Sharpening
3 hrs $60 person
Book a Scheduled Class
Class Description
Essential and Highly recommended. It’s simply impossible to do good woodwork without sharp tools. (Think of your kitchen knife too). The sharper the better: they produce far better results and make the seemingly impossible… possible. You're welcome to bring a dull tool or two for practice.
3 hrs $60 4-8 people
Everyone needs this one. Sharpening is not that difficult, you don’t need a lot of equipment. But it’s an essential skill to master if wood is to be your thing… (or cooking for that matter: if you want a really great kitchen knife!) You cut with less effort and it’s safer to do work with less force behind the cutting edge. Even tools from manufacturers are often not great out of the box – learn to tune your tool and get a perfect edge. There are primary and secondary bevels, things to know about grinders and stones (they’re not all the same!). There are proper progressions, guides and dressings, and then there’s stropping and burnishing in order to get that “scary sharp” edge that all professionals covet. All about proper storing too and maintaining your edge.
About the Instructor
Bruce Schwager is your guide: over 40 years’ experience with boat-building, custom doors, furniture, carving, cabinets, and architectural woodwork… is at your service.
How to Get Here & Where to Stay:
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We’re in-town with many choices for lodging, stores, and restaurants, all within a 5 minute walk through our little Seaside Village. There are airport shuttles, Lyft/Uber/Taxi, and a popular free bus system. A car is unnecessary here. Recommending a place to stay (there are plenty to choose from) is difficult as they range greatly in price and accommodations, from B&B, Motel, Inn, and Air B&B/VRBO. Let Google be your guide.
The Learning Lab’s Wood Shop is located behind Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA), and behind the Children’s Theater, and behind the Island Dance Theater. The address is 723 Camano Avenue in Langley WA (commonly known as the old Langley Middle School) and parking for the Wood Shop is best on the West side of the campus in what is now The South Whidbey Community Center.
Class Policies, Liability Waiver, & Cancellations:
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When a class is reserved by you, you may CANCEL the class up to 10 business days prior to the day of the class for a full refund (minus a $25 fee that covers credit card processing fees and administrative work). Cancellations less than 10 business days prior will be given a refund (less $25) if we can find someone else to fill your place. If we cancel a class for any reason, a full refund of any paid-in-advance funds will be returned to registrants. Participants may be asked to sign a WAIVER of liability in which they take responsibility for their safety, represent they are not sensory impaired, have no medical conditions of which our Staff ought to be aware, are knowledgeable of and will abide by Shop SAFETY rules, and they are representing they can physically, knowledgeably, and safely operate the tools of the Shop.