Saratoga Joinery

Build a sleek, space-saving side table designed to slide right over the arm of your couch or armchair! In this hands-on workshop, participants will construct a modern "C-style" sofa table featuring a solid wood top with character grain details and a sturdy, cantilever base.

You’ll learn how to build a stable cantilevered frame structure, shape smooth rounded corners on the tabletop, and securely attach the top while allowing for natural wood movement. It’s an engaging project that combines practical small-scale furniture design with core woodworking joinery, leaving you with a versatile, custom table.

What You'll Learn

This class introduces essential furniture joinery, structural design concepts, and finishing techniques. Here are just a few of the things we'll cover in our session:

• How to accurately measure, mark, and layout angled joinery for a balanced cantilever base
• Methods for joining table legs, aprons, and stretchers for maximum rigidity
• Milling, edge-gluing, and surfacing solid wood lumber for a smooth tabletop
• Shaping curved legs with band saw
• Shaping rounded edges and corners using a router or sander for a clean, modern profile
• Safe operation of stationary and handheld power tools
• Using tabletop fasteners to securely attach the base to the top
• Surface preparation, progressive sanding, and applying two-tone paint/stain finishes
• Applying protective topcoats to ensure a durable, liquid-resistant surface

Take these fundamental skills home to tackle future furniture making, accent tables, and home improvement 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 for rip cuts and with crosscut sled 
• Bandsaw
• Table router
• Orbital / Edge sander
• Cordless drill doweling jigs
• Clamps and assembly square jigs

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 1/2 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.