Come for the foundations, and leave with your very own piece of furniture!
In this hands-on course, you’ll gain an introduction to power tools and carpentry by building your own potting bench from scratch!
You'll learn how to read plans, perform measuring, marking, and cutting, and assemble lumber into a sturdy, functional piece of furniture that you'll get to take home at the end of the day. This program will cover safe and accurate use of common household power tools, including drills and drivers, circular saws, mitre saws, and more.
The bench will be constructed with 2x4’s, screws, and wood glue, so no woodworking joinery will be covered in this course. The completed project will measure 60''H x 48''W x 20''D, designed for easy disassembly to a height of 36'' for transport.
While working through this building project, we'll have discussions about design considerations when creating custom pieces. If you are hoping to take your basic knowledge to the next level, or gain more flight time using power tools in a safe and supportive environment, this course is for you!
Bring any questions you have about current or upcoming projects—we love helping you build your skillset and vision!
Below is a more detailed look for how we expect to spend our time together. Subject to slight changes based on class pace.
9AM-12PM // Intros; reading plans; circular saw and mitre saw (demos and practice)
12PM-12:30PM // Lunch break
12:30PM-4:30PM // Drill and driver (demos and practice); potting bench assembly; questions and outro
Important Notes:
Registration Deadline: In order to provide enough time for ordering and shipping building materials, registration for this program CLOSES on Wednesday March 25th at 11:59PM. We cannot accept sign-ups after this date.
Register early!: A very limited number of spots are available in this class, so early registration is encouraged!
Transporting Your Project: By the end of the class, you will have a finished or nearly-finished piece of furniture to take home. The design allows for easy disassembly and transport in smaller vehicles. No truck, no worries! Just consider having room set aside in your vehicle for loading your bench after the class.
Costs: This program includes both a teaching cost (sliding scale options available) and a required fee of $135 to cover the materials for your bench. More details below.
What to bring:
Measuring tape (extras are available to borrow for those who need)
Sturdy, closed-toe shoes.
Clothing suitable for moderate physical work with power tools. Class will take place both indoors and outdoors as weather allows. Expect to get dusty!
Lunch & snacks.
A notebook and writing utensil for note-taking.
Any questions you may have about personal projects or project ideas.
What We're Providing:
Attendees are welcome to bring their own items if they have them
Safety goggles
Ear protection
Carpenter's pencils (take-home)
Speed squares (take-home)
Building plans and lumber (take-home)
A fun and informative experience working with power tools!
What to Anticipate:
Expect a fair amount of physical labor with considerable time spent standing and moving around. Plenty of breaks will be provided to ensure everyone is comfortable throughout the day. If physical accessibility is a concern, please email us at education@hornfarmcenter.org to discuss how we can accomodate.
This class values safety, teamwork, and a supportive/uplifting working environment. You can expect to spend much of the class working in pairs and small groups, with space afforded for you to address individual questions and learn at your own pace.
No prior experience is required to join this course. We'll cover the basics of tool technique and safety throughout the build.
Contact
Phone: (717) 757-6441
Email: education@hornfarmcenter.org