Beginner Woodworking for Women: Make Your Own Wooden Coasters

Step into the wood-shop with confidence! This hands-on, 3-hour workshop with instructor Ben Egelson is for women who want a solid foundation in basic woodshop power tools. With guided instruction, you'll learn to run core machinery safely while turning rough-sawn lumber into a set of custom wooden coasters to take home.

No experience needed. This class is designed for absolute beginners.

Cost:

• $75. Limited to 6 students

Who it's for

• Eligibility: Women 18 years of age or older.
• Prerequisites: None.

What you'll learn

• Wood-shop safety: protective gear, dust collection, machine safety and proper handling
• The millwork process: the order of steps to flatten, square, size and smooth rough wood
• Hands-on time on five core tools: jointer, planer, table saw, drum sander and random orbital sander
• Sanding through progressive grits and applying a food-safe oil/wax finish

What you'll make

• A finished set of custom wooden coasters to take home.

Class outline (3 hours)

• Hour 1: Welcome and safety briefing, jointer and planer demo, then hands-on milling of your coaster stock
• Hour 2: Table saw cuts into coaster blanks, drum sanding, short break with Q&A on choosing beginner tools
• Hour 3: Orbital sanding and edge detailing, applying the finish, cleanup, certificates and class photo

What to wear

• Closed-toe shoes are required (boots or sturdy sneakers preferred)
• Comfortable short-sleeved or fitted long-sleeved clothes; no loose or baggy sleeves or drawstrings
• Hair tied back behind the shoulders; please remove rings, bracelets and dangling necklaces before class

What's provided

• Safety glasses and ear protection (feel free to bring your own)
• Dust masks / respirators
• All lumber, sandpaper and finishing oils

What to bring

• Nothing but yourself, dressed for the shop.