MakerspaceCT upcoming events

Women's Woodworking Workshop Series (Monday, May 18, 2026)

Mon, 18 May 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Women’s Woodworking: Introductory Skills Workshop

About the Class
Join us for a women-centered woodworking workshop that introduces core shop skills in a supportive, encouraging environment. You’ll learn the basics of tool safety, measurement, cutting, sanding, and project assembly while working on a guided project designed for beginners.

Session 1: Intro to Joinery and Tool Confidence

Students are introduced to foundational joinery techniques and shop navigation.

Topics
• Wood grain basics and why certain joints fail
• Non-hardware joinery methods
• Instructor demonstrations: dado and lap joints on the bandsaw and table saw
• Measurement, layout, and planning

Hands-On Project
Students practice creating joints, then build a small glued-and-doweled project using 2x4 material.

Session 2: Making a Bandsaw Box

Students begin an intermediate project that introduces milling, shaping, and more intricate cuts.

Topics
• Selecting appropriate hardwood
• Instructor demonstrations: safe and accurate use of the planer and table saw for material prep
• Using the bandsaw with jigs and fences
• Cutting the outer form and internal drawer cavity

Hands-On Project
Students prep their wood block and begin shaping the box components.

Session 3: Assembly and Finishing

Students complete and refine their bandsaw box.

Topics
• Gluing, shaping, and sanding workflows
• Wax and finish application
• Review of key techniques and next-step skills

Hands-On Project
Final assembly, sanding, and finishing of the completed bandsaw box.

Course Outcomes

Students gain:
• Practical joinery knowledge
• Exposure to planer and table saw operation through instructor demonstrations
• Greater bandsaw confidence and accuracy
• Two hands-on projects showcasing both beginner and intermediate woodworking skills
• A supportive, women-centered environment designed to build confidence and independence in the woodshop

Provided
Tools, materials, safety equipment, and instruction.

What to Bring
Closed-toe shoes and hair tied back. All other gear will be provided.

Hardwood Cutting Board Workshop (Two Sessions) (Wednesday, May 20, 2026)

Wed, 20 May 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Hardwood Cutting Board Workshop

About the Class
Design and build your own custom hardwood cutting board in this hands-on, two-session workshop. Working with cherry, walnut, and maple, students will learn essential woodworking skills while creating a durable, food-safe board from raw stock to finished product.

Session 1: Material Prep and Glue-Up
Students learn how to safely prepare and assemble their cutting board components.

Topics
• Understanding hardwood selection and grain direction
• Designing a striped cutting board layout
• Table saw safety and rip cutting techniques
• Miter saw use for accurate crosscuts
• Glue-up process and proper clamping methods

Hands-On Project
Students cut their hardwood boards to size, arrange their design, and glue and clamp their cutting board blank.

Session 2: Milling, Shaping, and Finishing
Students refine and complete their cutting boards using shop equipment and finishing techniques.

Topics
• Planer use to flatten and smooth glued panels
• Router table techniques for edge profiling
• Sanding progression for a smooth finish
• Applying food-safe oil and beeswax finish

Hands-On Project
Students plane, shape, sand, and finish their cutting board, leaving with a completed piece ready for use.

Course Outcomes
Students gain:
• Confidence using core woodworking machines including table saw, miter saw, and planer
• Understanding of wood movement, grain, and glue-up techniques
• Experience with sanding and finishing workflows
• A finished hardwood cutting board they designed and built

Provided
All materials including cherry, walnut, and maple hardwood, glue, finishing supplies, tools, safety equipment, and instruction.

What to Bring
Closed-toe shoes and hair tied back. All other gear will be provided.

Women's Woodworking Workshop Series (Monday, May 25, 2026)

Mon, 25 May 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Women’s Woodworking: Introductory Skills Workshop

Session 1: Intro to Joinery and Tool Confidence

Students are introduced to foundational joinery techniques and shop navigation.

Hands-On Project
Students practice creating joints, then build a small glued-and-doweled project using 2x4 material.

Session 2: Making a Bandsaw Box

Students begin an intermediate project that introduces milling, shaping, and more intricate cuts.

Hands-On Project
Students prep their wood block and begin shaping the box components.

Session 3: Assembly and Finishing

Students complete and refine their bandsaw box.

Topics
• Gluing, shaping, and sanding workflows
• Wax and finish application
• Review of key techniques and next-step skills

Hands-On Project
Final assembly, sanding, and finishing of the completed bandsaw box.

Course Outcomes

Provided
Tools, materials, safety equipment, and instruction.

What to Bring
Closed-toe shoes and hair tied back. All other gear will be provided.

Hardwood Cutting Board Workshop (Two Sessions) (Wednesday, May 27, 2026)

Wed, 27 May 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Hardwood Cutting Board Workshop

Session 1: Material Prep and Glue-Up
Students learn how to safely prepare and assemble their cutting board components.

Hands-On Project
Students cut their hardwood boards to size, arrange their design, and glue and clamp their cutting board blank.

Session 2: Milling, Shaping, and Finishing
Students refine and complete their cutting boards using shop equipment and finishing techniques.

Topics
• Planer use to flatten and smooth glued panels
• Router table techniques for edge profiling
• Sanding progression for a smooth finish
• Applying food-safe oil and beeswax finish

Hands-On Project
Students plane, shape, sand, and finish their cutting board, leaving with a completed piece ready for use.

Provided
All materials including cherry, walnut, and maple hardwood, glue, finishing supplies, tools, safety equipment, and instruction.

What to Bring
Closed-toe shoes and hair tied back. All other gear will be provided.

Women's Woodworking Workshop Series (Monday, June 01, 2026)

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Women’s Woodworking: Introductory Skills Workshop

Session 1: Intro to Joinery and Tool Confidence

Students are introduced to foundational joinery techniques and shop navigation.

Hands-On Project
Students practice creating joints, then build a small glued-and-doweled project using 2x4 material.

Session 2: Making a Bandsaw Box

Students begin an intermediate project that introduces milling, shaping, and more intricate cuts.

Hands-On Project
Students prep their wood block and begin shaping the box components.

Session 3: Assembly and Finishing

Students complete and refine their bandsaw box.

Topics
• Gluing, shaping, and sanding workflows
• Wax and finish application
• Review of key techniques and next-step skills

Hands-On Project
Final assembly, sanding, and finishing of the completed bandsaw box.

Course Outcomes

Provided
Tools, materials, safety equipment, and instruction.

What to Bring
Closed-toe shoes and hair tied back. All other gear will be provided.

Cedar Planter Box Workshop (Wednesday, June 03, 2026)

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Cedar Planter Box Workshop

About the Class Design and build your own cedar planter box in this hands-on, single-session workshop. Working with cedar lumber, students will learn the fundamentals of planning a build, dimensioning stock, and assembling a durable outdoor planter using screws and hardware.

Session: Layout, Cutting, and Assembly Students move through the full build from raw boards to a finished, assembled planter box.

Topics

Planning and mocking up a planter box design
Chop saw use for crosscuts and miter cuts
Cutting and dimensioning lumber stock to size
Pre-drilling and countersinking screws for a clean finish
Assembling and joining box walls with screws and hardware
Lining and finishing the top edges for a polished look

Hands-On Project Students cut, dimension, and fully assemble their cedar planter box in a single session, leaving with a finished piece ready for use outdoors.

Course Outcomes Students gain:

Experience planning and laying out a woodworking project from scratch
Confidence using a chop saw for accurate crosscuts and miter cuts
Skills in fastener placement, pre-drilling, and countersinking
A finished cedar planter box they designed and built

Provided All materials including cedar boards, screws, hardware, tools, safety equipment, and instruction.

What to Bring Closed-toe shoes and hair tied back. All other gear will be provided.