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Woodworking 101: Techniques and Everyday Projects

Discover this invaluable guide to both the fundamental and comprehensive skills essential to woodworking.
871
 
 
Rated 2 out of 5 by from HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT YET ! I BOUGHT THIS COURSE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT YET.
Date published: 2022-05-04
Rated 5 out of 5 by from 5 years training in 13 lessons. Not that I know what 5 years apprenticing in a woodworking firm would be like, but George has already made my time in the shop easier and more rewarding, and I have 3 more lessons and 25 more years experience to "get" everything he's laying out. Amplify that by considering his easy-going, affirmative teaching style - always emphasizing safety first and foremost - and you get an itch to get out and "make chips" before the end of each lesson. Please let me give one more reason that Master Vondriska is a cut above most. During one big build (lesson 9, I think), he says "No, you stay right there." He wasn't talking to the wood and glue. The workpiece went off-camera, and clearly a shop assistant was helping steady it. It wasn't so much those words, it was the calm, firm and gentle way he said them, ensuring that everything would remain stable and safe, but not snapping out the order the way most sups and chiefs I've seen on the job do it. PS: Something I forgot to mention in my review of "Shop Tips and Tricks". The camera crew and production staff are fantastic in this shop, almost always dialing in the perfect shot to demonstrate George's points. That makes for some real magic, there. Would I recommend this to a friend. I might even buy one as a gift for a friend! It is a great course from TGC (and WGA).
Date published: 2022-03-07
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great teacher! I’m an armature woodworker and have built many successful projects over the years. This course showed me things I’d like to have known years ago!
Date published: 2021-11-23
Rated 3 out of 5 by from Woodworking 101 A few good suggestions but designed for someone with a BIG shop and lots of time with nothing else to do.
Date published: 2021-11-08
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Better then expected My initial thoughts were that the presentation did not look as professional as some of the other course DVDs and it missed the usual Great Courses intro section etc., however the content is very good, and i was already learning new information and techniques in the first chapter. I am very happy with the purchase of this course.
Date published: 2021-11-08
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Look at me! I'm woodworking for fun! I am a pretty handy DIY'er but relatively new to WW. This course really expanded my knowledge of power tools and techniques. The topics/tips were good for all. Everyone can learn something from this course. You'll find yourself frequently saying "omg, so thats how you do that". The instructor is excellent, knowledgeable and a very good presenter.
Date published: 2020-12-13
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Good coverage but limited There is a lot of good information here but I don’t feel that it is for an absolute beginner. You need some background to follow what he’s saying, IMO. There is room for a course aimed at someone with no knowledge.
Date published: 2020-08-01
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Excellent Instruction This DVD series is extensive. Easy to follow instructions tips and guides. While I've only viewed the first DVD, I'm looking forward to viewing the rest. Best part is that the series is designed to make it easy to go back to the exact section I want to review without scrolling through the entire DVD. A great purchase.
Date published: 2020-07-18
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Woodworking 101: Techniques and Everyday Projects

Trailer

Table Saw Tips & Techniques

01: Table Saw Tips & Techniques

The heart of every woodworking shop is the table saw. This lesson will make you a table saw pro, able to get the most out of this amazing piece of machinery. First, learn how to ensure your saw is set up accurately with the blade parallel to the miter gauge slot and the fence, and perpendicular to the table for perfectly straight cuts every time. Learn which products are best for lubricating your table top-and which ingredient you should avoid at all costs. Next, hone techniques for half lap joints, finger joints, and dovetail sockets, reinforce a mitered joint with a spline, and even discover a trick for cove cutting with a table saw.

93 min
Portable Power Tool Tips & Techniques: Part 1

02: Portable Power Tool Tips & Techniques: Part 1

If you do not have friends or family members who are woodworkers, it can be difficult to know which power tools are the best investment for your shop. These two lessons are ones you will reference again and again when you are preparing to make a purchase. In the first lesson, get tips and tricks for four tools that bring versatility to your shop: routers, belt sanders, jig saws, and the multi-tool. Among the tutorials in this lesson: comparing fixed base vs. plunge base routers, selecting the correct blade for your jig saw, and how to transform a handheld belt sander into a stationary one so you can keep both hands on your project.

81 min
Portable Power Tool Tips & Techniques: Part 2

03: Portable Power Tool Tips & Techniques: Part 2

Continue to maximize the potential of your power tools and get valuable purchasing advice from a master woodworker. Dive into the many applications for a biscuit joiner, including how to reinforce 45-degree cuts and join narrow pieces. See slow-motion footage of random orbit sanders to gain a deeper understanding of how they work. Explore the benefits of having a circular saw over a dedicated track saw, learn how to convert a circular saw into a track saw if you would rather not purchase two tools. Finally, get expert advice on selecting the right saw blades for your project.

79 min
Essential Band Saw Techniques

04: Essential Band Saw Techniques

If you are only using your band saw to cut big, gentle curves and flat stock for furniture work, you are not getting the most from this tool. In this lesson, each aspect of using the band saw is covered step by step, making it easy for you to follow along and incorporate new skills into your woodworking. After reviewing proper setup and maintenance, dig into novel uses for this versatile tool, including cutting perfect circles, resawing beautiful book matches, pad cutting multiples, and cutting non-traditional materials like antlers, gemstone composite, and more.

114 min
Router Table Tips & Techniques

05: Router Table Tips & Techniques

Many woodworkers are not aware of just how versatile a router table can be. Become a more educated consumer by gaining a better understanding of the inner workings of a router table. Then, follow along with your instructor as you build a handsome wooden box. Along the way, you will learn about the golden proportion, router lifts, lock miter joints, routing for inlay strips, cutting miters, splining corners, and even using the router table as a jointer.

78 min
Sharpening Skills for Your Workshop

06: Sharpening Skills for Your Workshop

Many woodworkers are not aware of just how versatile a router table can be. Become a more educated consumer by gaining a better understanding of the inner workings of a router table. Then, follow along with your instructor as you build a handsome wooden box. Along the way, you will learn about the golden proportion, router lifts, lock miter joints, routing for inlay strips, cutting miters, splining corners, and even using the router table as a jointer.

117 min
Gluing & Clamping Skills for Every Project

07: Gluing & Clamping Skills for Every Project

A sturdy finished product depends on the right glue. But given the wide variety of adhesives available on the market today, it can be daunting to choose the right glue for your projects. In this lesson, explore the benefits of many types of glue, from common white glue to gap-filling epoxy. Follow the history of hide glue, which was common in pre-WWII furniture and remains the glue of choice for wooden musical instrument makers. Compare and contrast seams created in the same material with different glues. Finally, learn all about glue's partner: the clamp. Explore light and heavy duty clamps, including homemade lightweight clamps made from PVC pipe and an amazing demonstration of clamping an irregularly shaped object using a vacuum bag.

66 min
Jigs, Fixtures & Shop-Made Helpers

08: Jigs, Fixtures & Shop-Made Helpers

A seasoned woodworker is one who has found ways to make their work as efficient as possible, and shop-made helpers are one of the main reasons for this efficiency. In this step-by-step tutorial, George Vondriska teaches you how to build and use a variety of essential woodworking jigs, fixtures and everyday helpers to make your job in the workshop simpler, safer, and less stressful. He first discusses important tips for choosing the materials you'll utilize for your jigs, highlights some hardware that you should always have on hand for jig building, and then walks you through the building process. From push sticks to router guides to cross-cut sleds, this lesson has guides for building them all.

74 min
Shop Storage Solutions

09: Shop Storage Solutions

Much like a master chef has mise en place to ensure that every ingredient and tool needed for a meal is easily accessible, a woodworker is only as efficient as their workshop is organized. Complete three projects that promote a clean and organized workshop: a shorts and sheet goods rack for organizing your wood, a small cabinet that uses dados (grooves) to allow for modular drawers, and a rolling storage unit with a place for everything from large tools to small glue bottles.

114 min
Great Shop Projects

10: Great Shop Projects

Many of the most useful projects in woodworking are ones that you will keep in your own workshop. In this lesson, watch as your instructor builds two projects: a shop storage cabinet with an acrylic glass front and pegboard back, and a table saw miter sled that makes accurate 45-degree cuts quick and easy. In addition to providing you with storage, the cabinet project will teach you about case joinery, making door frames, using Euro hinges, and more.

90 min
Making Wooden Games

11: Making Wooden Games

Craft a unique gift that can be handed down from generation to generation. Get comprehensive project instructions for six family-friendly games: from a small tic-tac-toe board made with beautiful contrasting woods to a fun bean bag toss game for your next backyard barbecue. And you will learn great woodworking skills along the way, such as cutting perfect circles, gluing up panels, making and using a router template for repetitive cuts, and other skills that will make your shop time more productive, and more enjoyable.

103 min
A Pair of Planters

12: A Pair of Planters

Explore outdoor applications for woodworking while building two planters to add beauty and seating to your deck, patio, or yard. Outdoor projects may not require all the finesse of indoor furniture making, but you will find that your cabinet and furniture making skills carry over nicely. You'll learn how to guarantee uniform length when crosscutting multiple pieces, and find tips for getting symmetrical part lay out, the correct glue, material, and fasteners for outdoor projects, and lots more. The bench planter and modular planter are quick projects that are simple enough to do with kids.

153 min
Sawhorse Desk

13: Sawhorse Desk

Build a useful piece of furniture with an interesting design twist. The base of this desk is two sawhorses, which gives it a "warehouse" look. In this project lesson, build a sturdy sawhorse desk from red oak with handsome black walnut banding. You'll learn to accurately cut and assemble the angles required for the sawhorse base, accurately crosscut large pieces of plywood, add banding to mask the edges, and many other useful skills that will carry over to future projects. When you're done, you'll have a piece of utilitarian furniture that you will be proud to use daily.

69 min

Overview Course No. 4071

Whether you're crafting a future family heirloom or doing simple repairs around the house, Woodworking 101: Techniques and Everyday Projects, produced by the Woodworkers Guild of America, is an invaluable guide to both the fundamental and comprehensive skills you need to know. Your instructor on this journey is the affable and knowledgeable George Vondriska, who has taught woodworking skills to eager audiences everywhere from the Pentagon to Africa. As his virtual apprentice, you will master shop-proven and time-tested techniques and be able to tackle projects large and small with newfound confidence. In these 13 lessons, spanning more than 20 hours, you will learn how to get the most from the tools of the trade you’d find in a typical woodworking shop. Mr. Vondriska walks you step-by-step through using the tools that every beginning woodworker should own. You will learn how to plan and build items that will showcase your woodworking skills while creating practical items that can be used every day, including storage solutions, jigs, and fixtures. And since no woodworking course would be complete without several projects to hone your skills, this course includes over a dozen undertakings, including designing:

  • a rolling material cart with pegboard storage,
  • a two-sided game board for tic-tac-toe and last man,
  • a complete set of intricate wooden chess pieces,
  • a pair of planters for your garden that double as seating, and
  • a cabinet with an acrylic panel door that hangs with a French cleat.

This hands-on and practical course is made in partnership with the Woodworkers Guild of America, an organization that believes in feeding your passion for wood craft with new techniques and inspiring ideas delivered by some of the best woodworking instructors in the world.

About

George Vondriska
George Vondriska

My goal is to help you become a better woodworker.

INSTITUTION

Woodworkers Guild of America

George Vondriska has been teaching woodworking since 1986. In addition to teaching classes at his own Vondriska Woodworks School, George has taught at woodworking shows and retail stores across the country, in Africa as part of the Peace Corps, and for organizations from Andersen Window to Northwest Airlines. He has even taught woodworking at the Pentagon.

After getting his B.S. in Science Education at the University of St. Thomas and a teaching degree in Technical Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Mr. Vondriska began his career as a woodworking educator at ShopSmith Academy. Since then, he has taught at or helped develop curriculum for woodworking education programs around the world.

Beyond his work in education, Mr. Vondriska volunteers as an Assistant Scoutmaster and Woodworking Merit Badge Counselor for the Boy Scouts of America. He also runs guitar building sessions for Guitars 4 Vets, a program that provides acoustic guitars and music lessons to injured military veterans.

Mr. Vondriska is the Managing Editor of the WoodWorkers Guild of America. He has also written for American Woodworker Magazine, Fine Woodworking, WOOD, and Woodworkers Journal. He holds a U.S. Patent, issued in February 2008, for inventing the tenon cutting router bit.

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