Saratoga Joinery

After a storm do you ever see branches on the street and think “I could make a spoon out of that”? No? Well, you will now after learning how to make green wood spoons!

What You'll Learn

In this class students will learn how to source, cut, process, and carve green wood to make spoons. We will be learning how to use hand tools such as axes, knives, gouges, and more to shape our spoons. Students will be able to take home not only their first spoon but also the skills to go on to start making spoons at home.

Tools Used

• Carving axes, knives, gouges, and crook knives
• Mallets and froe
• Cross-cut saws
• Workbench with chopping blocks
• Shave horse

Skill Level & Prerequisites

Beginner

If you're new to woodworking or if you're an intermediate or expert woodworker, but have never worked with green wood before, this class is for you!

No prior experience necessary!

Ages 16+; minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Schedule

One day, approximately 8 hours.

Morning: We'll start the day with important safety information including tips and stretching techniques so you won't get fatigued. Next, we'll talk about finding green wood, cutting branches and splitting branches into blanks. Then we'll cover ax safety and continue to rough out blanks until lunch.

Afternoon: In the afternoon, we'll look at the gouge and crook knife to carve the bowl of our spoon. Then we'll get into knife work to shape the remainder of the spoon. You'll learn about finishing the spoon, including burnishing and the application of oil to the finished spoon. The remaining time will be used to make more spoon or refine your first!

Safety

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

Dress: While green woodworking creates little dust, there will definitely be some wood chips flying! Make sure to wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes. Avoid loose clothing and jewelry. Anything that may get caught in your work, like long hair, must be tied back and secured.

Accommodations: While we’ll be moving around the bench room 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 some favorite carving tools, bring them along, but make sure they're sharp and ready to carve. If not, we've got everything you'll need for the class!

Bring a lunch and some snacks or make use of our many local establishments to grab a quick bite during the lunch break.

Instructor Bio

Han-Ruì Jahn is a Chairmaker and educator located in Buffalo, NY. His practice revolves mostly around green and riven wood. Finding material in its original environment and creating pieces that then reflect that environment, he creates form and shape from the structure of the tree itself. This way of working is only possible through processes such as riving and working with hand tools that do not cut the fibers of a tree but rather split along the grain. 

Han-Ruì also draws from his Taiwanese heritage for inspiration for both forms and techniques. Finding connections between western and eastern vernacular woodworking traditions. Before relocating to Buffalo, Han-Ruì worked for George Sawyer building Windsor chairs and in 2023 received a BFA in Furniture Design from the Rhode Island School of Design.