Saratoga Joinery

Craft a stunning, functional storehouse for your most cherished treasures! In this hands-on workshop, participants will build a beautiful solid wood keepsake box featuring contrasting splined miter joints and a floating panel lid.

You’ll learn how to build a classic six-sided box, mill continuous grain wrapped around the corners, insert decorative reinforcement splines, and safely cut the lid free on the table saw. It’s an essential project that blends fundamental box-making joinery with fine detailing, leaving you with an elegant, heirloom-quality box to keep or give as a thoughtful gift!

What You'll Learn

This class introduces classic box-making techniques and foundational woodworking skills. Here are just a few of the things we'll cover in our session:

• How to accurately measure, mark, and cut precision 45-degree miter joints
• Techniques for continuous grain-matching around box corners
• Routing grooves for a floating lid and bottom panel to allow for natural wood movement
• Cutting slots and crafting contrasting wooden splines for decorative strength
• Safe operation of stationary and handheld power tools
• Using a band saw setup to safely cut the box lid open after assembly
• Flush-trimming splines, fine sanding, and surface preparation
• Applying clear coats or oil finishes to highlight natural wood contrast

Take these fundamental skills home to tackle future box-making, furniture detailing, and fine woodworking projects!

Tools Used

We've got a shop full of great tools we're excited to share with you. You'll learn to safely use the following tools during our class:

• Miter saw
• Table saw with crosscut 45 degree sled and spline jig
• Router table
• Bandsaw
• Orbital / Edge sander
• Band clamp and corner assembly jigs
• Flush-cut hand saw and chisels

While we're excited to have you learn to use these tools, safety and comfort are our top priorities. Instructors will provide close, hands-on supervision at all times, and assistance is always available whenever requested!

Skill Level & Prerequisites

Beginner to Intermediate

Beginners will find this class to be a fantastic basic introduction to both woodworking, and to some of the more common tools used in the wood shop. While more experienced woodworkers might need less direction, but will still come away with some new tips and an amazing keepsake.

No prior knowledge or experience necessary.

Ages 14+; minors are required to be accompanied by an adult.

Schedule

Two, 2 hour sessions

Safety

PPE: We provide safety glasses, hearing protection, and dust masks if requested. Safety glasses are required in the shop at all times.

Dress: We’re probably going to get a little dusty! Make sure to wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes. Avoid loose clothing and jewelry. Anything that may get caught in machinery, like long hair, must be tied back and secured.

Accommodations: While we’ll be moving about the shop for most of our time together, we aim to make the craft as accessible as possible for everyone. Please reach out if you have any questions about our space or may need accommodations of any kind.

What to Bring

If you have a favorite tape measure or pencil, bring it along. Otherwise, we’ve got you covered.

We’ll be on our feet for most of the class, so it might be good to bring something to drink and a light snack.

Instructor Bio

Karen Cavotta is a dedicated Technology Education teacher at Saratoga Springs High School with a passion for empowering the next generation of makers, engineers, and craftspeople. With extensive experience teaching hands-on engineering, architecture, and woodworking courses, Karen specializes in breaking down technical skills into fun, approachable, and confidence-building projects for students of all ages.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Karen serves as a board member at The Saratoga Joinery, where she actively helps guide educational programming and community outreach. She is also a long-time member of the Design Review Board for the City of Saratoga Springs. When she isn't teaching or working in the shop, she enjoys continuing her learning and pursuing her passion for design, architecture, summer gardening, and spending time with her family.