Classes Upcoming | ACWWCLUB

Woodworking Classes and Monthly Meetings

CLASSES

Woodworkers Monthly Meetings 2nd Tuesday of the Month.

Classes are held at the

Alaska Industrial Hardware Store (AIH)
2716 Commercial Dr, Anchorage, AK 99501

Monthly Meetings are held at the

Alaska Industrial Hardware Store (AIH)

2716 Commercial Dr, Anchorage, AK 99501

Scroll down for all listings

$40.00 membership fee required to take classes, good for 1 year and covers a family,

Side Table with Shelf - Oct 2026

Date(s): October 17, 18, 24, 31 & Nov 1

Time: 9am to 4 pm. Lunch is not provided.

Where: Alaska Industrial Hardware Store, 2716 Commercial Drive, Anchorage

Class Description:

What you will make: Elegant Side Table with Shelf
Tools you will use: Power tools -band saws, table saw, planer, jointer, miter saw, domino, miter saw, router. Hand tools – Hand planes, rasps, scribe.
Knowledge and skills you will gain: This class will have multiple tasks using the two band saws including resawing.Detailed joinery and curved legs will add to your skill level.
Brief woodworking related biography of the instructor: Greg Lyall is a retired engineer and woodworking enthusiast. He became interested in steam bending while making a set of dining room chairs. His engineering background easily adapted to furniture design.
Materials include maple for legs and either walnut or cherry for shelves, as availability allows, or you can provide your own materials.A cut list will be provided.

Age: Adults at an intermediate level of experience.

Number of Students: Class size is limited to 6 students

Tools and Materials: All tools are provided. You do not need to bring any tools.

Cost: $ 345 materials fee for walnut. $170 materials fee for cherry $40 shop fee. Instructors fee. $150 Total cost: $495 for walnut, $320 for cherry, $190 if you provide materials.

Club Membership: You must be an ACWA member to attend this class. Please click here to join the club

Cancellation Policy: Club membership is not refundable. Fees will be refunded on a case by case basis or if we can find someone to take the spot.

Robot - Kids Class

Date(s): November 28-29

Time: 10am to 4 pm. Lunch is not provided.

Where: Alaska Industrial Hardware Store, 2716 Commercial Drive, Anchorage

Class Description:

What you will make: Students will have a choice of several robot kits to complete.
Tools you will use: No power tools will be used in this class. Students will use a small hammer if needed and a screwdriver.
Knowledge and skills you will gain: Students will learn how to read project instructions, follow the construction sequence, and fine tune the robot so that it works well.
Brief woodworking related biography of the instructor: Sandy McKinnis has been making furniture and other wooden projects for over 50 years.

Age: Students 8 years+

Number of Students: Class size is limited to 4 students

Tools and Materials: All tools are provided. You do not need to bring any tools.

Cost: $0 materials fee. $10 shop fee. Instuctors fee: $0 Total cost: $10

Club Membership: You or a family member must be an ACWA member to attend this class. Please click here to join the club

Cancellation Policy: Club membership is not refundable. Fees will be refunded on a case by case basis or if we can find someone to take the spot.

Contact: Sandy Mckinnis @ akspeech@mtaonline.net or 907-562-3994.

Christmas Ornaments

Date(s): December 12 -13

Time: 10am to 4 pm. Lunch is not provided.

Where: Alaska Industrial Hardware Store; 5655 Old Seward Hwy, Anchorage

Class Description:

What you will make: Students will choose a design and make a Christmas ornament.
Tools you will use: Scroll saw, sander
Knowledge and skills you will gain:Students will learn how to use a scroll saw to create an intricate design.
Brief woodworking related biography of the instructor:John Lime has many years of experience creating all types of scroll saw projects.

Age: Adults; Young adults 16+

Number of Students: Class size is limited to 8 students

Tools and Materials: All tools are provided. You do not need to bring any tools.

Cost: $10 materials fee. $40 shop fee. Instructors fee: $10.00 Total cost: $60.00

Club Membership: You must be an ACWA member to attend this class. Please click here to join the club

Cancellation Policy: Club membership is not refundable. Fees will be refunded on a case by case basis or if we can find someone to take the spot.

Contact: John Lime at: johnlime@hotmail.com

Tape Dispenser

Date(s): December 5 and 6, 2026

Time: 10am to 4 pm. Lunch is not provided.

Where: Alaska Industrial Hardware Store, 2716 Commercial Drive, Anchorage

What: Class Description

Masking tape dispenser – this makes a simple but appealing gift and can be made from small pieces of any nice wood. The contrast between the outer faces and the inner spacers looks classy in any shop or office. It can be sized for either the nominal 1” or 1-1/2” thick rolls of tapes commonly found in hardware stores.
Tools involved are: thickness planer, bandsaw, router, hole saw on drill press, sanding and finishing tools and products.
Skills involved are accurate project template use, safe use of various power tools, and finish techniques.
Instructor John Fritz has been refining his woodworking skills for the past half-century while creating many furniture projects, heirloom boxes, and various wooden objects. He is becoming quite versatile at fixing and making invisible his numerous woodworking errors, miscuts, mismatches, etc. He is repeating this project just before the holidays, by popular demand.

Age: Adults; Young adults 16+

Number of Students: Class size is limited to 6 students

Tools and Materials: All tools are provided. You do not need to bring any tools. Participants can bring any wood if they have some, minimum size 12"x 12" in thickness of 1/4" to 1/2". Spacer material should be as wide as the roll of tape, a 6"x6" block will suffice. Instructor has a wide assortment of nice wood planks for use so cost will be minimal for this class.

Cost: Students provide their own materials or use the boards available, $5 contribution for supplies. $40 shop fee. Instructors fee: $20 Total cost: $65.

Club Membership: You must be an ACWA member to attend this class. Please click here to join the club

Cancellation Policy: Club membership is not refundable. Fees will be refunded on a case by case basis or if we can find someone to take the spot.

Contact: John Fritz @ 907-382-0290

Epoxy River Charcuterie Board

Dates: Tue evenings, 10/20, 10/27, and 11/3. 6pm to 9pm

Limit: Class size is limited to 8 students.

Description: In this class, you will build an epoxy river charcuterie board, about ¾” x 9” x 18”. In the first class, you will mill the slab pieces, build a frame, position slab pieces in the frame. In the second class, you’ll mix the epoxy, tint it, and fill the frame with the resin. After a week of curing, in the 3rd class, you will break away the frame, flatten the board, sand it, add handles and feet, and polish it.

Level: Students must have taken at least one previous ACWA class, and feel comfortable using the table saw, bandsaw, jointer, and planer.

Materials: I will provide birch live-edge slabs. If you’d like to use some other wood, you will need to provide it.

Cost: $100 materials (epoxy is expensive!). $40 shop fee. There is no instructor fee.

Instructor: Marc Brown, marc@chezbrown.org

Bio: After a career building software systems using Java, SQL, and Python, I now build cool stuff using wood. What used to be “bugs” are now “creative opportunities.” My focus is on student safety, and limiting the number of creative opportunities that students create for themselves each class

Hand Tool Sharpening

DATES: NOVEMBER 21-22, 2026

TIME: 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM Lunch is not provided.

WHERE: Alaska Industrial Hardware Store 2716 Commercial Drive, Anchorage

DESCRIPTION: SHARPENING WOODWORKING HANDTOOLS

(Focus Chisels, Hand Planes, Marking Knives, Hand Axes, Pocket Knives)

TOOLS USED: FILES, SHARPENING STONES, DIAMOND STONE, LEATHER STROP,

SHARPENING BELT SANDER, GRINDING WHEEL AND LAPPING PAPER.

KNOWLEDGE AND TO BE GAINED: HOW TO SHARPEN AND MAINTAIN YOUR

WOODWORKING AND HANDTOOLS. DIFFERENT METHODS AND

SHARPENING EQUIPMENT OPTIONS.

INSTRUCTOR BACKGROUND: SELF TAUGHT 50+ YEARS OF WOODWORKING. FAVORITE METHODS ARE DOVETAILS AND MORTISE & TENON JOINTERY. FAVORITE WOOD IS CHERRY.

AGE LIMIT: ADULTS, YOUNG ADULTS 16+

NUMBER OF STUDENTS: CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED TO 6 STUDENTS

TOOLS AND MATERIALS: ALL TOOLS ARE PROVIDED. BRING CHISELS, PLANES, AXES, AND OTHER FLAT BLADE TOOLSYOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARPEN

COST: MATERIALS FEE $50, SHOP FEE $40, INSTRUCTOR FEE $50 TOTAL COST $140

CLUB MEMBERSHIP: YOU MUST BE AN ACWA MEMBER TO ATTEND THIS CLASS CLICK

TO JOIN THE CLUB

CANCELLATION POLICY: CLUB MEMBERSHIP IS NON-REFUNDABLE. FEES WILL BE

REFUNDS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS OR IF WE CAN FIND SOMEONE TO

TAKE THE SPOT.

CONTACT: TOM RUETER 907-223-2907 TWRUETER@GMAIL.COM

Wedged-Tenon Bench

Dates: Mon and Thu evenings 10/19 through 11/9. 6pm to 9pm.

Specifically:

Mon 10/19 & Thu 10/22

Mon 10/26 & Thu 10/29

Mon 11/2 & Thu 11/5

Mon 11/9

Limit: Class size is limited to 8 students.

Description: In this class, you will build a gorgeous bench, about 14" wide x 42" long x 16" high. It's a show piece for an entryway or at the foot of your bed! The project will test your woodworking skills in milling and cutting pieces with precision for proper mating.

Level: This fast-paced class is not for beginners. Students must have taken at least one previous ACWA class, and feel comfortable using the table saw, miter saw, bandsaw, router, jointer, and planer.

Materials: Students will provide their own wood. Roughly 25bf of 5/4, to be milled down to 1"; details will be sent upon registration.

Cost: $40 shop fee

Reference: The project is based on a WOOD magazine Dec 2006 article (https://l1nk.dev/i8ryhet).

Instructor: Marc Brown, marc@chezbrown.org

Bio: After a career building software systems using Java, SQL, and Python, I now build cool stuff using wood. What used to be “bugs” are now “creative opportunities.” My focus is on student safety, and limiting the number of creative opportunities that students create for themselves each class.

Dovetailed Tool Tote

Date(s): 7-8 November, 14-15 November

Time: 10am to 4 pm. Lunch is not provided.

Where: Alaska Industrial Hardware Store, 2716 Commercial Drive, Anchorage

Class Description:

What you will make: Dovetailed Tool Tote, with dimensions 10” wide by 18” long** by 12” high. This design features dovetails joining the sides to the ends, and two drawers underneath. The drawers are designed to hold shut without hardware, utilizing a bit-in lip that sets into a dado on the tote bottom, and are joined with half-blind dovetails. The design and construction techniques are published in ShopNotes No. 120.**The length of the tote can be adjusted either longer than 18” or shorter, depending on the intended use.
Tools you will use: Tote dovetails will be cut at the router table, while the pins are then laid out and cut by hand tools (marking knife, backsaw, chisels).The drawer half-blind dovetails are measured and cut by hand. Power tools include router and router table, tablesaw, bandsaw, drill press, roundover bits.
Knowledge and skills you will gain: Precise marking techniques, fine handsaw and chisel work, cutting curves on the bandsaw, dovetail techniques.
Brief woodworking related biography of the instructor: John Fritz has taught several classes with ACWA, from small specialized boxes to large garden potting bench. He has dabbled with dovetail techniques over the years, and has constructed this useful and attractive tool tote, which will be available for perusal with this class.

Age: Adults; Young adults 16+

Number of Students: Class size is limited to 5 students

Tools and Materials: All tools and materials are provided. You do not need to bring any tools. The Tool Tote will be constructed from 1/2” pine (to keep weight down). Participants may wish to bring their own ½” material for the body, the drawer fronts, or the handle (1”x3”x20”) but be aware that heavy hardwoods can add a lot of weight to a loaded tote.

Cost: $15 materials fee. $40 shop fee. Instructors fee $10 Total cost: $65

Club Membership: You must be an ACWA member to attend this class. Please click here to join the club

Cancellation Policy: Club membership is not refundable. Fees will be refunded on a case by case basis or if we can find someone to take the spot.

Contact: John Fritz at 907-382-0290 or twinblade88@hotmail.com Please contact me in advance if you would like to use any of your own wood for this project.