The Goodlife Centre - Practical Workshops in Central London

Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/carpentry-for-beginners-12-afternoons-wood-table-35/
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Using a mixture of traditional hand tools and modern drills and saws, experienced Woodworker, Len Conway will guide and inspire you as he teaches age-old techniques in joinery. As you begin making objects traditionally constructed from seasoned pine, you will learn how to use and care for chisels, saws, planes and spokeshaves. Len is an experienced woodworker and teacher.

Students will work on a variety of exercises – designed to incorporate simple to advanced joints and tools that build confidence and independence.

Over 11 weeks, we will cover many aspects of traditional carpentry tuition. There will be lots of practical exercises in each session including a project to make a simple frame table that you will take home.

Students will work on a variety of exercises – designed to incorporate simple to advanced joints and tools that build confidence and independence.

Step I – We will get familiar with some tools of the trade:
• Introducing basic tools. Equipping a toolbox for home carpentry.
• Timber selection/marking out and cutting. Tips on woods, saws and drills.
• Using a plane, different types of planes. Sharpening tips and practice.
• Using a chisel and its uses. Sharpening tips and practice.

Step II – You will use planes, chisels and marking tools:
• Simple joints and why we use them.
• Half joints, lap joints. Practice using chisels and planes.
• Bridle joints and a mortise and tenon

Step III – You will make a simple project to take home:

It’s fast-paced but with the support of Len, you will complete your own project to make a simple frame and legs for a small table
• Work from selected pine and measure, mark and cut pieces.
• Choose and make joints, assemble and secure with adhesive or screws.
• Sand and smooth to a stage where your project is ready for staining or waxing and taken home with pride.

All personal protection, the use of tools and basic materials are included.

This series of workshops will run every Monday afternoon from 2:30pm – 5:00pm.

Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-woodwork-flip-lid-dovetail-box-6-afternoons-50/
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Suitable for: Confident beginners
Course length: 6 weeks – afternoons
Dates: See below for individual dates/times
Key tools: Marking tools, hand saws, chisels, hand planes
Project: Flip-lid dovetail box

Details:
An absorbing five-week course for confident beginners and an enjoyable learning experience for anyone with a little woodworking experience. Using a fusion of hardwood and softwood, this five-week course will teach you the fundamentals of woodwork and give you an opportunity to use classic hand tools; brass-backed tenon saws, sharp wood chisels and delicately honed vintage wood planes.

This well-proportioned flip-lidded box is constructed of European redwood using a single dovetail joint at each corner and the fitted hardwood lid is attached to the base by a handmade ‘dowel’ peg hinge. The project will familiarise learners with many classic woodwork techniques and is taught with patience and enthusiasm by Andy Nicholl, who has devised this informative and challenging project.

You will take home a treasure to treasure- and we hope it will enthuse you to learn how to make many handmade woodwork projects in the years to come.

If your keyboard-weary hands have been needing the skill to fulfil and satisfy a yearning desire to create something you can hold, come and join us in our well-equipped and inspiring workshops and discover the wonderful world of woodwork.

Key skills:

• Measuring marking and cutting dovetail joints to make an accurate framed box.
• Planing and shaping a hardwood lid to fit the softwood frame base.
• Making and fitting a hardwood dowel joint to attach the frame base to the lid.

Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/carpentry-for-beginners-10-evenings-wood-table/
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In this throw-away age, when all the furniture we own is assembled and not built, we are pleased to offer an opportunity to spend some precious time learning how to use ageless tools to make something everlasting from wood. These 12 evenings are a perfect starting point for many aspects of woodwork that will give you the confidence to choose and replicate basic wood joints into other projects.

Using a mixture of traditional hand tools and modern drills and saws, experienced Woodworker, Len Conway will guide and inspire you as he teaches age-old techniques in joinery. As you begin making objects traditionally constructed from seasoned pine, you will learn how to use and care for chisels, saws, planes and spokeshaves. Len is an experienced woodworker and teacher.

Students will work on a variety of exercises – designed to incorporate simple to advanced joints and tools that build confidence and independence.

Over 12 weeks, we will cover many aspects of traditional carpentry tuition. There will be lots of practical exercises in each session including a project to make a simple frame table that you will take home.

Students will work on a variety of exercises – designed to incorporate simple to advanced joints and tools that build confidence and independence.

Step I – We will get familiar with some tools of the trade:

• Introducing basic tools. Equipping a toolbox for home carpentry.
• Timber selection/marking out and cutting. Tips on woods, saws and drills.
• Using a plane, different types of planes. Sharpening tips and practice.
• Using a chisel and its uses. Sharpening tips and practice.

Step II – You will use planes, chisels and marking tools:

• Simple joints and why we use them.
• Half joints, lap joints. Practice using chisels and planes.
• Bridle joints and a mortise and tenon

Step III – You will make a simple project to take home:
It’s fast-paced but with the support of Len, you will complete your own project to make a simple frame and legs for a small table

• Work from selected pine and measure, mark and cut pieces.
• Choose and make joints, assemble and secure with adhesive or screws.
• Sand and smooth to a stage where your project is ready for staining or waxing and taken home with pride.

All personal protection, the use of tools and basic materials are included.

Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/upholstery-bring-your-own-chair-monday-eve-16/
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KEY PROJECT: RE-UPHOLSTERING YOUR OWN CHAIR.
Suitable for beginners and fun for advanced learners.
This workshop is led by Krasmira Nikolova, an experienced upholsterer.

We provide the use of all upholstery tools and equipment including compressed air staple guns. Basic upholstery materials that you require for your project will be moderately charged on a pay-as-you-use basis and will be dependent on each chair’s requirements. We can advise you on the purchase of your top fabric and we have a lovely library of fabric samples to help make up your mind. The Goodlife Centre sells all the basic tools and materials for use on projects worked on at home.

This is a fantastic chance to up-cycle and personalise a family piece you have at home or a junk shop find and a great way to immerse yourself into the wonderful world of upholstery.

The course is suitable for both beginners and those who have a basic knowledge but little experience who wish to extend their expertise.

Choosing a suitable chair
If you are a newcomer to upholstery, there are a couple of pointers to help you choose a chair to work on. Choose something that has one or two flat planes – a seat and a back – as curves and arms are more complex and take longer to achieve.

The chair on the right was completed in about 12 weeks.

If you are a complete beginner, you could bring something more simple such as an upholstered footstool. More experienced upholsters can bring more complex pieces. Your chair can be traditionally built or modern, but be aware that some modern pieces have been constructed using machinery and are difficult to recreate by hand.

Click here for a detailed PDF of suitable chairs.

Please email info@thegoodlifecentre.co.uk with a photo of your chair prior to the course so we can answer any suitability questions and advise if your chair is suitable.

We have very limited storage at the centre, so we can only store smaller pieces during the course. Please make sure the total dimensions are less than 1000mm high by 750mm wide, with a depth of 750mm.

Available on Monday evenings from 6:30pm to 9pm.

The use of tools and machinery is included.
All materials will be charged at nominal rates. Some materials will not be kept in stock but can be ordered. Approved projects can be stored at the centre. We cannot offer additional time to work on your project outside of workshop times.