A Women’s Introduction to Woodshop Tools: The Little Dovetail Bench
Power tools are both incredibly useful and often misused. These potent aids can speed and ease our work in the woodshop if we practice the safest techniques and shown them the respect they are due.
Not scheduled right now. Last taught 2026.
It's saved in this browser. Sign in to keep your saved workshops on any device.
The workshop
Power tools are both incredibly useful and often misused. These potent aids can speed and ease our work in the woodshop if we practice the safest techniques and shown them the respect they are due.
In this class we will use a variety of power tools to make a small bench. While the focus will be on modern tools, students will also use a few traditional hand tools. To construct the bench we will explore one of the foundational joints of woodworking: the dovetail.
This class is open both to beginners and to those with modest woodworking experience.
Skills and techniques
- Using the chop saw, bandsaw, table saw, jigsaw, and drill press.
- Safety principles that can be applied to a broad range of power tools.
- Layout for cuts and dovetail joinery.
- Mallet and chisel techniques, and use of the block plane.
- Assembly and glue-up.
Before you come
Details for students
Where
One of the farm's studios, confirmed at check-in. See the campus
Staying on the farm
Housing, meals, the daily schedule, and places to stay nearby are on Prepare for your workshop.
Your instructor
Sarah Highland
Sarah's professional life has revolved around the intersection of woodworking, design, and people. Early on, she fell in love with timber framing, partly for the craft, and partly for the way in which raising a frame together builds community. Sarah has taught woodworking, timber framing, stick-framing, straw-clay, and straw bale construction workshops, and led numerous community-built playground projects. For nine years she taught woodworking and boatbuilding at a residential apprenticeship program in which working with wood in community served as a vehicle for personal growth. Currently, she designs homes and barns built of real wood, teaches workshops, and consults with owner-builders.
Questions about this workshop, housing, or meals? Email registrar@sanbornmills.org or call (603) 435-7314. Please read the workshop policies before you register.