saw and start cutting. Most beginners also split their first board and produce surfaces no finish can save. This curriculum builds the foundation that prevents all of that: wood anatomy, sharpening, milling, and joinery — in the correct order.
By Phase 3 you build furniture without screws. By Phase 5 you apply professional finishes. By Phase 6 you price and deliver commissions.
Clear objectives, structured modules, and a milestone project that proves mastery at every stage.
Wood species, grain direction, seasonal movement, PPE, measuring, marking, and sharpening.
Jointer, thickness planer, table saw, router, and bandsaw — milling S4S from rough lumber.
Mortise and tenon, through and half-blind dovetails, frame-and-panel, expansion fasteners.
Spokeshaves, drawknives, steam bending, bent lamination, veneering, and marquetry.
Sanding schedule, card scraper, dyes vs stains, ebonizing, oils, lacquer, French polishing.
Jig production, dust collection, lumber sourcing, board feet, pricing, and commissions.