The bandsaw can be one of the most versatile, accurate and safe machines in your workshop—providing it is set up and used properly. A new or even a well used bandsaw with a ½ HP motor can be tuned to cut precision joints or resaw flawlessly without purchasing aftermarket accessories or expensive blades. Installing new tires, selecting and setting blade tension, tracking, cutting curves and resawing will be covered. A variety of useful jigs designed to be used with the bandsaw will be demonstrated. Illustrations will be provided so you can make your own. Michael operates one of the most diversely equipped workshops in North America. It includes three industrial table saws but he can’t remember the last time he ripped a piece of wood on a table saw. Instead, he prefers to use a vintage 15” General Mfg. bandsaw. He bought this bandsaw in 1974, tracked the blade once with only modest tension, installed a factory fence parallel to the miter slot and has not had to adjust it in 50 years. That is one of nine bandsaws in his workshop. Let the bandsaw master show you how to make this simple machine the most versatile in your workshop. This class will be limited to 12 students; while mostly demonstration, the class size will allow for some student hands on.

Canadian designer/maker, teacher and mentor Michael C. Fortune has become acclaimed for his innovative, but resolved, designs for one-of-a-kind objects in wood, commissioned residential furnishings, and items in limited editions. He is acknowledged for both his technical and design expertise, giving lectures and workshops across Canada, United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Brazil. Michael's work has appeared in numerous exhibitions worldwide and he has taught at many schools and craft centers including; Sheridan College School of Crafts and Design, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, the Rochester Institute of Technology NY, Worcester Center for Crafts in Massachusetts, Anderson Arts Center, Colorado, Savannah College of Art and Design, Australian National University School of Art, and the Marc Adams School in Indiana where the fellowship program for advanced students has been named in his honor. Michael is the senior mentor for the Artist in Residence program (2018, 2020) at the Centre for Fine Woodworking in New Zealand. Fortune’s international career includes consulting for Trinidad and Tobago's Commonwealth Fund for Technical Assistance, working for sustainable source timber in Mexico aimed at supplying the expanding hotel industry within the country, and volunteering for Woodlinks, a joint Canadian/U.S. not-for-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing vocational training in secondary schools throughout North America. Michael is also assisting a new school in Puerto Rico that promotes use of timber salvaged after destructive hurricanes. In 1993, Michael was the first woodworker to receive the prestigious Prix Saidye Bronfman, Canada’s highest award in the crafts, and in 2007 he was the first Canadian to receive the Award of Distinction from the Furniture Society. He received the Mather Award in 2019 for his contribution to craft in Ontario. Michael Fortune has a clear vision of how fine craft can positively effect the culture and economy of Canada and the world beyond. http://www.michaelfortune.com/

Creating shapes or joints in wood that are not flat and straight may seem daunting and beyond what you are comfortable with. There’s a surprisingly simple solution: build a custom support, often called a jig, that puts the piece in a “square” reference so your machine or hand tool can accommodate the irregular form. The next step may be clamping and assembling the shapes and joints. We’ll show you how to identify what’s needed to apply perfect pressure and how to fabricate clamping cauls, both specialized and cauls used repeatedly. This class will open new design and construction vistas.

Topics covered:

1. Learn how to choose the correct hand tool or machine for the task at hand
2. Tools and materials for making jigs, both shop made and purchased
3. How to secure parts in jigs for one-off or repetitive operations
4. Build a collection of reusable clamping cauls that will simplify assembling irregular shapes
5. How to analyze the direction for perfect clamping pressure
6. How to upgrade quick jigs so they last and last

This class will be limited to 12 students and will largely be demonstrations; however, feel free to bring a project idea and Michael can help you problem solve the fabrication.

Canadian designer/maker, teacher and mentor Michael C. Fortune has become acclaimed for his innovative, but resolved, designs for one-of-a-kind objects in wood, commissioned residential furnishings, and items in limited editions. He is acknowledged for both his technical and design expertise, giving lectures and workshops across Canada, United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Brazil. Michael's work has appeared in numerous exhibitions worldwide and he has taught at many schools and craft centers including; Sheridan College School of Crafts and Design, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, the Rochester Institute of Technology NY, Worcester Center for Crafts in Massachusetts, Anderson Arts Center, Colorado, Savannah College of Art and Design, Australian National University School of Art, and the Marc Adams School in Indiana where the fellowship program for advanced students has been named in his honor. Michael is the senior mentor for the Artist in Residence program (2018, 2020) at the Centre for Fine Woodworking in New Zealand. Fortune’s international career includes consulting for Trinidad and Tobago's Commonwealth Fund for Technical Assistance, working for sustainable source timber in Mexico aimed at supplying the expanding hotel industry within the country, and volunteering for Woodlinks, a joint Canadian/U.S. not-for-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing vocational training in secondary schools throughout North America. Michael is also assisting a new school in Puerto Rico that promotes use of timber salvaged after destructive hurricanes. In 1993, Michael was the first woodworker to receive the prestigious Prix Saidye Bronfman, Canada’s highest award in the crafts, and in 2007 he was the first Canadian to receive the Award of Distinction from the Furniture Society. He received the Mather Award in 2019 for his contribution to craft in Ontario. Michael Fortune has a clear vision of how fine craft can positively effect the culture and economy of Canada and the world beyond. http://www.michaelfortune.com/

This workshop will be an intensive investigation into the design and construction of dining or desk chairs. Making a unique, comfortable, strong and attractive chair is a wonderful challenge and is considered by most to be the pinnacle of woodworking. This course will give you both the anthropometric data (critical human dimensions) required to design comfortable chairs and a simple and effective step by step approach to successfully building chairs even if they incorporate compound curved members and seemingly complex joinery. Participants will develop their own chair design with Michael’s guidance during the class and will then fabricate a full size mock up that can be sat in and evaluated.

The history of chairs will be covered in a slide presentation. Demonstrations on how to make scale models, full size mock ups and jig making for chairs will take place throughout the week. Straightforward methods of upholstering chair seats and backs will be also be covered. Michael will bring examples of several chairs that he has made and will discuss what inspired the designs and how he employs an organized sequence of jigs to fabricate his chairs. The "Getting to Know Your Bandsaw" class on August 15 and the "Using Jigs to Advance Your Woodworking Skills" class on August 16 are ideal classes to take in addition to this 5-day class.

Class fee: $950

Materials fee: $100

Class size limited to 10

Canadian designer/maker, teacher and mentor Michael C. Fortune has become acclaimed for his innovative, but resolved, designs for one-of-a-kind objects in wood, commissioned residential furnishings, and items in limited editions. He is acknowledged for both his technical and design expertise, giving lectures and workshops across Canada, United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Brazil. Michael's work has appeared in numerous exhibitions worldwide and he has taught at many schools and craft centers including; Sheridan College School of Crafts and Design, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, the Rochester Institute of Technology NY, Worcester Center for Crafts in Massachusetts, Anderson Arts Center, Colorado, Savannah College of Art and Design, Australian National University School of Art, and the Marc Adams School in Indiana where the fellowship program for advanced students has been named in his honor. Michael is the senior mentor for the Artist in Residence program (2018, 2020) at the Centre for Fine Woodworking in New Zealand. Fortune’s international career includes consulting for Trinidad and Tobago's Commonwealth Fund for Technical Assistance, working for sustainable source timber in Mexico aimed at supplying the expanding hotel industry within the country, and volunteering for Woodlinks, a joint Canadian/U.S. not-for-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing vocational training in secondary schools throughout North America. Michael is also assisting a new school in Puerto Rico that promotes use of timber salvaged after destructive hurricanes. In 1993, Michael was the first woodworker to receive the prestigious Prix Saidye Bronfman, Canada’s highest award in the crafts, and in 2007 he was the first Canadian to receive the Award of Distinction from the Furniture Society. He received the Mather Award in 2019 for his contribution to craft in Ontario. Michael Fortune has a clear vision of how fine craft can positively effect the culture and economy of Canada and the world beyond. http://www.michaelfortune.com/

Explore the art and craft of applying veneer to curved and sculpted forms. In this two-day intensive, students will learn a range of techniques through demonstrations, short lectures, and hands-on exercises designed to build both confidence and skill.

Working with a variety of tools and methods, you’ll practice:

• Hot iron hammer veneering

• Vacuum veneering for compound and simple curves

• Free-form vacuum bagging techniques

• Making and using curved cauls

• Preparing and softening veneer for bending

• Understanding and choosing the right adhesive

This class is perfect for furniture makers and woodworkers interested in expanding their veneering skills beyond flat work. Whether you’re adding subtle contours or tackling more complex shapes, you’ll leave with the knowledge and experience to approach curved surfaces with precision and creativity.

Class size limited to 12

Owain Harris is a self-taught woodworker who operates a furniture studio in Gonic, NH, where he designs and builds custom furnishings for galleries and residential clients. He began his career in wood as a framing carpenter in 1997, and worked as both a finish carpenter and remodeler before moving into the shop full-time in 2008. Owain is a juried member of the League of NH Craftsmen and the New Hampshire Furniture Masters Association, where he currently serves as Chair. His work has received multiple awards, including a Pinnacle Award from the International Society of Furniture Designers and a Veneertech Craftsman Challenge Award. Owain has been featured in numerous publications, including Fine Woodworking and NH Home Magazine. Owain shares his passion for furniture making and design through teaching at craft schools and institutions around the country.