Consultation
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Michael McDunn currently offers woodworking and furniture consultation for clients ranging from individual hobbyists to interior decorators. With thirty years of professional experience and frequent teaching and seminar engagements, Michael is a preferred source for expert and practical guidance. Michael may be contacted at the studio for woodworking consultation service:
Phone: (864) 242-0311 mpmcdunn@bellsouth.net $125 per hour $60 minimum charge If you would like to book Michael McDunn for a seminar or speaking engagement, please contact the studio for rates and availability. |
Woodworking Classes
We would love for you to attend one of our upcoming sessions. See below for our 2020 class schedule and pictures of students working on past projects.
Basic Woodworking Series - Woodworking Fundamentals
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced Cost: Each Saturday session is $150, or $575 if you sign up for all four sessions
This Basic Woodworking series will give you a solid base to start having fun woodworking and, for more advanced woodworkers and beginners alike, will debunk many practices you may have seen on the internet, television and in some books. You will also have the opportunity to draw on Michael’s 40+ years of woodworking knowledge. Instructional handouts will be provided for each of these classes.
Session 1- Wood and Wood Movement April 18, 9am–4pm Description: This session is on wood movement, proper gluing techniques, glues, and hammer veneering (a process of veneering without the use of clamps). This class is 75% lecture and 25% hands-on instruction. Personal tools needed: safety glasses.
Session 2- Sharpening April 25, 9am–4pm Description: All aspects of hand tool sharpening will be covered in this class. Bring all the knives, hand planes, chisels, drill bits, carving tools, and any kitchen knives you would like to sharpen. If you currently use sharpening stones and/or honing guides, bring them with you. Diamond sharpening plates and water stones will be available for sale; please let me know as soon as possible if you plan on buying one. Personal tools needed: safety glasses, honing guide, sharpening stone, leather strop.
Session 3- Joinery May 2, 9am–4pm Description: Participants will learn how to cut “through” dovetails and “half-blind” dovetails. Demonstrations will be given on splining, “mock” dovetails, mortise-and-tenon joints and anything else you would like to see. Please feel free to photograph jigs and fixtures during this session, if desired. Personal tools needed: safety glasses, sliding T-bevel, a mallet, combination square, sharpening stone, fine-tooth backsaw or a Japanese backsaw, ½ and ¼ inch chisel (others if you have them), marking gauge, and a marking knife or bench knife.
Session 4- Finishing May 9, 9am–4pm Description: Oil, pigment, and dye stains, as well as oil finishes, shellac, and lacquer will be discussed and demonstrated. We will practice French polishing and surface preparation. Personal tools needed: safety glasses, card scraper.
Make a Keepsake Box
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced (Participants need to have skills taught in Basic Woodworking or the equivalent) May 18-21 (all dates inclusive) - Time: 9am-5pm Cost: $900 (includes all materials)
Description: In this class each participant will make their own walnut box with a panel top, 11.75” x 7.25” x 4.5”. Participants will learn how to make spline miters, install hinges, install a lock, and the proper order of sanding and lid fitting. Time permitting, we will apply a coat of finish. A list of personal tools needed will be given to each participant at registration.
Make a Wooden Hand Plane
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced (Participants need to have skills taught in Basic Woodworking or the equivalent) Dates: May 23 & 30 (inclusive), 9am-1pm Cost: $310 (includes all materials)
Description: In this class, you will build your own wooden hand plane with a mechanical adjuster. Over the years, Michael has made several hand planes which he still uses in his work. You will find it very satisfying to use tools you have made yourself. Things we will be doing and discussing include: proper selection of wood, precision layout, drilling, gluing up, dealing with glue squeeze out, sharpening the blade for different applications, band saw use, some carving, filing and sanding. Personal tools needed: bench knife, combination square, #5 mechanical pencil, tape measure, half-round file, half-round rasp, #8x10mm carving gouge or similar, carving mallet, and a round micro plane.
Make a Low-Angle Wooden Hand Plane
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced (Participants should have skills taught in Basic Woodworking or equivalent) Dates: June 20 & 27 (Inclusive), 9am-1pm Cost: $310 (includes all materials)
Description: In this class, you will build your own low-angle wooden hand plane with a mechanical adjuster. Things we will be doing and discussing include: proper selection of wood, precision layout, drilling, gluing up, dealing with glue squeeze-out, sharpening the blade for different applications, band saw use, some carving, filing and sanding. Personal tools required: bench knife, combination square, #5 mechanical pencil, tape measure, half-round file, half-round rasp, #8x10mm carving gouge or similar, carving mallet, and a round micro plane.
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced Cost: Each Saturday session is $150, or $575 if you sign up for all four sessions
This Basic Woodworking series will give you a solid base to start having fun woodworking and, for more advanced woodworkers and beginners alike, will debunk many practices you may have seen on the internet, television and in some books. You will also have the opportunity to draw on Michael’s 40+ years of woodworking knowledge. Instructional handouts will be provided for each of these classes.
Session 1- Wood and Wood Movement April 18, 9am–4pm Description: This session is on wood movement, proper gluing techniques, glues, and hammer veneering (a process of veneering without the use of clamps). This class is 75% lecture and 25% hands-on instruction. Personal tools needed: safety glasses.
Session 2- Sharpening April 25, 9am–4pm Description: All aspects of hand tool sharpening will be covered in this class. Bring all the knives, hand planes, chisels, drill bits, carving tools, and any kitchen knives you would like to sharpen. If you currently use sharpening stones and/or honing guides, bring them with you. Diamond sharpening plates and water stones will be available for sale; please let me know as soon as possible if you plan on buying one. Personal tools needed: safety glasses, honing guide, sharpening stone, leather strop.
Session 3- Joinery May 2, 9am–4pm Description: Participants will learn how to cut “through” dovetails and “half-blind” dovetails. Demonstrations will be given on splining, “mock” dovetails, mortise-and-tenon joints and anything else you would like to see. Please feel free to photograph jigs and fixtures during this session, if desired. Personal tools needed: safety glasses, sliding T-bevel, a mallet, combination square, sharpening stone, fine-tooth backsaw or a Japanese backsaw, ½ and ¼ inch chisel (others if you have them), marking gauge, and a marking knife or bench knife.
Session 4- Finishing May 9, 9am–4pm Description: Oil, pigment, and dye stains, as well as oil finishes, shellac, and lacquer will be discussed and demonstrated. We will practice French polishing and surface preparation. Personal tools needed: safety glasses, card scraper.
Make a Keepsake Box
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced (Participants need to have skills taught in Basic Woodworking or the equivalent) May 18-21 (all dates inclusive) - Time: 9am-5pm Cost: $900 (includes all materials)
Description: In this class each participant will make their own walnut box with a panel top, 11.75” x 7.25” x 4.5”. Participants will learn how to make spline miters, install hinges, install a lock, and the proper order of sanding and lid fitting. Time permitting, we will apply a coat of finish. A list of personal tools needed will be given to each participant at registration.
Make a Wooden Hand Plane
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced (Participants need to have skills taught in Basic Woodworking or the equivalent) Dates: May 23 & 30 (inclusive), 9am-1pm Cost: $310 (includes all materials)
Description: In this class, you will build your own wooden hand plane with a mechanical adjuster. Over the years, Michael has made several hand planes which he still uses in his work. You will find it very satisfying to use tools you have made yourself. Things we will be doing and discussing include: proper selection of wood, precision layout, drilling, gluing up, dealing with glue squeeze out, sharpening the blade for different applications, band saw use, some carving, filing and sanding. Personal tools needed: bench knife, combination square, #5 mechanical pencil, tape measure, half-round file, half-round rasp, #8x10mm carving gouge or similar, carving mallet, and a round micro plane.
Make a Low-Angle Wooden Hand Plane
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced (Participants should have skills taught in Basic Woodworking or equivalent) Dates: June 20 & 27 (Inclusive), 9am-1pm Cost: $310 (includes all materials)
Description: In this class, you will build your own low-angle wooden hand plane with a mechanical adjuster. Things we will be doing and discussing include: proper selection of wood, precision layout, drilling, gluing up, dealing with glue squeeze-out, sharpening the blade for different applications, band saw use, some carving, filing and sanding. Personal tools required: bench knife, combination square, #5 mechanical pencil, tape measure, half-round file, half-round rasp, #8x10mm carving gouge or similar, carving mallet, and a round micro plane.
Make an Arts-and-Crafts Style Desk
Skill Level: Advanced Dates (all inclusive): The following Tues. & Wed., 6pm-8:30pm, and Sat., 8am-5pm: Aug. 25, 26, 29 Sept. 1, 2, 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 22, 23, 26, 29, 30, Oct. 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 20, 21, 24, 27, 28, Nov. 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 17, 18, 21, 24, 25, Dec. 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 15, 16, 19 Jan. 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 Cost: $5500 (all materials included)
Description: Your desk will be constructed of cherry or walnut with a burl wood top, 54” L x 30” D x 30” H. It will have through mortise-and-tenon joinery as well as exposed dovetails. There is an extremely large amount of hand detailing on this project, so it is impossible to calculate the speed at which everyone will work. I have given an educated guess at completion in January 2021. If we are not completed at that time, participants will have the option to attend additional shop time to complete this project, charged per hour, and billed at $22/hr. If sharpening skills are lacking at all, please sign up for the sharpening class in the Basic Woodworking series, or start practicing.
INFORMATION FOR ALL CLASSES
The total cost of each class is due three weeks prior to class start unless other arrangements have been made with Michael. We accept checks, cash, VISA and MasterCard. If you choose credit/debit cards, an additional 3% charge will be added due to processing fees. Also, if you need to purchase any tools, you may contact Michael. He has some items in stock but let him know at least 3 weeks in advance what you need to purchase. Highland Hardware in Atlanta, Woodcraft Supply on Miller Road, and The Tool Shed on Poinsett Highway in Greenville are also places to look for good quality tools. Don’t create a frustrating situation by using a poor-quality tool, so buy the best quality you can afford. Please make note of the following:
• Each student will be required to sign a Hold Harmless Agreement prior to participation.
• No smoking will be allowed.
• No alcohol consumption before or during each class.
• If you are on medication that may impair your reflex ability, inform Michael at arrival.
Skill Level: Advanced Dates (all inclusive): The following Tues. & Wed., 6pm-8:30pm, and Sat., 8am-5pm: Aug. 25, 26, 29 Sept. 1, 2, 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 22, 23, 26, 29, 30, Oct. 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 20, 21, 24, 27, 28, Nov. 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 17, 18, 21, 24, 25, Dec. 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 15, 16, 19 Jan. 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 Cost: $5500 (all materials included)
Description: Your desk will be constructed of cherry or walnut with a burl wood top, 54” L x 30” D x 30” H. It will have through mortise-and-tenon joinery as well as exposed dovetails. There is an extremely large amount of hand detailing on this project, so it is impossible to calculate the speed at which everyone will work. I have given an educated guess at completion in January 2021. If we are not completed at that time, participants will have the option to attend additional shop time to complete this project, charged per hour, and billed at $22/hr. If sharpening skills are lacking at all, please sign up for the sharpening class in the Basic Woodworking series, or start practicing.
INFORMATION FOR ALL CLASSES
The total cost of each class is due three weeks prior to class start unless other arrangements have been made with Michael. We accept checks, cash, VISA and MasterCard. If you choose credit/debit cards, an additional 3% charge will be added due to processing fees. Also, if you need to purchase any tools, you may contact Michael. He has some items in stock but let him know at least 3 weeks in advance what you need to purchase. Highland Hardware in Atlanta, Woodcraft Supply on Miller Road, and The Tool Shed on Poinsett Highway in Greenville are also places to look for good quality tools. Don’t create a frustrating situation by using a poor-quality tool, so buy the best quality you can afford. Please make note of the following:
• Each student will be required to sign a Hold Harmless Agreement prior to participation.
• No smoking will be allowed.
• No alcohol consumption before or during each class.
• If you are on medication that may impair your reflex ability, inform Michael at arrival.
Currently For Sale
Sapele
There are several boards of quarter-sawn sapele still available! These pieces are $3.75/bf. Please call for available sizes.
There are several boards of quarter-sawn sapele still available! These pieces are $3.75/bf. Please call for available sizes.