Summer 2025
September 15-19

In this five-day course, you will build Kelly Parker’s Daisy Table, a unique and elegant side table with exposed-dowel joinery and curved legs. This project will reinforce and build habits of machine based woodworking to create consistent, high-quality products that will last a lifetime. This course will be an excellent refresher or skill builder for students who are looking to take their machine woodworking skills to the next level.

In this five-day class, you will construct a unique side table, the Daisy Table, while learning the basics of solid wood construction, exposed-dowel joinery, and machine woodworking. Kelly’s teaching approach is to identify spontaneous learning opportunities that will ensure that you learn basic woodworking problem-solving skills that will be useful for work on future projects. 

Safety will be the focus as we learn how to effectively use many common shop tools, including the bandsaw, miter saw, table saw, jointer, planer, drill press, and router table. You should come out of this course with improved confidence and competence in your abilities on woodworking machines. 

Additionally, by using various jigs throughout the build process, we will enhance your woodworking knowledge and ability to deploy jigs for future projects. You will learn how to fabricate simple dowel jigs that will allow you to create joints that are both functional and decorative. 

The class will also include strategies for successful glue-ups and discuss simple finishing techniques. By the end of the class, each person will have a unique table and a newfound confidence in their woodworking skills!

In this class you will learn: 

• The safe use of common hand and power tools 

• Reading plans and drawings

• Successful construction techniques for solid wood

• Exposed-dowel joinery

• Use of shop-made jigs

• Pattern routing

• Problem solving skills

• Successful, stress-free glue-ups

• Use of sub-tops in lieu of aprons to attach a leg substructure to a table top

• Creative use of wood, aluminum and acrylic dowels

• Embellishment techniques that elevate your work from ordinary to extraordinary (as time allows)

• Easy finishing techniques

• How to layout a project

• Edge and profile routing

Tools

Required:

PLEASE NOTE: many substitutions will work so please don’t feel obligated to buy a tool without checking with Kelly or PTSW first. 

• Tape measure - prefer a 12’ tape 

• 6" steel rule - prefer a hook rule; many options at Amazon, Woodcraft, Rockler, etc

• 12" sliding try square - Starrett is an excellent brand but pricey

• Sketch book, pencils, erasers, etc.

• Slim marking knife and blades - suggest Olfa SVR-2

Recommended:

• 4" double square - Starrett is an excellent brand, iGaging is more reasonably priced 

• cordless drill - strongly recommended, prefer Hitachi 12V tools

Prerequisites

Some skills required. Proper safety techniques of woodworking machines will be demonstrated but it will be helpful if students have a basic understanding of their use. Please feel free to reach out to us if you are unsure about your fit for this course.

Class Information and Registration

Class runs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday in Building 304 at Fort Worden. Map
Please read our What to Expect page for general information about the school.
Please also read our Registration Policy, and sign up for the waitlist if the course is full.

Class size: 10
Cost: $940
Materials Charge: $150