My first woodworking project from a Woodshop 101 class with Louis Jordan. Learned the fundamentals of shop safety, tool operation, wood grain, and the milling process while creating a beautiful cutting/cheese board.
1 day (7 hours)
Approx. 12" x 8" x 1"
July 2025
This was my introduction to the world of woodworking. I signed up for a Woodshop 101 class at a local makerspace, not really knowing what to expect but excited to learn hands-on skills.
Led by instructor Louis Jordan, the full-day class (9:30 AM - 4:30 PM) covered everything a beginner needs to know to start working with wood safely and confidently. We were paired up with another student, which made the experience more collaborative and fun.
The class covered several fundamental concepts:
• Shop Safety – Understanding how to safely operate each tool, proper PPE, and shop etiquette
• Wood Grain & Movement – How wood expands and contracts with humidity, reading grain direction
• The Milling Process – Taking rough lumber and making it flat, straight, and square
• Tool Operation – Hands-on experience with jointer, planer, table saw, and more
By the end of the day, I walked out with a beautiful cutting/cheese board that I made with my own hands. There's something incredibly satisfying about creating a functional object from raw lumber, especially when it's your first time.
The board features a simple but elegant design – the focus was on learning proper technique rather than complex joinery. We milled the wood flat and true, glued up the blank, shaped the edges, and applied a food-safe finish.
This class sparked a genuine interest in woodworking. The combination of problem-solving, precision, and creativity appeals to the same part of my brain that enjoys programming. Plus, at the end you have something tangible to show for your work – which is a nice change from writing code!
I highly recommend classes like this for anyone curious about woodworking. Having an experienced instructor guide you through safety and technique builds confidence that YouTube tutorials alone can't provide.