Working wood is one of the oldest skills in the world and one that brings you closest to the complexities of nature. Along with stone and mud it is the first material to be used by early man. Wood is very versatile. You could carve it into a sculpture or make it into a table. It is strong enough to hold up a roof and yet can be light enough to fly. It can be cut into beautifully figured grain or made into bland unsightly ply.

In spite of our busy lives, we can still make time for small jobs around the house where one must apply ones own skill. A few basic woodworking tools and a few clamps is all one needs to be able to make a jewelry cabinet for the wife or a cool custom pencil box for the son or even a laptop table for the husband. One must not only learn carpentry but, must also know what the local timber shop sells, what is BT saag and CP saag and a host of other mysterious terms.

Let us unveil the mystery that is woodworking and use it to shape the world around us; to populate our space with items that are truly us.

Class Goals: In this class you will learn about wood and it's make up. About grain orientation and strength. You will learn the ways in which 2 pieces of wood can be joined and the strengths and weaknesses of a number of common joints. Together We will build a small bed tray/laptop table. Along the way we will use each of the joints. Participants will work with the saw, chisel, hammer and more to immediately practise what is being taught.

Finally we will apply the first coat of varnish to the piece.

It is the aim of the course to make sure that each participant has acquired expertise in basic joinery, as well as the confidence that most woodworking projects are now within reach.

Materials Provided: Timber, Woodworking tools, plans.

What to Bring: Notebook if you wish to take notes

Instructor Biography: Viren can best be described as a software professional by day and a tinkerer by night. For the last 7 years he is living proof that even a small home in Mumbai can turn into a woodworking workshop. Working from 10 PM to midnight he has over the years turned out items of furniture ranging from a small shoe rack to a large 7×6 foot bed. He also makes wood puzzles and miniature furniture and is obsessed with designs that do not need metal fasteners.

In addition to working wood, Viren can also repair a leaky tap, replace a switchboard and bake a cake. He hopes to add pottery and working leather to the list.

3 Saturdays, each Saturday will have 2 hours of instruction concentrating on how to complete a particular portion of the build, followed by "hands on time" where participants will work on their pieces with the instructor.

May 30, Day 1 - Introduction, cutting wood to size and joinery.

June 6, Day 2 - Dry fitting, final assembly and polishing.

June 13 ,Day 3 - Spillover.