Make a Newport Kneehole Bureau
2024-08-23 09:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Acanthus Workshop, 62 Indian Trail Rd., Jim Thorpe, PA, 18229, United States
The Newport Kneehole Bureau is a master-level project that will challenge even the most experienced woodworkers. From its beaded case to its blocked drawers and door, to the carved shells, every aspect of this piece is graceful, elegant, and precise.
Newport Kneehole Bureau
This 3-week (non-sequential) class begins with case construction. You’ll learn how to form the blocked drawer blades that separate the four blocked drawer fronts. With the case together, you’ll move on to forming the drawer fronts to match the blades.
The second week focuses on feet, moldings, and preparing the project for final carving.
The final week is a carving class that focuses on the shells for the piece.

Build an Eli Terry Pillar and Scroll Wall Clock
2025-03-07 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-03-08 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-03-09 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-05 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-06 09:00 - 17:00 | Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking, 249 Spencer St, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
Eli Terry, Native of East Windsor, Ct who apprenticed under Windsor clockmaker Daniel Burnap, pioneered using interchangeable wooden parts to produce the first ever affordable clocks in the early US. His “Pillar & Scroll” clocks went a step farther and featured standardized decorative pillars, a scrolled top, painted dial and a reverse painted (églomisé) glass decorative scene. Join Chuck Bender as we build a replica of these iconic shelf clocks. Everyone’s basic clock will be the same but the decorative elements- bandings, inlay, scroll work, etc- is only limited by your imagination! As an added treat we will visit the Yale Furniture study in West Haven, CT to check out their collection of originals. Due to the variety of options in accessing the works , the clock dial and the reverse painted glass panel, the materials fee will not include these items. We will assist everyone in procuring the necessary hardware but there is such a range of options and expense that these decisions are better left to each participant. Class will meet over two 3- day weekend for a total of six days of class time. The case will be made in mahogany unless you want to utilize a different species (please contact Bob Van Dyke bob@schoolofwoodworking.com.
This is a great opportunity to make an exceptional family heirloom. Chuck Bender is the recipient of the prestigious Sapfm Cartouche award for 2022. Sign up today. Class is limited to eight participants.

Doors and Drawers – Hands-on Class
2025-03-24 09:00 - 16:30, 2025-03-25 09:00 - 16:30, 2025-03-26 09:00 - 16:30, 2025-03-27 09:00 - 16:30, 2025-03-28 09:00 - 16:30 | Acanthus Workshop, 62 Indian Trail Rd., Jim Thorpe, PA, 18229, United States
The most challenging parts of many projects are the doors and drawers. Woodworkers find it difficult to figure out how much space to leave for their doors and drawers to function correctly. They either make things too tight, or far too loose. Join me for this 5-day class and never be perplexed again.
Doors and Drawers
We’ll start with a simple cabinet with a face frame. Inside that cabinet, you’ll make and fit a side-hung flush drawer, a bottom-runner-lipped drawer, and a side-mount bearing drawer (typical in modern kitchen cabinet construction). You’ll then make a raised-panel door with mullions for glass that will hang inside the face frame on butt hinges. You’ll cover everything from hand-cut dovetails to fitting butt hinges in one short week.
Some of the skills learned in the Doors and Drawers class are:

Proper tolerances for fitting drawers
How to gain butt hinges
Creating and fitting coped joints

Materials and hardware are not included in the class fee. You’ll be using poplar or similar material for the cabinet. Contact me after registration to work out the details if you’d like to use something more elegant.

A Unique Tour of the Yale Furniture Study with Patricia Kane: William & Mary Furniture
2025-04-04 09:00 - 17:00 | Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking, 249 Spencer St, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
Many of you have expressed the desire to accompany CVSW director Bob Van Dyke on one of his frequent visits to the Yale University Art Gallery’s Hume American Furniture Study Center in West Haven, CT. The Furniture Study is an 18K sq. ft facility that houses over 1300 pieces of furniture, clocks, and wooden objects. Particularly strong in colonial and Federal furniture, mainly from the Mabel Brady Garvan Collection, the Furniture Study also contains tool displays that unpack craft processes, as well as a collection of about 200 pieces of contemporary turned-wood and related sculpture.
Building on the overwhelming success of our first two “up close” seminars with Patricia Kane, Friends of American Arts Curator of American Decorative Arts at the Art Gallery, this time we will be examining the Furniture Study’s extensive collection of William & Mary Period furniture. These pieces are the precursor to the later Queen Anne & Chippendale styles and are really the bridge between the earlier 17th century “joined chests” and early 18th century furniture which began relying on dovetail joinery. In this new seminar Pat will be joined by Chuck Bender, 2022 SAPFM Cartouche Award recipient. Chuck has made countless William & Mary pieces and will offer many insights into the how & why of the construction techniques. As always, Pat’s extensive knowledge of the sociological background of the period coupled with her extensive knowledge & interest in construction details- and how they relate to later furniture styles, ensures that we will have a unique and fascinating look into this important furniture style.
Sign up today. We are limiting this tour to 8 participants.
As an added bonus, after Pat’s presentation, Furniture Study Manager Eric Litke and CVSW Director Bob Van Dyke will lead an informal tour of American furniture on view in the Yale Art Gallery downtown. After lunch (on your own) we will meet in the Gallery lobby at 1:30 and check out more of Yale’s excellent collection.
Hope you can make it.
Tuition: $ 90.00 (over half of the proceeds will be donated to the Yale Art Gallery’s American Decorative Arts Department)
Friday, April 4, 9:30am – 12:00pm
9:15: Meet at the Yale Furniture Study entrance, 900 West Campus Drive, West Haven, CT

Semi-private Hands-on class
2026-01-05 09:00 - 16:30, 2026-01-06 09:00 - 16:30, 2026-01-07 09:00 - 16:30, 2026-01-08 09:00 - 16:30, 2026-01-09 09:00 - 16:30 | Acanthus Workshop, 62 Indian Trail Rd., Jim Thorpe, PA, 18229, United States

Rochester Woodworkers Society
2026-01-16 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-17 08:00 - 17:00 | PA
Details to follow

Private Class
2026-01-22 09:00 - 16:30, 2026-01-23 09:00 - 16:30 | PA

Lehigh Valley Woodworkers Guild
2026-03-21 08:30 - 17:00 | PA

Chisels, Planes, & Scrapers – Hands-on Class
2026-03-23 09:00 - 16:30, 2026-03-24 09:00 - 16:30, 2026-03-25 09:00 - 16:30, 2026-03-26 09:00 - 16:30, 2026-03-27 09:00 - 16:30 | Acanthus Workshop, 62 Indian Trail Rd., Jim Thorpe, PA, 18229, United States
I’ll be joined by Bob Van Dyke as we teach you about Chisels, Planes, & Scrapers. We’ll take you through numerous hands-on exercises designed to kick up your skills with these essential hand tools.
Chisels are often underutilized by woodworkers, and hand planes are overlooked as fine finish and adjustment tools. If you’ve struggled to get satisfactory results from your edged tools, this class is the solution. You’ll get personalized instruction on how to get more out of your tools than you ever thought
Chisels, Planes, & Scrapers
The five-day Chisels, Planes, & Scrapers class begins with basic chisel control exercises. You’ll then take a deep dive into plane geometry and how to adjust it for a flawless finish. The exercises designed for this class give you complete control over your hand tools.

Make a Boston Chest of Drawers – Hands-on Class
2026-03-30 09:00 - 16:30, 2026-03-31 09:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-01 09:00 - 16:30 | Acanthus Workshop, 62 Indian Trail Rd., Jim Thorpe, PA, 18229, United States
In the Boston Chest class, you’ll make an 18th-century Chippendale masterpiece. The stunning proportions and simple lines allow you to showcase highly figured lumber.

Boston Chest
The five-day Boston Chest class begins with full-scale shop drawings. You’ll jump into the joinery, making moldings and feet throughout the remainder of the week.
