NYC Classes/Resources

[LostinNYC (Guest)]

I'm very interested in digging into woodworking, but have no idea where to begin. The only beginners class I've found in New York City(at the YWCA, no less) is about $400.
Does anyone know of any other classes in NYC?

Since I'm just getting started, is it even worth getting into, considering that there's no way I could have a shop in my tiny apartment?

Thanks for the advice!

[Carol the Router Lady]

Woodworking, generally speaking, takes in a lot of area. You will have to determine just what it is that you want to build. Furniture, cabinets, small boxes, turnings, carvings, scroll work, etc. Small turnings and scroll work could easily be done in your apartment. Building large furniture or cabinetry could pose a real challenge.

Check around for a local woodworking club. Use the web. Or check with local woodworking stores or wood suppliers. The Long Island woodworking club may be near. There are more. You will have to look. Talk with those folks. You will be able to gain a lot of information for you to make an informed decision about your involvement with woodworking.

Is it worth getting into? You have asked the choir if they like to sing!

[D for Dusty]

and my answer to LostinNYC..is..

[barbsiddiqui]

am I just dense, or How Does This Relate to 'Lost's' question?
Maybe, "There are ----pots full of classes in NYC?" I'm confused.
-Barb S...just a small-town country girl.

[D for Dusty]

My post was in reply to this question,"Since I'm just getting started, is it even worth getting into?" (question from LostinNYC) It was prompted by "You have asked the choir if they like to sing!"(a reply by Carol the Router Lady).

So I thought I might add to it with, Does a bear...........??? In other words, of course its "worth getting started". If its a dream of yours reach for the stars and do it. Its a wonderful opportunity to achieve what you dream to accomplish tomorrow. Sorry if it offended anyone!!! Thought i might add a little humor to the forum..MarciaD

[anonymous]

Hi,

The short answer to your question is yes there are - but the longer answer is they're mostly degree programs (Pratt & Parson's school of design). The New School (in conjunction with Parson's), and YMCA give classes as well. Very occasionally, Garrett Wade, will give a class.

In terms of whether you can do woodworking in a small apartment: I certainly think it is possible to do hand tool work. The real problem is keeping things clean. If you use hand tools the chip size created during the the milling process is larger, so it's easier to clean up. You'll need a bench - get a Workmate? which folds up. And then buy hand tools as you need them.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Kim Carleton Graves
Carleton Woodworking

[John Lucas]

I suggest you pay a visit to Garrett Wade - a super dealer downtown (http://www.garrettwade.com/). They have a bulletin board that you can look over and probably find. Also, ask the people there...I can't imagine that somewhere in that visit you can't get leads. It has been a long time (25 years) but I had two female friends who were doing woodworking at a pay-by-the hour place downtown somewhere.

[alcheka]

Getting into woodworking at any cost is a very good idea. The rewards from doing hand work are enormous, even if you are just doing it for your own pleasure.
I do my woodworking in my dining room. I have a scroll saw, 8" Drill press, and a 5" disc/belt sander, it all fits comfortably on a 7' collapsible banquet table. Painting and finishing I do at my kitchen table.
I buy my wood in pre cut sizes that I can handle in the house, I know it cost a bit more, but when your using limited space, you use what is comfortable.
There is a fair bit of mess to content with, a lot of saw dust flying around, and I always have a window open where I paint and finish. I keep my vacuum handy and when I'm done cutting I clean everything up right away, that way I'm not tracking the mess through the house.
You didn't mention if you have a balcony! If you do this would be a good place to do router work, just make sure the router is properly secured to a work surface.
My tools are not secured down on the table, I have the table pushed right up against the wall and I have 2 x 4 wedges that fit behind each machine to keep them anchored. It is very important to keep all the sawdust cleaned away from under the machines so they don't slide around. You only use one tool at a time, so I pull the tool I'm using to the front of the table where I can reach comfortably, when I'm done using it I push it back out of my way. The biggest draw back to working this way, besides the sawdust in the house, is that it is hard to develope a flow to your work, and projects are a bit more time consumming. Also storage can be a problem, you will need an old dresser, or set of shelves, where you can keep drill bits, saw blades etc. My tools are plugged into a power bar with a cut off switch, these can be bought at any Office supply or computer store. When I vacuum the table I also run the vacuum over the power bar to clean out any sawdust that might get in there. I only work on small projects right now, but I hope to get onto bigger things. I am in the process of setting up a small shop in my back yard.
I hope my post has encouraged you to go ahead and get started, woodworking is a wonderful hobby.
Goodluck and Happy Woodworking
Marsha