Building Furniture: Design and Fabricate a Wooden Shaker Bench

About the Course

Learn woodworking in our shops by designing and building a custom Shaker-inspired bench in the woodshop.

We’ll discuss design, material selection, and joinery with a brief history of Shaker furniture. In the woodshop, you’ll learn how to work with rough-sawn lumber as well as project assembly and wood finishing. By the end of this Maker’s Series, you’ll walk away with a custom bench and the experience to tackle larger, more complicated projects.

Note: all materials are included in the price to create a small hardwood bench, though feel free to source your own material and scale your project to fit your budget. Some outside-class independent work is expected.

NextFab’s Maker Series is a three-month program that gains you 3 months of membership, 5 classes, unlimited shop access, and a cohort to learn alongside. Registration Opens: Monday, August 28th at 9 a.m.

Wednesday, September 20th, 5:30 – 7:30 pm: Group Session: Project Planning
Wednesday, September 27th,  5:30 – 7:30 pm: Wood Shop Orientation
Wednesday, October 4th, 4:30 – 7:30 pm: Table Saw I / Wood Milling
Wednesday, October 11th, 5:30 – 7:30 pm: Group Session: Joinery
Wednesday, October 18th, 5:30 – 7:30 pm: Group Session: Assembly
Wednesday, October 25th, 5:30 – 6:30 pm: Wood Finishing

To enroll in these classes, please complete an Ultimate-level membership agreement and select “Maker Series – Design and Fabricate a Wooden Shaker Bench.”

Sign Up Here

• Day One: Group Session: Project Planning
• • Discuss designing a bench, material selection, and making a cut list. Plan joinery (simple – antique nails, domino jointer, dados, and/or dowels).
• Day Two: Wood Shop Orientation
  • Review the project. Focus on how to use a bandsaw, drill press, and sanding machines to cut the legs of the bench (arches, etc).
• Day Three: Tablesaw I and Wood Milling
  • Review cutting board project. Demo wood prep from mitersaw → jointer → planer → tablesaw.
• Day Four: Group Session: Joinery
  • Discuss and demo how to cut dados on the table saw, how to use a domino/biscuit joiner, and how to install decorative nails.
• Day Five: Group Session: Assembly
  • Glue up!
• Day Six: Wood Finishing
  • Apply a basic finish on your bench

What’s Next:

• Use the learned foundation to take on another project!
• Take Upholstery I to create a cushion to add to your bench
• Take Leatherworking I to learn how to add something special to a piece of furniture