Experienced Instructors make it Easy to Learn New Woodworking Techniques

You may have noticed that FUSE now offers three intermediate level woodworking workshops:

• Learn to Build a Mitered Box
• Learn to Hand Cut Dovetails
• Learn to Build a Shaker Stool

If you’ve already taken one of them, you’ve also noticed that they’re led by experienced woodworkers and passionate educators – Paul Beeman and Mike Duncan. Their workshops build on the basic skills taught in Intro Woodshop (which they also teach), introducing new tools and techniques. The workshops include a one-month membership that starts at the conclusion of the training so you can continue to practice and build on your skills.

Paul has been woodworking for 15 years. This past year, he started Beeman Woodworks, specializing in modern heirloom furniture with subtle Southwest inspiration. Fine Woodworking magazine showcased one of his pieces this year. “Teaching at FUSE gives me an outlet to pass on my skills to new woodworkers and it is energizing to see the excitement it brings to people to learn new skills that they can apply to their creative pursuits,” says Paul. FUSE is a rare place in that it strips away the biggest barriers to getting started in woodworking which is the high cost of tools and education – I am thrilled to be a part of it. I teach Intro to Woodshop, Lathe, and an intermediate class that focuses on advanced machining of wood in which we build a mitered box.”

Mike’s first woodworking project was a sailboat that he built as a kid with his dad using only hand tools. He started getting deeper into woodworking as a young homeowner with no money to pay for furniture and household repairs. What began out of necessity quickly became a passion. He quit his job in 2019 to attend trade school. Since then, he’s done a range of odd jobs in finish carpentry, custom cabinetmaking, furniture repair, and decorative carving. Mike has been teaching at FUSE for about two years. He also develops and leads trainings for local  high schools. “My favorite part of all this is empowering people with knowledge they can use to earn money, express themselves, or maintain their homes. Everybody can benefit from this craft! I’m so grateful to be part of this incredible resource for our community. I’ve studied and practiced traditional hand tool joinery for over 15 years now, and FUSE gave me the opportunity to create a class on hand cutting a dovetail joint. I designed the class around inexpensive, widely-available tools. We also go over sharpening chisels. My goal was to make it easy for students to get started on their own path to expertise with traditional joinery.”

To take a workshop with Paul or Mike, visit our workshops page.