What to Expect During a Course
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Hours
We generally run a 9:00 am - 5:00 pm day with a one hour lunch starting around noon. We allow time mid-morning and mid-afternoon for a break. We will use the last fifteen minutes of every day to sweep and tidy up the shop as a group.
Weekend classes begin wrapping up between 4-4:30 pm on Sunday to allow students time to get in line for ferries and start the journey home.
Lodging Options
For weeklong and multiweek classes, this link: Where to Stay, provides lodging options. When booking your lodging, let the proprietor know you are a student at the school. Call us at (360) 344-4455 if you need additional recommendations. We maintain a list of Port Townsend residents that enjoy renting rooms, apartments, or homes to Port Townsend School of Woodworking students.
What to Wear
We recommend you wear comfortable clothes: shirts with a close-fitting wrist or short sleeves, and sturdy pants. Bring layers; we keep the shop at around 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wear comfortable, supportive shoes. The floor is concrete which can be hard on the legs after a long day, though we do surround each bench with shock absorbent mats.
We do not recommend wearing sandals in the shop; you need to have full foot protection. If that chisel you have just sharpened jumps off the bench we'd rather it was stopped by your shoe!
If your course includes work with the larger woodworking machines we ask that you wear close-fitting clothes; do not wear necklaces or anything that could get trapped in a spinning blade. If you have long hair, please tie it back.
Layering / Outerwear
The climate in Port Townsend is pretty benign. There are relatively few days when it freezes and the average winter midday temperature is in the mid 40's. In the summer the local breezes take the edge off the heat. The temperatures can swing during the day so we recommend that you bring layers appropriate to the season.
Port Townsend is in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and gets considerably less rain than Seattle. The other benefit is that we can frequently be in the sun when Seattle is cloudy or rainy. However, it does rain. Bring a lightweight water-resistant jacket for those dashes to the Commons Cafe (see below).
Safety Gear
For our classes using table saws and other dust-making machines, we require students to wear personal protection.
We provide one disposable dust mask per student, per course. If you lose it or damage you'll need to buy a new one from us. We also have a stock of ear defenders and goggles.
If you wish to bring your own, we make these recommendations:
Ear protection
We recommend that you bring ear protection that works for you. Some folks like ear plugs, others like ear defenders. If you're unsure which will work for you we recommend trying cheap ear plugs and seeing if you can be comfortable wearing them for 20 minutes. If you get uncomfortable we recommend you use ear defenders. They are reasonably priced at most hardware stores.Eye protection
Poly-carbonate lenses in eyeglasses can provide some flying chip protection but dust can still get in around the sides. We recommend that you get some goggles that work for you. The goggles should sit firmly on your face and, if you wear glasses, sit comfortably over your glasses. Goggles are available at your local hardware store.
One word of warning: There are goggles available that have rows of tiny vents above the lenses for ventilation - these are not recommended as they can let a lot of dust in - especially when routing.Dust protection/ Face Mask
A little dust goes an awful long way. We recommend that you use a disposable mask like a 3M R8511es Respirator Dust Mask. This mask has a couple of straps, an exhalation valve (less likely to fog up your glasses) and is lightweight. This is a heavy duty mask and will last a couple of months in the shop. Cost in the $5-6 range.We've had many questions about where to get this type of mask. In Port Townsend Admiral Ship Supply in Boat Haven is a good place. Edensaw also stocks similar masks.
In Seattle we'd suggest Woodcraft plus any of the stores that service the marine trades.
Tim and Jim both like the Dust Bee Gone faces masks. These are cloth masks that can be washed and cover beards well.
Parking
Please park in front of Building 315 in a herringbone pattern. Make sure you leave space for the disabled parking space.
Building 304: you can park in the lot on the south side of the building near Taps at the Guardhouse. After class you can enjoy a beverage at Taps to reward yourself for a hard days learning.
If you are not staying at the Fort, and you choose to visit and park at the Beach or the Artillery Hill Trail Head at Fort Worden you will need a Discover Pass. Free parking near the school is made possible through in-person tourism sales of the Discover Pass in Building #200, so if you need to renew (required to park at almost all Washington State Parks), please consider purchasing it here at Fort Worden.
Beverages / Food
Each bench room has a drip coffee machine, a hot water kettle, a microwave and a mini-fridge. It's cheerful and efficient self-service. We stock tea and coffee. We ask for a small donation to help keep the service going.
There is good food and beverages available just a two-minute walk away at the Commons Cafe (a sandwich costs around $8).
Good food is available in Uptown Port Townsend which is a couple minutes drive away. We'll share a map when you come to the school.
Pets / Dogs
We are based at Fort Worden State Park and we have to adhere to State Parks policy on not allowing animals into the building.
Service animals may enter the buildings.
Dogs need to be on a leash at all times in the Park.
Dogs may be kept outside the building on leash if the leash is secured to a stake or to the picnic bench. If you prefer to keep your dog in your car, we recommend that you park in the shade at an adjacent lot. You may need a Discover Pass. Ask when you arrive.
Your Workspace
We have a bench room and machine shop in Building 315 and the same in Building 304, both within Fort Worden State Park. A workbench is provided for each student.
The bench room in Building 315 is equipped with a large professional quality workbench for each student. Each work bench is stocked with a set of high quality hand tools. If you are just beginning woodworking you do not need to bring any tools to class. You may use our tools and then base your post-class tool purchases on that experience.
If you have already started to acquire some hand tools, feel free to bring them along. You can learn how to sharpen and tune them and then use them in the class. We recommend that you bring your tools in a tool bag or box for your convenience.
Each bench has storage space for your personal items and project parts.
Traveling by Air? Ship Your Tools to the School
Don't want to lug your tools through the airport and check them in? You can ship your tools to the school via Fedex or UPS. The tools will be securely delivered to the Fort Worden Park Office, where we pick them up and will have them waiting for you at the school.
If you choose this shipping route we encourage you to make a secure wooden tool box that will hold the tools safely and not fall apart in transit. We can take no responsibility for the condition of the shipped tools. We recommend that you insure the tools.
Ship the tools to the School's mailing address:
(Your Name)
c/o Port Townsend School of Woodworking
200 Battery Way,
Port Townsend, WA
98368
We can help ship the tools back for you if you supply a prepaid shipping label from either Fedex or UPS (both companies make regular collections at the Fort).
Traveling from Canada?
For students driving into the United States from Canada, be aware that customs officials are trained to keep an eye out for people bringing in tools to make sure they are not working illegally.
Our recommendation is to be forthright with officials about your reason for visiting the United States and present a receipt for the course you are attending.
Cell Phones and Wifi
We ask you to put your phone on silent when lectures or demonstrations are happening and to respect the instructors' and other students' focus. If you do receive a call or need to make a call we ask you to step outside or to step into the machine room.
Cell reception at the school is variable - the Building 315 is reinforced concrete. If you are expecting an important call, please use the bench room number (360) 344-4456.
A wireless access point has been installed in Building 315's bench room and gives you full access to the WiFi network at Fort Worden.
For students taking part in a vocational program at PTSW:
Vocational Catalog
The Legal Stuff
You sign a liability form when you register online. If you were registered by someone else, this form is sometimes bypassed and we may ask you to login in to Active Network to sign that form before attending class. The release asks you to to be responsible for your own actions during the course. We also ask you to grant us the use of your likeness in any images taken during a class.
Our Shop Safety Plan covers the procedures for working at each type of machine.
The General Safety Procedures and the Safety Plan are based on the University of Washington's Center for the Built Environment Safety Plans and are used with permission. Our thanks to the Center for the Built Environment for letting us adapt their documents.
The links in this section are provided for your information. You do not need to print these documents. We provide copies at the start of a class.
Your Feedback
During each class we distribute a questionnaire asking about your experience in the class and ask you to fill it in - either by the end of class or to return it to us by mail.
Your insights, observations and critique are key to us improving the school and developing the best teaching techniques and facilities. Please be honest.
If something isn't working for you in the class room - please let us know during the class so that we can fix it and help you focus on the learning.
Non-Discrimination Policy
"Consistent with our values and beliefs and in accord with the relevant federal and state statutes, the Port Townsend School of Woodworking and Preservation Trades does not discriminate in the admission of students, appointment of staff, or recruitment of members of the Board of Directors or other volunteers on the basis of race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, gender, or sexual orientation."
Registration and Cancellation Policy
Click here to see our full Registration and Cancellation Policy.