Hands-on box making class with Boyce Irwin
Lorraine Wilson
The Robson Ranch Woodworkers Club has been providing training and classes for both new and existing members. In April, Steve Russell held an informative class on the steps to begin to learn the CNC machine. Also in April, Jo Bostwick had a hands-on class on working with epoxy. Instructions included adding the resin to the hardener, stirring the epoxy for several minutes, adding color, and then the joy of “painting” epoxy in beautiful cut-out designs in wood previously made on the CNC machine. Participants were able to complete designs with frogs, horses, turtles, birds, hummingbirds, etc., in them.
In May, Boyce Irwin held a classroom overview of box making, followed by smaller classes with hands-on experience in all the steps involved in making beautiful wooden boxes. Additional classroom classes held included a basic joinery class taught by David Bassham and a hands-on planer/joiner class taught by Frank Hunter. Frank also held several individual equipment training classes in the lathe and power saw.
Safety is stressed to all woodworkers, and safety training is regularly scheduled for new club members—the required first step for everyone who joins the club. The May safety training for four new members was led by Mike Riewe. Boyce Irwin, with the assistance of Greg Hennings and Bob Hestes, is getting ready for the next monitor training. The shop cannot open without a monitor, so regular training of new monitors is very important. The shop also provides an excellent mentor program, which matches new woodworkers with experienced woodworkers, and the results have been amazing!
Ladies’ night on Monday nights is monitored by Kelly Kay and Lorraine Wilson and continues to bring in women working on various projects. Weekly ladies’ night participants have included several regulars, but ladies-only training sessions are coming up, so come on by and learn in a stress-free, supportive, and fun environment.
If you are interested in learning the joys of woodworking, come by the shop, look around, and meet a few of the helpful and knowledgeable woodworkers. No experience is necessary to join the club. We offer thorough safety and equipment training with a fantastic mentor program in place, so you can learn one-on-one from experienced woodworkers. The Woodshop is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with regular meetings on the third Tuesday of the month from 3:30 to 4 p.m.