The following courses are currently scheduled. Courses
are listed alphabetically by title. Join the North House E-Newsletter
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Lathe Turning - The Wooden Bowl
Jim Sannerud
Session Options:
. . . 7/6/2009 - 7/7/2009 - FULL, please call for waiting list
. . . 11/2/2009 - 11/3/2009
The wooden bowl is a reflection both utility and beauty - an aspiring craft form to experience.  Explore the grains of northern hardwoods - birch and maple - as you learn detailed lathe handling and turning techniques to turn a wooden bowl on the electric lathe.   From tree to bowl, you'll learn how to identify the best parts of a tree for a bowl blank and how to orient stock for the best grain patterns to match the outcomes you desire.  To ensure longevity and finishing of the bowl, drying techniques will also be covered.  You'll take home both traditional utility bowl for the kitchen as well as an artistic form and natural edged bowl for the coffee table.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $170
. . . Materials Fee: $50
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Turning Out Gems   
     - Intro to Woodturning On  A Lathe
Jim Sannerud
Session Options:
. . . 7/2/2009 - 7/5/2009
. . . 10/29/2009 - 11/1/2009
There are gems hidden inside your woodpile.  Really!  This four-day immersion in woodturning is intended for the beginner who simply has the desire to turn wood on a lathe.  We start with lathe anatomy and safety, learn how to handle and sharpen tools and then let the shavings fly!  We will make several different projects each day, such as honey-dippers and tops, building on skills to progress to lidded boxes.  We will also cover where to find and how to process your own wood going from tree to project.  Best of all we’ll explore form, color and texture in your work.

This class is meant to be hands-on.  There is minimal “presentation” time.  Students with have creative license with their projects and be able to explore various wood species and how they react on the lathe.  We’ll cover green verses dry turning, where to find free wood and responsible wood recycling.  We’ll also discuss the anatomy of the tree and what parts are best suited for different projects.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 4
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $340
. . . . . . Non-peak Tuition (Nov-Apr): $300
. . . Materials Fee: $85
. . . Intergenerational Age: 16+
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Adirondack Chair Building
Brian Sherburne
Session Options:
. . . 4/3/2009 - 4/5/2009
Without question, the Adirondack chair is a timeless classic - its high back, large arm rests and contoured seat and back are unmistakable.  For many, the Adirondack chair defines the ideal deck or lawn chair for a well-deserved break.  This course is the perfect opportunity for you to learn and expand your basic woodworking skills.  During the weekend, you will learn to utilize various woodworking hand and power tools safely and proficiently.  You will cut, shape, sand and assemble your own rot-resistant cedar Adirondack chair.  The dimensions of the chair will be approx 28” wide, 38” tall and 34” deep. After returning home, you will have the knowledge and ability to build its match.  So, let the sawdust fly and imagine how good it will feel to relax in a chair you built yourself for many years to come.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2.5
. . . Hours: Day 1: 5pm-8pm, Day 2/3: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $195
. . . Materials Fee: $85 per chair
. . . Intergenerational Age: 14+
. . . Level: Beginner

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Basic Cabinetry – Building The Wall Cabinet
Randy Schnobrich
Session Options:
. . . 9/18/2009 - 9/20/2009
Considering when and where to start for that big cabinet project you want to build and install?  Start here.  Before you jump in on a big project, learn the basic techniques, tools and equipment used by both traditional and contemporary cabinet makers.  As a class project, each student builds a pine wall cabinet (24" x 32" x 5”) with a door using hand tools while exploring some basic machinery techniques as well.  Students learn the proper techniques to cut clean mortise and tenons with chisels and drills, work with a shoulder plan to rabbet the door panel and explore the safe use of a table saw, planer, jointer and both table saw, band saws and hand saws.  If time permits, finishes ranging from traditional milk paints to more contemporary varnishes suitable to cabinetry will be covered.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2.5
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $185
. . . Materials Fee: $60
. . . Intergenerational Age: 16+
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Bucket Making - White Cooperage
Russ Karasch
Session Options:
. . . 2/28/2009 - 3/1/2009
Is there a hole in your bucket (dear Liza)??  Well then, with what shall you fix it??  Thankfully, this course, an introduction to the craft of barrel making, may be just what you need.  During this workshop students explore the different elements of the cooperage craft - white, slack and wet.  Each student will build a wooden bucket, experiencing the use of both hand and power tools to make all of the parts. Shaping the wood, making the metal hoops, and assembling the bucket will all be covered. Drilling a hole in bottom of the bucket is, of course, optional.

The satisfaction of making wooden vessels that contain anything from berries to water to clothes to wine is what this course is about. Starting off with a pile of lumber and when complete you can drink your mug of ale out of it. Or store whatever you want in a handmade non-plastic container.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $150
. . . Materials Fee: $35
. . . Intergenerational Age: 12+
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Bury Yourself In Your Work
     - Build Your Own Casket
Randy Schnobrich
Session Options:
. . . 1/22/2010 - 1/24/2010
None of us are getting out of this alive, so you might as well bury yourself in your work. Join a growing number of independent-minded people looking for a more meaningful alternative to today’s burial arrangements.  This course covers a range of important details such as:  proper sizing, joinery, handle construction, hardware and design options.  The finished casket need not wait for a final departure before being put to use.  Above-ground applications include use as bookshelves, coffee tables, storage containers and entertainment centers.  The course presentation will be broad enough to include beginning woodworkers while also providing ample opportunity for more advanced participants to apply their talents.  Two people may work together on this project for the base tuition - bring a partner to work on this memorable project.

The casket materials include cabinet-grade pine, birch for handles and bronze fastenings.
Note: Individuals registering for this course should contact their local municipality and the cemetery offices at the planned place of internment to determine any requirements or restrictions that may apply.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $225 per casket
. . . Materials Fee: $470 per casket
. . . Intergenerational Age: n/a
. . . Level: All levels

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Early American-Style Workbench
John Beltman
Session Options:
. . . 11/13/2009 - 11/15/2009
A fine workbench is an essential fixture in the home workshop.  In this class students will build a sturdy workbench based on early American designs using simple, but classic, mortise and tenon joinery.  The finished bench is held together with wedges and can easily be disassembled.  Portable, knock-down features of this workbench make it a versatile addition to your workspace.  The bench's clean and classic lines may inspire some students to use it as a dining room table. Options for vises and hold down clamps will be discussed. Dimensions: 38"H x 72"L x 30"W (with some variations possible).  The bench is made using white pine timbers for the legs and top and oak for the wedges.


Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $255
. . . . . . Non-peak Tuition (Nov-Apr): $225
. . . Materials Fee: $230
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Level: Beginner

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Rustic Stick Furniture 
Keith Anderson
Session Options:
. . . 8/14/2009 - 8/16/2009
Just right for the cabin - handcrafted rustic furniture made from natural materials at the cabin doorstep.  Unlock the construction techniques of using mortise and tenon joinery to assemble rustic furniture of your very own design from greenwood 'sticks.' Depending on size and details, potential projects to select from  include such things as chairs and benches, trellises, tables, and lamps. If you ever enjoyed working with Tinker-Toys as a kid,  you will enjoy building rustic stick furniture in full scale. At the completion of the course, you will go home with some handsome additions to your home and/or garden.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $225
. . . Materials Fee: Varies ($10-$30)
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Turning Toward Perfection - The Three-Legged Stool
Jim Sannerud
Session Options:
. . . to be scheduled
Three legs in three days.  That's the goal as we work towards consistent spindle turning and fitting the legs for perfection into the seat.  The three-legged stool is an ideal project for the student interested in carrying their turning skills further as each student spends each day on fine tuning their lathe turning skills on individual lathe stations set up in the woodworking classroom.  Students will learn to measure with precision using calipers and aid in making duplicate spindles.  As time allows, we’ll personalize the stools with woodturning, painting or carving if desired. The result: a portable, stable stool for any activity turned to perfection.   Small enough to carry easily, sturdy enough to stand on to get that cookie out of the top cupboard.  Basic turning abilities are required.   All tools, wood and equipment will be provided by your instructor.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $225
. . . Materials Fee: $85
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Wooden Bowl Turning - Norwegian Ale Bowls
Roger Abrahamson
Session Options:
. . . 11/13/2009 - 11/15/2009
Wooden ale bowls are an excellent example of functional Scandinavian folk art.  These ceremonial drinking vessels were used both for serving on special occasions and in the brewing process.  In this class, students begin with a green birch log. Using axes, knives, hook tools and a foot-powered spring-pole lathe (plus lots of vigorous work), you'll create an ale bowl to take home and use. Tool sharpening and proper cutting techniques will be taught.  There will also be lively discussions on the design, function and culture surrounding these objects, as well as the history of woodturning. The instructor will have available several antique bowls from his collection for study and inspiration.  Skills taught in this class will also be very useful to modern bowl turners.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $195
. . . Materials Fee: $35
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Level: All Levels

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Windsor Stool - Build Your Own
John Beltman
Session Options:
. . . 5/15/2009 - 5/17/2009
This course is an overview of Windsor design and construction.  Explore the origins and history of Windsor stools and chairs along with the traditional methods and tools used to construct them.  Students learn how to select appropriate materials, split green wood for legs and stretchers and sculpt a seat using hand tools.  Students will use both an electric lathe and a spring-pole lathe, a simple foot-powered wood turning device, for shaping rough lumber into legs. Simple joinery methods will be used for the final assembly.  During class students will assemble one stool and will create the pieces for a second.  Maximum course size is six.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $255
. . . Materials Fee: $100
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Level: All levels