Joinery Workshop: Make Your Own Clamps
Experience Level: ANY
Instructor: Eric Meyer
Eric’s YouTube & Website
Moderator: Jamie Harpster
Class Size: 15 students
Sessions: 1 session at 3 hours
This course will be via Zoom.
Course Description
Step into the world of traditional joinery with this project-based course. Using Roubo-inspired clamp designs, you’ll learn how to lay out joinery, chop clean mortises, and handle chisels with control.
This class centers on layout and chisel work, offering foundational skills essential for traditional wooden joinery. The techniques you learn here will serve as building blocks for future furniture projects and expand your woodworking skill set.
This class is best suited for those who are comfortable sharpening tools and dimensioning lumber—skills we won’t cover during instruction. However, no prior experience with hand-cut joinery is required. If you’re new to traditional joinery but have some shop time under your belt, you’ll fit right in. Think of it as a beginner-friendly course with intermediate prerequisites.
Come with sharpened tools and prepared stock, and leave with skills worthy of the ateliers of old!
Tool/Material Need
-Hand Saw
-Marking Gauge
-Marking Knife
-Square
-Drill*
-1/2″ drill bit (brad point recommended)*
-3/4″ chisel (required)
-1/2″ chisel (recommended)
-3/8″ (recommended)
-Mallet
-Tape measure
-Block plane, bench plane, or another tool that can be used to smooth out a saw cut
*If you prefer a more traditional approach, a brace and bit can be used instead of a drill.
Lumber need:
-Four- 4 foot 1x4s. This will make a pair of clamps.
-Four pieces that are 12″ long x 2″ tall x 3/4″ wide
-Four pieces that are 8″ long x 3/4″ tall x 3×4″ wide
(All of the parts should be able to be made from five 1x4s that are 4ft long)
Course Dates
September 7th, 2025 from 10:00 p.m. EST (9:00 p.m. CST) to 1:00 p.m. EST (12:00 p.m. CST)