Saratoga Joinery

Do all of your work as though you had a thousand years to live, and as you would if you knew you must die tomorrow.
- Mother Ann Lee, founder of the Shakers

That quote from Mother Ann was one of the first things that caught my eye when recently touring the Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, MA. As a woodworker, this speaks to the quality and craftspersonship that I try to put into everything I build. The care and ingenuity that’s clearly a part of every piece there was incredible.

Closer to home, The Hyde Collection is currently exhibiting several Shaker pieces from private collections in an exhibition they call Form and Function: The Beauty of Shaker Design. This exhibition draws from two private collections of Shaker furniture and objects, including many items which have never before been exhibited in a museum context. The first half of the exhibition looks at Shakers at Work, focusing on the various trades in which the Shakers were engaged and their practical tools, designed without unnecessary ornament. The second half of the exhibition, Shakers at Rest, features objects utilized in everyday life, such as chairs, tables, and storage boxes. Museum admission and a guided tour of the exhibition is available to all class participants, during one of our regularly scheduled tour times, Thursdays, Saturdays, or Sundays at 2pm. The museum is open Thursday-Sunday from 10am-5pm. The exhibition is running now through January 10th, 2027.

So let’s see what we can do to humbly pay tribute to one of my favorite Shaker pieces.

Join us for this beginner-oriented class on making a Shaker-inspired step stool! Perfect for those hard to reach places in the kitchen, bath or bedroom. Made of beautiful cherry, a wood commonly used by the Shakers, the piece will be a welcome addition to any room of your space.

What You’ll Learn

This deceptively simple-looking project has a lot to teach in the way of woodworking skills. Here are just a few of the things we’ll cover in our 3-hour session together:

• How to accurately measure and mark pieces
• Methods for making repeated cuts, safely and accurately
• Using traditionally manufactured nails for securing parts
• A brief introduction to hand tools with the use of spoke shaves to create rounded edges on our steps and handle
• Two ways to accurately cut rabbits - the table saw with dado stack and the bandsaw
• Cutting curves on the bandsaw

Take the skills you’ll learn during this class to create many other useful household items like standalone cabinets or a boarded blanket chest.

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 together:

• Band saw
• Table saw
• Cordless drill
• Hammer & nails
• Spindle sander
• Spoke shave

While we’re excited to have you learn to use these tools, we understand that not everyone will be comfortable with everything we do in the shop. If you don’t feel good about making a particular cut or maneuver, just let us know - we’re happy to help!

Skill Level & Prerequisites

Beginner to Intermediate

Whether you’re new to woodworking or just getting started, this is a great class to introduce you to the craft of woodworking with a couple of pro tips thrown in along the way for more seasoned woodworkers. No prior knowledge or experience necessary.

Ages 16+; minors are required to be accompanied by an adult.

Schedule

One, 3 1/2-hour session

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. Don’t worry, we’ll take a break too!

Instructor Bio

Ben has a deep passion for making, particularly with wood. He’s a (mostly) self-taught woodworker with over 15 years of experience and is extremely excited to share his knowledge with the Saratoga Joinery community. Ben thinks of himself as a hybrid woodworker, choosing the best tool for the job, enjoying the process of making using both hand and power tools. He’s excited by new technologies becoming more widely available to the craft community, but has also taken a renewed interest in older methods of making, having recently taken classes in Windsor chair making and assisting with our recent staked stool class.

Ben previously worked in education technology for over 17 years and is looking forward to using that knowledge to help shape the Joinery’s education offerings. Before that, he worked on creating online safety courses for General Electric. Ben graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Electronic Media Arts & Communications with a concentration in graphic design. When he’s not making sawdust, Ben enjoys spending time outdoors mountain biking and hiking in the High Peaks region of New York.