Dovetail Saw
2 days, 7 hrs p/day
Total $260 per person
Book a Scheduled Class
Class Description
Fine wood handles, brass backs, and spring steel, you’ll have a finer saw than can be purchased in any store. Tool maker and master of curvilinear form, Brian Noel will guide you through making a beautiful custom dovetail saw; one that will serve you well making precise cuts in your shop, and one that will be handed down with care and admiration from one generation to the next.
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2 days, 7 hrs p/day Total $260 per person includes all materials 9am – 5pm 4 – 8 people
Brian Noel will work closely with you through the process of cutting out & shaping the handle, fitting the saw plate to the brass back & handle, boring holes for brass nuts, punching the teeth with his retoother, and finally shaping and sharpening the saw to perfection.
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Class Syllabus:
DAY 1:
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Drill press and scroll saw to cutout saw handle
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Shape handle with rasps and files for comfort
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Slot handle for blade
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Cut blade with shear to fit handle
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Bore stepped holes through handle
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Mark and drill blade and measure for fit
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Mortise handle
DAY 2:
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Tooth the saw plate using a vintage Foley Belsaw retoother
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Fit and install brass back
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Set and Sharpen saw plate
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Polish/finish metal and wood components
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Assemble saw, test and tune as necessary
About the Instructor
Brian Noel and his wife Kitty have been full time woodworkers for over 15 years, specializing in saws, chairs, carving, and curvilinear woodwork. A lifelong wood hobbyist and artist… seeking fervently as a youth to know everything there is to know about woodworking – a hopeless endeavor if there ever was one. There’s too much to know, but he still studies, attends classes and keeps a curious mind. His work is meticulous, beautiful, and imaginative. Brian’s an excellent and patient instructor for all levels of wood enthusiasts.
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.