Foundations of Woodworking I
12-week intensive program for beginners
Winter 2026
January 5 - March 27
Spring 2026
April 6 - June 26
Fall 2026
September 28 - December 18
Prerequisites
None.
Course Description
Foundations of Woodworking I is a comprehensive introductory education intended to support anyone at the beginning of their woodworking journey. It offers foundational woodworking knowledge and practice to students interested in pursuing these lifelong skills professionally or for personal enrichment. This program would also be suitable for any student with some woodworking experience looking to deepen their knowledge through focused practice with the caring and knowledgeable support of an instructor. By the end of this program, students will be fluent in techniques and terminology and will have completed a portfolio of projects.
Throughout this 12-week intensive program, students will develop an understanding of how to effectively shape and build with wood while considering its biological and mechanical properties. We begin by learning the safe and effective use of hand tools before gradually introducing machine tools. This enables students to develop a tactile and physical understanding of wood as a material and develop a sense of which tool and species are appropriate for which task. Students will learn how to manage a project from beginning to end, to produce a variety of joinery and simple furniture assemblies, as well as gluing and finishing techniques. We will also introduce students to furniture history and design.
Students will receive presentations on botany, forestry, wood science, and lumber manufacturing processes throughout the session. This enriches students’ understanding of wood as a material and supports them in making appropriate decisions about different applications. Students will also develop a project management skillset, including generating a workflow, making a cutlist, tracking time and materials, and self-evaluating. We also will organize some local shop tours and visit a beloved local lumberyard.
We intend for this program to give students the tools, space, and time necessary to dive deep into their study and practice. We provide every student with a complete set of layout and bench tools to use and care for throughout the quarter. The full-time format of this class also means that it is a physically and mentally demanding course. By gearing our instruction towards students’ individual growth, we can support them in meeting their personal goals.
Student Outcomes
Design – Read and create technical drawings; sketch ideas and develop a basic process for designing furniture
Shop practice, personal practice, and project management – Maintain tools and workspaces; plan and manage projects
Hand tool proficiency – Use and maintain planes, chisels, and saws
Machine tool proficiency – Use thickness planer, jointer, bandsaw, tablesaw, shaper, and cordless drills
Joinery – Produce rabbets and dados, half-laps, stub-tenons, dovetails, through-tenons, blind mortise and tenons, and sliding dovetails
Glue-up and assembly – Use wood glue and clamps; understand assembly processes and proper clean-up techniques
Finishing and surface preparation – Use planes, scrapers, and sandpaper to prep surfaces for finish; apply oil finish, milk paint, and shellac
Stock selection, preparation, and handling – Identify common wood species and their working properties; develop a cutlist; select lumber; six-square wood by hand and machine
Shapes, curves, and details – Produce edge details and surface textures with chisels and gouges; explore curved and rounded shapes with hand tools, bandsaw, and router
Sharpening and tool maintenance – Grind and hone chisels and plane blades with bench grinders and water stones
Curriculum Outline
Bench Fixtures: A two-week module in which students make a straightedge, winding sticks, and a combination bench hook/shooting board.
Familiarize with tools, workspaces, and materials
Learn techniques to support in joinery production
Dimension, shape, and produce edge details with hand tools
Understand mechanical fastening
Prepare for and apply finish
Benchtop Tote: A one-week module in which students build a small, handled tote.
Design by whole number proportions
Basic joinery production with hand tools
Generate a curved form
Glue-up techniques.
Joiner’s Tool Tote: A two-week module in which students build a large tool tote.
Read and build from scale plans and lofting
Increased complexity of hand tool joinery
Milling by machine
Small Side Table: A three-week module in which students build a small table with a drawer.
Copy and build from scale plans
Drawer construction and installation
Producing joinery by machine
Customizing shape
Turning: A one-week module spent practicing and playing on the lathe.
Cabinet: A three-week module in which students design and build a wall-mounted cabinet with doors.
Designing within parameters and drafting plans
Frame and panel door construction
Tools
The school is fully equipped with sets of high-quality hand tools for each workbench. You do not need to bring tools to this course.
We recommend that you use our tools and not buy tools prior to the class. Let this experience guide your future purchasing decisions. You are welcome to bring any tools you already own.
Optional Course Reading
These are texts that your instructors may reference during the course.
Understanding Wood: A Craftsman’s Guide to Wood Technology by R. Bruce Hoadley
The New Traditional Woodworker by founding member Jim Tolpin.
With the Grain: A Craftsman’s Guide to Understanding Wood by Christian Becksvoort
Northwest Trees by Stephan F. Arno
Course Duration & Hours
Class hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, for 12 consecutive weeks in Building 315. Students are expected to arrive at 8:45 am to practice and prepare for the day. Generally, instructors end instruction and the introduction of new concepts at 3:00 pm, but will be in the classroom until 5:00 pm. The workshop is fully available to students during class time, Monday through Friday. After students have been oriented to safety practices, the bench room is available after hours and on weekends, at the discretion of instructors.
How To Apply
Applications are completed online by students and may be completed in multiple sittings. You will receive a confirmation of your application by email after you submit your application. Please contact us if you do not receive this email.
Applications for the 12-week intensives are reviewed monthly, beginning six months in advance of the course date. After reviewing applications, we will schedule a brief phone interview to get a better sense of your woodworking experience and make sure the class is a good fit for you. Courses are filled on a first-come first-served basis.
If you have questions, please call us at 360-344-4455 or email info@ptwoodschool.org.
Tuition Details
Information on tuition, the registration process, our refund policy and our cancellation policy can be found here
Financial Aid
Our goal is to provide broader access to fine woodworking education. If the tuition is a barrier, please consider applying for a scholarship or using your VA benefits.
Apply for a scholarship (Scholarship applications are submitted within your course application)
Use your VA benefits
Housing
In collaboration with Fort Worden State Park, PTSW offers private rooms with a shared kitchen and bathroom for intensive students. You would share common spaces with up to one other person. There is a separate housing application process.
Review information on:
Listings from homeowners who enjoy hosting students
Additional resources on local housing options