In this 4-day class Andrew covers everything you need to know about Japanese hand planes. What seems like a simple tool, a blade and a block of wood, the Japanese plane (Kanna) is actually complex instrument with many subtle qualities. The first challenge most woodworkers face when learning to use a Kanna is that they don’t come ready to use out of the box. You are only supplied with great ingredients, and it is up to the user to get the fit between the blade and the block just right.

In the past, Andrew has separated teaching Japanese planes into two distinct classes. Class 1 involves setting up a plane with a single cutting blade and Class 2 covers setting up the chip breaker. Andrew is now teaching the complete setup and use of Japanese planes in a single 4-day class. Each student will receive a new plane (or bring your own if you have one already). If this is your first Japanese plane, Andrew recommends starting with this 45mm Yamamoto plane. If you have already taken Andrew’s plane Class 1 or if you have experience setting up a new plane, he recommends this 65mm Yamamoto plane

Andrew will work with each student to get their new plane into working order. He will cover sharpening and shaping the blade, fitting the blade to the block, fitting and adjusting the chip breaker and profiling the sole for optimal performance. Of course, you will also spend time using your new plane, learning to work with your whole body, not just your arms. By the conclusion of this class, each student will take home a fully operational Japanese hand plane and have the know how to keep it working correctly.

Students will pay Andrew directly for their new plane. The current cost of the 45mm plane is $200 and the 65mm plane is $350. The cost of the plane is not included in this course cost.

Class fee: $650

Class size limited to 10

Andrew is a custom furniture maker working and living in New York’s Hudson Valley. Best known for his use of traditional Japanese hand tools, Andrew demonstrates and teaches across the country. As a self-taught woodworker, he offers a unique perspective to other Americans exploring Eastern woodworking. His workshops demonstrate that by understanding the fundamental principles behind other cultures’ tools and techniques, all woodworkers can benefit. A frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking magazine, he is eager to share what he has learned in his 25-plus years of making furniture. https://www.instagram.com/andrewhunter_furniture/

Over the course of four full days, participants will explore the techniques and aesthetics that define Japanese-style kitchen blades. Students will use Blue #2 zenko (mono steel) stock to forge a chef’s knife by hand. The class will focus on the basics of forging, heat treating, grinding, and sharpening our blades. In addition to forging and finishing the blade, the class will emphasize traditional Wa handle making and fitting, demonstrating how to achieve the clean, functional designs characteristic of Japanese knives. Whether you are new to bladesmithing or looking to expand your skills, this workshop offers a comprehensive introduction to Japanese forging techniques while encouraging experimentation and personal expression in your work. Each student will leave with a fully finished blade, ready for use.

Class fee: $500

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 6

Kiran Chapman (he/they) is a blacksmith based in Maine. They became fascinated by blacksmithing after moving to Maine from NYC and meeting a local knife maker. They went on to work for Wick’s Forge, a third-generation blacksmith shop, for two years. In addition to their own studio where they teach blacksmithing classes, they run the sharpening department at Strata Portland, which offers endless learning and practice on a wide range of blades. Their experience working at Strata and visiting makers in Japan has had a big impact on the type of blades they make and their understanding of metallurgy and blade geometry.

Bent lamination represents a dramatic departure from most traditional fine woodworking. Rather than working within rectilinear geometry, you will lean into the materiality of the wood and explore its natural strengths through curvature. Reference face is often non-existent, so cutting joinery requires some creative thinking and novel use of machinery and hand tools. We will explore a variety of methods including cold lamination, mold making, vacuum forming, and freeform bending. Students will design and prototype a project that showcases bent lamination aesthetically and structurally.

Class fee: $850

Materials fee: $100

Class size limited to 12

Laura Kishimoto is a designer and maker based in Denver, Colorado and a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, where she earned a BFA in Furniture Design in 2013. Her work falls somewhere between sculpture and furniture, distinguished by its spatial complexity and visually striking curves. Central to her practice is a technique known as freeform bent lamination, which allows her to push the wood to its material limits and create curiously organic and emotionally evocative forms. Her pieces can be found in the permanent collections of the Denver Art Museum in Colorado and the Mint Museum in North Carolina.

Learn the fundamentals of blacksmithing while forging your own pendulum from start to finish. This 2-day introductory workshop is open to beginners and experienced blacksmiths.

On day 1, you’ll learn fundamental blacksmithing skills including precise hammer control, tapering, upsetting, punching, and riveting connections. You’ll learn how to isolate material, forge specific shapes, and move metal in different ways using the hammer peen. We’ll also introduce top tools and fullers for accurate material isolation, working with a striker and partner to achieve the desired results. We will explore the plasticity of hot steel using different texturing tools. We’ll talk about pendulum designs and kinetic art and after seeing several design inspirations, you’ll sketch and design your own artistic pendulum.

On day 2, you will use your new forging skills to create, shape, balance, and finish your own unique pendulum. There will be brackets and stands to allow you to create a wall-hanging or free-standing pendulum and if time allows you can create your own stand.

Students will leave with a completed pendulum of their design—whether it’s kinetic art, a wall-hung piece, a decorative desk object, or a simple functional pendulum with artistic flair.

Class fee: $250

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 6

Mark Teece is an artist blacksmith near Syracuse, NY, with over 10 years of experience running his own blacksmithing business. He is passionate about teaching this ancient craft, offering blacksmithing classes to students of all ages—from youths to retirees—ensuring each student enjoys a hands-on, personal experience in a small class setting. Mark specializes in creating custom ornamental ironwork for homes and gardens, blending traditional techniques with artistic craftsmanship. Mark's work is deeply influenced by his upbringing in Britain, where he was surrounded by historical ironwork, as well as the rich legacy of colonial blacksmiths in New England. Instagram: @TheBritishBlacksmith