Summer 2024
July 29 - August 2

In this five-day course, we will build a traditional dovetail tote that are designed to carry a basic set of hand tools to a job site. In constructing this tote, we will enter into the world of pre-industrial artisans, where nearly all the dimensioning, joinery, and smoothing was done with hand tools.

The instruction will include a discussion of the 6 square process of dimensioning, but supplied stock lumber will have that step done. The crafting of the tote will focus on proportions and geometry with the students’ hands as the defining unit of measure. Students will learn and practice the skills of dimensioning, sawing materials to length, simple dovetail joints, lap joints, and through mortise & tenon joints. Other skills that will covered include surface preparation with block planes and smoothing planes, driving fasteners, both treenails and rose-headed nails, building for durability, and traditional finishing.

Concepts and skills covered:

• Material assessment 

• Layout practices 

• Precision hand sawing

• Joinery production 

• Case assembly and glue-ups

• Hewing a curve

• Decorative detailing

• Bench plane use and adjustment

• Use of various types of fasteners

• Finishing

Prerequisites 

Open to all. A general understanding of hand tool operations such as sawing and planing is required. Completion of a PTSW Weekend Essentials course or the Beginning Hand Tool Woodworking course would be sufficient. Please let us know if you have any questions about your suitability for this course at info@ptwoodschool.org.

Class Information and Registration

Class runs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday in Building 315 at Fort Worden. Map
Please read our What to Expect page for general information about the school.
Please also read our Registration Policy.
Sign up for the waitlist if the course is full.

Class size: 12
Cost: $895
Materials Charge: $75