Foundations of Woodworking Intensives
PTSW offers two twelve-week woodworking intensives, Foundations of Woodworking I and Foundations of Woodworking II. These programs are designed to be taken in sequence and are collectively known as our Foundations of Woodworking program. Sequenced together, this program is six months, or 24 weeks, of intensive woodworking study designed to build a foundational woodworking education that will serve you for a lifetime and empower your personal growth as a craftsperson.
These courses, Foundations of Woodworking I and II, are designed to be taken in sequence for a six-month experience at PTSW. Each course builds upon itself, and students will leave the six months with a well-rounded understanding of hand tool and machine use, joinery, and fine furniture design. These skills will be essential for a career in woodworking or simply for maximizing your technical and creative fluency as a woodworker.
Interested students are encouraged to set up an informational interview session or a site visit. Read more about each Foundations program below.
Foundations of Woodworking I
12 Weeks
Open to Beginners
Approved for VA Funding
This course drills deep into the basics: beginning with a firm foundation in understanding wood as a material and incorporating introductory training in a wide range of techniques. The curriculum focuses on imparting skills through a series of projects designed to build on one another in techniques and complexity.
After 12 weeks, you'll leave with an in-depth experience of hand tools as well as an introduction to machine tools. You will practice joinery methods, consider wood selection, and work with non-toxic materials. You’ll understand the practical design and execution of woodworking projects.
Foundations of Woodworking II
12 Weeks
Some Skills Required
Approved for VA funding
This course builds on the basics learned in Foundations of Woodworking I. Students will develop the skills required to design and build custom furniture. Diving deeper into project design and management, students will leave this class with furniture pieces conceived of and created with their own hands and minds. Students will continue to learn about wood’s physical and mechanical properties, and how they are best utilized. Further instruction will be given in a variety of machine and hand tool practices, creative finishing techniques, and part shaping. Students will also learn about bending wood, as well as creating and joining curved wooden components with a variety of techniques.
