Alaska Creative Woodworkers association
a club for carvers, scrollers, and woodworkers
Woodworking Classes and Monthly Meetings
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
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$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:
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What you will make: Elegant Side Table with Shelf
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Tools you will use: Power tools -band saws, table saw, planer, jointer, miter saw, domino, miter saw, router. Hand tools – Hand planes, rasps, scribe.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Entry Table
Date(s): September 19, 20 & 26
Time: 10am to 4 pm. Lunch is not provided.
Where: Alaska Industrial Hardware Store, 2716 Commercial Drive, Anchorage
Class Description:
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What you will make: What you will make: Entry table approximately 9 1/2“ wide by 40” long, by 34’ high
Tools you will use:
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‘Knowledge and skills you will gain: Laying out plans for your project, mortise and tenonjoints, dowel joints, purchasing wood for your project,
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Brief woodworking related biography of the instructor: 40 years as amateur woodworker, 10+ years building houses and remodeling, Furniture and cabinet making experience,Musical instrument building,Timber framing experience.
Age: Adults; Young adults 1816+ You must be at least an advanced beginner or an intermediate woodworker to sign up for this class.
Number of Students: Class size is limited to 6X students
Tools and Materials: All tools are provided. You do not need to bring any tools.
Cost: $0 materials fee -Obtain your own materials. $40 shop fee. Instructors fee $180.00
Total cost: $ 220.00
Materials List: Your choice of wood. Skill learned; picking out appropriate wood.
Top: 9 1/2” by 40”, approx. amount 1 Uprights: 2” by 23”approx. amount 6
Shelf: 9” by 37” “ amount 1
Legs: 3” by 34” amount 4 Your choice of wood.
Rails 2 1/2” by 34” amount 4
Rails 2 1/2” by 7” amount 4
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.
Intro to Power Tool Woodworking!
Date(s): Sept 5, 6, & 12, 13
Time: 10 am to 4 pm. Lunch is not provided.
Where: Alaska Industrial Hardware Store, 2716 Commercial Drive, Anchorage
Class Description:
1. What you will make: A plywood storage crate/tool tote.
2. Tools you will use: Table saw, Drill Press, Router, Sander, & Pin Nailer, Miter saw
3. Knowledge and skills you will gain: Power tool safety! What the tools do, and selecting the right tool for the job.
Brief woodworking related biography of the instructor:
I began working with power tools in construction as a teenager. After moving to Alaska in 05’ became interested in furniture making. Have been hobby woodworking since 2012. Took a ‘Farm Table Class” at Greg Poalini’s school in Asheville, NC. Have built various pieces including shop furniture, a bed, & entry
bench.
Age: Adults; Young adults 16+
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: $40 materials fee. $40 shop fee. Instructors fee Total cost: $80
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.
Polar Bear Cutting Board
Date: October 3, 4
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is not provided.
Class Description: We will use a band saw to cut out a polar bear shaped maple cutting board. We then use a router to finish the edges and hand sander to smooth all surfaces. The final step is to apply a walnut oil finish to all surfaces and it’s ready to use.
Instructor: Sandy Mckinnis has been making things out of wood for over 50 years. She has taught several beginning woodworking classes through ACWA.
Age: Adults
Number of Students: Class size is restricted to 4 students
Tools and Materials: All tools are provided. You do not need to bring any tools. Maple material, template, and walnut oil finish will be provided.
Cost: $25.00. materials fee; $20 shop fee. $10 instructors fee. Total: $55. You must be a club member to take this class. Please sign up at:
www.alaskacreativewoodworkersassociation.org
Cancellation Policy: Club membership is not refundable. Tuition will be refunded on a case by case basis or if we can find another student to fill the vacancy.
Contact: Sandy McKinnis @ akspeech@mtaonline.net
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.
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
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:
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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.
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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.
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Knowledge and skills you will gain: Precise marking techniques, fine handsaw and chisel work, cutting curves on the bandsaw, dovetail techniques.
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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.