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Working with wood

Events

Wood Finishes Wood Finishes Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 August 2024 This is an intensive 2 day course suitable for beginners or those wanting to improve their skills. Students will learn how to take a project...

Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 August 2024

This is an intensive 2 day course suitable for beginners or those wanting to improve their skills. Students will learn how to take a project right through from initial preparation to a good final finish.

Amongst the skills that you will be perfecting will be surface preparation, staining, grain filling, French polishing, and finishing on top of French polish. Course notes will be provided.
French polishing is a big part of the course but you do need to know the other areas of wood finishing to become a good French polisher.

Day 1
Surface preparation – New wood & old
Surface removal
Shellac (French Polish) – It`s origins, history of usage & preparation
Staining & colouring – Using 6 types of stain & learning their advantages & disadvantages
Sealing
Grain filling – Reasons for & against, types of grain filler & application

Day 2
Removal of excess grain filler – abrasives
Making a polishing rubber
Charging a rubber
Bodying Up
Defect faulting
Pulling Over
Making a hard polishing wax
Making coloured wax sticks
Finishing on top of French Polish

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Make a woven top stool Make a woven top stool Saturday 18 - Sunday 19 May 2024 Using prepared component parts each student will assemble and complete a traditional sea grass woven top stool to take home at the end of the...

Saturday 18 - Sunday 19 May 2024

Using prepared component parts each student will assemble and complete a traditional sea grass woven top stool to take home at the end of the course.

Once assembled we will explore how the component parts were made, and why the woodwork has been planned and organised in this manner so that students can go on to make other works of this style if they want in the future.

The two-day cost covers all parts prepared, the use of all tools and materials to make a four-legged stool to take home, as well as the knowledge and confidence to make further items. This is an ideal way to experience the woodwork and seating methods which can be used for all manner of post and rung style chairs.

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Make a traditional Sussex Trug Make a traditional Sussex Trug Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 March 2024 Saturday 26 - Sunday 27 October 2024 Over the two days you will learn how to make your own trug. You will be shown the process of cleaving...

Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 March 2024

Saturday 26 - Sunday 27 October 2024

Over the two days you will learn how to make your own trug. You will be shown the process of cleaving and shaving chestnut to produce the handle and the rim as well as how to steam and bend chestnut and the willow to form the boards of the trug.

 

 

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How to sharpen tools How to sharpen tools Thursday 08 - Friday 09 August 2024 This two day course has been designed for those with little or no previous tool sharpening experience, who enjoy working with wood but have...

Thursday 08 - Friday 09 August 2024

This two day course has been designed for those with little or no previous tool sharpening experience, who enjoy working with wood but have found difficulty achieving a satisfying standard of work due to their lack of tool tuning and sharpening skills.  During the course you will learn how to sharpen wood cutting tools to professional standards and select new or second-hand tools that are well engineered.

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Make a Traditional English longbow Make a Traditional English longbow Wednesday 06  - Friday 08 March 2024 Friday 21 - Sunday 23 June 2024 Over three days and starting with a simple stave of timber you will learn to shape a fully working bow...

Wednesday 06  - Friday 08 March 2024

Friday 21 - Sunday 23 June 2024

Over three days and starting with a simple stave of timber you will learn to shape a fully working bow based on the design of the great bow of the Hundred Years' War.

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Coracle making weekend Coracle making weekend Saturday 20 July – Sunday 21 July 2024 Coracles are traditional riverboats. Round in shape, they are paddled with one oar. On this two-day course you will make a traditional...

Saturday 20 July – Sunday 21 July 2024

Coracles are traditional riverboats. Round in shape, they are paddled with one oar. On this two-day course you will make a traditional coracle and try out your boating skills on the Museum's mill pond.  You will make a coracle covered in calico and receive instructions for completing the final stage (waterproofing) at home.  The finished coracle is quite large so please consider appropriate transport.

 

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Relief carving in wood Relief carving in wood Tuesday 11 to Wednesday 12 June 2024 Your tutor, Sarah, will guide you through the various processes involved in creating a decorative relief carving in Limewood using traditional...

Tuesday 11 to Wednesday 12 June 2024

Your tutor, Sarah, will guide you through the various processes involved in creating a decorative relief carving in Limewood using traditional tools and techniques. Choose from a selection of 4 example designs or create your own unique design to carve and take home with you.

 

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Gate hurdle making day Gate hurdle making day Friday 19 April 2024 Friday 03 May 2024 Learn how to make a basic sturdy traditional Sweet Chestnut gate hurdle, to go around stock or in a gateway.

Friday 19 April 2024

Friday 03 May 2024

Learn how to make a basic sturdy traditional Sweet Chestnut gate hurdle, to go around stock or in a gateway.

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Letter carving in wood Letter carving in wood Thursday 13 June 2024 Learn the basic techniques involved in letter carving in wood. During this one day course, Sarah will take you through the various elements required to carve...

Thursday 13 June 2024

Learn the basic techniques involved in letter carving in wood. During this one day course, Sarah will take you through the various elements required to carve lettering in a basic font in Limewood using traditional carving tools. After lunch, you'll then have the opportunity to either carve some initials or a small sign of your choice to take home with you.

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Arrow Making Workshop Arrow Making Workshop Tuesday 25  – Thursday 27 June 2024 This workshop runs over three days and aims to give participants the knowledge and skills needed to make a range of arrows ranging from...

Tuesday 25  – Thursday 27 June 2024

This workshop runs over three days and aims to give participants the knowledge and skills needed to make a range of arrows ranging from modern target style arrows, primitive hunter gather arrows and medieval war arrows that you’ll make using traditional medieval methods.

Over the three days you'll prepare and work with sawn out timber made from stems of shrubs with excellent qualities for arrow making and discover how our ancestors made arrows to suit their needs for warfare or as part of their hunter gatherer lifestyles.

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Working with wood
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