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Tim Coleman
Intructor

Tim Coleman

Tim Coleman creates custom furniture in a shop he built a few paces from his home in rural Western Massachusetts. He has been creating furniture for clients and exhibition for more than 35 years after studying at the College of the Redwoods with James Krenov in the 1980s. Tim is known for his graceful and dynamic furniture forms which often feature richly patterned and textured surfaces. Using low-relief carving, marquetry, embossing, and thick veneer tiles, he has developed simple but innovative techniques that put a new spin on traditional embellishment. As passionate as Coleman is about his own work, he is equally excited to pass on his knowledge as a frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking Magazine and by teaching at schools throughout the US.

Upcoming Classes

Make a Krenov Plane - Image 1

Make a Krenov Plane

Instructor: Tim Coleman
Weekend course: October 24 – 25, 2026
Price: $450

Wood hand planes are a joy to use, and once you know the steps to make them, you will be able to make planes in any shape and size, including curved bottom planes. In this weekend workshop students will construct a classic smoothing plane with a 1¾" iron, and it may become your new favorite hand tool. Tim was a student of Jim Krenov in the 1980s and learned directly from him how to create “the cabinetmaker’s Stradivarius”, as Krenov referred to the handmade plane.


Class fee: $350

Materials fee: $100

Class size limited to 10

Tim Coleman creates custom furniture in a shop he built a few paces from his home in rural Western Massachusetts. He has been creating furniture for clients and exhibition for more than 35 years after studying at the College of the Redwoods with James Krenov in the 1980s. Tim is known for his graceful and dynamic furniture forms which often feature richly patterned and textured surfaces. Using low-relief carving, marquetry, embossing, and thick veneer tiles, he has developed simple but innovative techniques that put a new spin on traditional embellishment. As passionate as Coleman is about his own work, he is equally excited to pass on his knowledge as a frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking Magazine and by teaching at schools throughout the US.
Register Now
Eye-Catching Counter Stool - Image 1

Tim Coleman Stool

Instructor: Tim Coleman
5-day course: October 26 – 30, 2026
Price: $975

This stool is featured in the latest Fine Woodworking magazine.


In this 5-day workshop, students will learn to build a contemporary counter stool that combines precise machine work for the legs and stretchers with a hand-shaped seat and footrest. Featured in the most recent issue of Fine Woodworking Magazine, this shapely stool is a great project to learn mortise and tenon joints, both through tenons and floating tenons to connect the legs to the solid wood seat. Students will have lots of practice with the band saw to cut the legs, seat and footrest, and will also gain experience with a hollow chisel and slot mortiser. The seat is shaped with a compass plane, and students will use carving gouges and round bottom planes to shape the cove under the seat. Tim will provide a detailed, measured drawing for each student and jigs to aid in the making.


Class fee: $900

Materials fee: $75

Class size limited to 10

Tim Coleman creates custom furniture in a shop he built a few paces from his home in rural Western Massachusetts. He has been creating furniture for clients and exhibition for more than 35 years after studying at the College of the Redwoods with James Krenov in the 1980s. Tim is known for his graceful and dynamic furniture forms which often feature richly patterned and textured surfaces. Using low-relief carving, marquetry, embossing, and thick veneer tiles, he has developed simple but innovative techniques that put a new spin on traditional embellishment. As passionate as Coleman is about his own work, he is equally excited to pass on his knowledge as a frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking Magazine and by teaching at schools throughout the US.
Register Now

Past Classes

Contemporary Pedestal Table - Image 1

Contemporary Pedestal Table

Instructor: Tim Coleman
3-day course: September 19 – 21, 2025
Price: $600

Learn to build a contemporary side table that looks complex but is quite straightforward once you know its secrets. The base is assembled using five mortise and tenon joints, so it is as sturdy as it is attractive. Tim will show you how to use files, rasps and scrapers to create the sculptural shape for the feet and will show you how to make a tabletop using his unique approach to veneering onto solid wood. This technique allows you to dress up a surface with a decorative surface veneer while still being able to profile the edge as you would solid wood.


This project is a great way to learn:


  1. Design considerations for a pedestal table
  2. How to read the grain of the wood when selecting parts
  3. Making mortises with a hollow chisel mortiser
  4. Cutting tenons using the table saw
  5. How to make custom clamping blocks
  6. Devising strategies for tricky glue ups
  7. How to apply a shellac finish


Class fee: $550

Materials fee: $50


Class size limited to 10

Tim Coleman creates custom furniture in a shop he built a few paces from his home in rural Western Massachusetts. He has been creating furniture for clients and exhibition for more than 35 years after studying at the College of the Redwoods with James Krenov in the 1980s. Tim is known for his graceful and dynamic furniture forms which often feature richly patterned and textured surfaces. Using low-relief carving, marquetry, embossing, and thick veneer tiles, he has developed simple but innovative techniques that put a new spin on traditional embellishment. As passionate as Coleman is about his own work, he is equally excited to pass on his knowledge as a frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking Magazine and by teaching at schools throughout the US.
Register Now