Education & Member Information

Equipment Demos & Shop Education

Safety First: Working with any equipment can be dangerous. It’s essential that all members know the safe and proper use of every tool in the shop. Eye protection is required while in the woodshop.

Our Education Policy: The club’s goal is to help members learn basic, safe machine operation. Please review Shop Policy 6 - Education in the Documents section for details.

We’re a Community, Not a School: The woodshop is a club of people interested in woodworking. Many members are happy to share their knowledge, but the shop does not function as a formal school.

Ask for Help: If you’re not familiar with a tool or machine, please ask for assistance before using it. This helps prevent injuries and equipment damage.

Regular Demos: Equipment demonstrations are scheduled regularly. Check the Calendar for upcoming sessions. Overviews are also available on the Eq. Demo page. Members are notified by email of new demos or schedule changes.

New Equipment: When new or upgraded equipment arrives, orientation sessions are scheduled and posted on the shop calendar.

Want to Learn More? For advanced skills—like finishing, fret work, box joints, or dovetails—ask a board member for leads to tutors, or just ask around the shop. Someone is always willing to help!

Recent & Featured Equipment Demos

  • Table Saw Sleds: Learn how to use and build crosscut and miter sleds for safer, more accurate cuts.
  • Router Table Techniques: Explore edge profiling, joinery, and safe setup for a variety of router table operations.
  • Band Saw Resawing: See how to set up the band saw for resawing and make the most of your lumber.
  • Planer & Jointer Basics: Get tips on flattening, squaring, and dimensioning boards for your projects.
  • Sharpening Station: Demo on keeping chisels, plane irons, and turning tools sharp and ready to use.
  • Lathe Fundamentals: Introduction to spindle and bowl turning, including tool selection and safety.
  • Drum Sander Use: How to safely use the drum sander for smooth, even surfaces on your workpieces.
  • Dust Collection & Safety: Best practices for keeping the shop clean and your lungs healthy.

Want to see a demo on a specific tool or technique? Let a board member know—requests are always welcome!

DVDs & Videos

At the sign-in desk, you'll find a box with DVDs that can be borrowed for home viewing and a notebook to record your loan. These DVDs cover basic power tool use and specific techniques, produced by the Wood Workers Guild of America (WWGOA.com) and generously donated by a club member. Please do not copy these DVDs.

  • Borrow only one DVD at a time due to limited inventory and length.
  • Keep DVDs for no more than four days.
  • To sign out, enter your name and date in the DVD Sign-Out Notebook.
  • Return DVDs to the correct spot and record the return date.
  • Report any damage or loss to a board member.
Available DVDs:
  • Table Saw: Table Saw Essentials
  • Table Saw: Advanced Table Saw Techniques
  • Table Saw: Table Saw Joinery
  • Router: Router Table Joinery
  • Router: Hand Held Router Techniques
  • Router: Router Table Essentials
  • Lathe: Advanced Turning Techniques
  • Lathe: Wood Turning Essentials
  • Lathe: Turning Projects and Techniques
  • Planer & Joiner: Setting Up and Using Joiners and Planers
  • Sharpening: Must Have Sharpening Techniques
  • Band Saw: Band Saw Essentials