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Beginner's woodworking club/classes in northern NJ?

brimed03's picture

Beginner's woodworking club/classes in northern NJ? (post #167251)

brimed03 on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 20:42
in

Hi,


I'm a novice looking for hands-on help learning woodwork, preferably close to the South Orange, NJ area.  I'm aware of the CJWA and might attend, but am hoping for something closer to home as Marlboro is about an hour away--that's gas money better spent on tools!  Anyone have any leads?

Thanks in advance,


Brian

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frankfive's picture

Good Options; But Nothing Close (post #167251, reply #1 of 1)

by frankfive in reply to brimed03 [original] on Sun, 05/29/2011 - 21:52

HI Brian

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you're smack in the middle of the black hole of woodworking. Nothing close and convenient. But there are some good options in reasonable driving distance.

There is Peters Valley in Layton NJ - the furthest North West corner of the state. I've never been, but there are some good people teaching there this year. https://www.pvcrafts.org/
It's about 60 miles and an hour and a half from South Orange.

There's Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking in Manchester CT. Bob Van Dyke runs a great school and they are hosting SAPFM's Mid Year Conference this year.   www.schoolofwoodworking.com  It's about 140 miles and around 3 hours drive. 

There's Acanthus Workshop in Pottstown PA. If you have been to the Somerset show, you may have met Chuck Bender and seen some of his fantastic period work. Chuck's a great instructor too.  www.acanthus.com. It's about 100 miles and 2 hours.

The Philadelphia Furniture Workshop in Philadelphia PA, has a wide variety of classes and two great instructors, Alan Turner and Mario Rodriguez. This may be your best first option for a beginner class. www.philadelphiafurnitureworkshop.com  PFW is about 80 miles an hour and forty five minutes drive. 

So don't ask me why there isn't much in the way of woodworking establishments in NJ. Heck, we don't even have a Woodcraft store. But what we do have is a lot of talented woodworkers.

Which brings us back around to CJWA. Rethink it. The cost is ridiculously low and each month you'll be associating with 50 or more woodworkers of all levels and interests. Many of the people you meet will be from northern NJ. (we have folks driving down from Bergen County and up from Delaware) Each meeting has good content aimed at the interests of the group. We've begun doing group builds where several members get together on their own to work on projects. In June, Mario Rodriguez is visiting the club to do a presentation on working with curved surfaces (steam bending, coopering, laminations, brick, etc.) Then this summer, we're having a two day presentation by Ernie Conover. 

Reconsider the drive to CJWA. Check out the website www.cjwa.org. And if you do attend a meeting, ask for me.

Frank Vucolo

 

 

 

    

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