We will soon be announcing dates for the 2019 Guitar Making Class at Maplewood taught by Martin Macica. Check back soon for updates or check Marty’s site at www.macica.com for more information about this upcoming class. At this point, we are not offering basic hand tool workshops so we can focus on training another class of young woodworkers. However, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you are interested in a custom class or skills refresher.
2019 Guitar Making Intensive – Dates Coming Soon! This training course will only be made available for five participants who are serious about building a handmade instrument using hand tools. Drawing from over 30 years of fine instrument making, Martin Macica will share his knowledge of the principles and practice of guitar making, including an ingenious hand-cut dovetail neck joint technique. Participants will leave with a working knowledge of guitar making, and a handcrafted instrument ready for a lifetime of making music. Base Cost: $1495 (extra options available) Class Limit: 5
Pictures and Descriptions from Past Workshops
Traditional Timber Frame Construction
Introduction to Timber Framing (3 Day) 2016 Dates TBA – A three-day workshop with accomplished timber framer Nick Richards, who has designed and built the Maplewood woodshop, timber framing shop, and maple sugar house). This workshop is designed to introduce the skills and tools used in traditional timber frame construction. Basic joinery layout and hand tool techniques will be covered and participants will have the opportunity build their own timber-framed sawhorse incorporating the three most commonly used joints. All tools and materials will be provided. Cost $325 Class Limit 8
Building and Raising a Small Timber Frame (5 Day) – 2016 Dates TBA – In this intermediate workshop with Nick Richards, participants will participate in the building and raising of a small timber-framed outbuilding from start to finish. Time-honored layout and hand-joinery techniques will be used to complete this building using only hand tools. Cost: $595 Class Limit: 12 – Please call about purchasing the finished frame (first come, first served).
Guitar Making Workshops
Introduction to Guitar Making – Master instrument maker Martin Macica, whose signature violins and mandolins are played by musicians around the world, shares from his thirty years of experience in hand-crafting fine stringed instruments in this half-day demonstration focusing on guitar making. Principles of wood and sound, as well as time-honored hand tool skills techniques will be shared in this introductory presentation. Cost: $55 Class Limit: 18
Guitar Making Intensive – This training course will only be made available for two participants who are serious about building a handmade instrument using hand tools. Drawing from over 30 years of fine instrument making, Martin Macica will share his knowledge of the principles and practice of guitar making, including an ingenious hand-cut dovetail neck joint technique. Participants will leave with a working knowledge of guitar making, and a handcrafted instrument ready for a lifetime of making music. Base Cost: $1500 (extra options available) Class Limit: 5
Tool Building/Restoration Workshops
Making a Classic Hardwood Frame Saw – Frame saws and bow saws of all sizes were once an essential tool, and they were often custom made for various sizes depending on the task. In this class, participants will build a 14” frame saw from hardwood using mortise and tenon-joinery and hand-shaping techniques to form a working tool. Cost $95 Class Limit 8
Making a Shooting Board – Anyone who has tried to cut 45 degree miters by hand knows that a shooting board is an important tool for achieving perfect miters. In this half-day class, participants will make a shooting board that also cleans up 90 degree cuts for finer work. Cost $95 Class Limit 8
Restoring an Antique Hand Plane – In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to restore a classic Bailey pattern #4 smoothing plane from its “found” condition to a precisely tuned woodworking stand-by that can tackle almost any planing task. Maplewood instructors will walk participants through each step of the restoration process and share some practical tips for acquiring antique planes on eBay or at flea markets. Best of all, the plane you restore is yours to keep at the day’s end! We only offer this class once a year, so reserve early! Cost $155 Class Limit 15
Hand Tool Skill Building Series
This series of 3-hour skill building workshops will leave your weekends available for other projects! Attend one or all of these sessions that are designed to provide hands-on practice and review with various sharpening and joinery tasks. All tools are provided.
Project-Based Workshop Series
For those that prefer to develop skills in the context of a project, the following workshops allow participants to leave the shop with a finished product. Instruction in traditional Joinery and sharpening techniques are included in each project and all necessary tools and materials are provided.
Making a Handcrafted Hardwood Spoon – Cost: $95 Class Limit: 15
Shaker-inspired End Table – Cost: $215 Class Limit: 15
Dovetailed Small Serving Tray – Cost: $185 Class Limit: 15
Dovetailed Large Tool Crate – Cost: $195 Class Limit: 15
Individualized Workbench Building Workshops available by request. Instead of the 5-day workbench class, we have been offering a 3-Day option where we team people up with one of our instructors for a workbench “co-build.” This allows participants to experience each step of the workbench build, while moving the project along more quickly. Cost $825 Class Limit: 3