What’s all the news? We’ve relocated to the East Coast! Cape Breton Island to be specific… After eight amazing years of UW Toronto, it was time to come home. Back to the Coast where our school will now run on a more seasonal basis. We’ll take these next few months to get things setup, but we’ve just scheduled our first week long box making course for the Fall of 2024 ! You can find all of the details here: It Starts With a Box. Once we get settled into our new location, we’ll also be offering evening and weekend class options for local students as well as our popular Saturday Bootcamps. We’ll ..read more

This is a conversation I recently had with August Winter. August and I discuss ideas on inspiration to individuality, problem solving to wonder, and the diversity of our students here at the Unplugged Woodshop Toronto. The Unplugged Woodshop is a hand tool only woodworking school where our hope is to provide students with knowledge, motivation, inspiration and confidence in the workshop. Check out our current class schedule for more details or if you’re in the Toronto area, come by and say hello. The post In Conversation… appeared first on The Unplugged Woodshop ..read more

Fall 2022. The 2022 Fall semester of “hand tool only” woodworking classes in Toronto is now Open for Registration. Join us for a Saturday Bootcamp, an evening class or a week long course this Autumn. Our classes are technique based where you’ll learn the fundamental skills for building furniture using only hand tools. Dimensioning wood by hand. Cutting mortise and tenon joinery. Dovetails and finishing. In our day-long Bootcamps you’ll discover the tools and the skills to do this work yourself. Age old techniques for the modern home workshop. If spoon carving or green woodworking is more your ..read more

**This is an article from Rayonier.com that I did recently and thought I’d share it with you here. AN INTERVIEW WITH THE UNPLUGGED WOODSHOP’S TOM FIDGEN Hand tool woodworking leader Tom Fidgen shares how he became an internationally-renowned woodworking teacher—and why he gave up power tools. Human beings have used hand tools to transform wood into homes, furniture and survival tools for centuries. However, the invention of electricity in the 1800s quickly propelled powertools to the frontlines of the industrial, professional and hobbyist trades of woodworking. Yes, most builders and artisans ..read more

Dovetails…and the tools I use to make them. Hey folks! In today’s episode we’ll get started on the cabinet joinery and that’s basically through dovetails. After preparing the cabinets parts, making sure they’re square, flat and smooth, we can start the through dovetail joinery in the main carcase. I’ll show you the tools I use and in almost real time, I’ll walk you through the steps for making them. Through dovetails. Traditional, beautiful and strong enough to last a lifetime. Enjoy~ The post Episode 895 -Jewelry Cabinet Joinery Part 01 appeared first on The Unplugged Woodshop ..read more

Looking East from the shop after a late Spring rain. Rainbows over Leslieville and here we are again with summer rolling on and thinking about the Fall semester at The Unplugged Woodshop. You’ll find our September and October classes are listed on the main page and the November/December schedule will be posted in a few weeks. If you’re interested in attending a Saturday Bootcamp or a weekly evening class then its best to sign up soon. We have limited numbers due to COVID-19 and our class sizes have been lowered. If you’re looking for one of our long term classes, both one week and 10 weeks, yo ..read more

Torrefied ash for the Artisan Program. Hey folks! It's been a busy week here at the woodshop so not much happening on the Jewelry Cabinet project. Instead I've been running around taking care of the last few things needed for next week when we begin the Fall Artisan Program. I'm excited to say the least! […] The post Episode 903 – Weekly Update is written by tom appeared first on THE UNPLUGGED WOODSHOP TORONTO ..read more

Drawer parts...ebony, holly and birdseye maple. Hey folks! In today's episode we'll start dimensioning the parts for the drawer boxes. I had the ebony roughed out and will refine it a little more today, bringing it closer to its final dimension. I'll also prepare some holly for the drawer sides and some birdseye maple for […] The post Episode 902 – Drawer Parts is written by tom appeared first on THE UNPLUGGED WOODSHOP TORONTO ..read more

Ebony drawer fronts rough dimensioned. Hey folks! In today's episode I'll give you a quick update on the past week and then we'll dry fit the cabinet ( yes, again... ) and start rough dimensioning the drawer fronts. I'll use my favourite "paper windows" technique for arranging the wood grain aesthetic and from there get […] The post Episode 901 – Drawer Fronts for the Jewelry Cabinet is written by tom appeared first on THE UNPLUGGED WOODSHOP TORONTO ..read more

Another dry fit before the drawer divider edges are dressed. Hey folks! In today's episode we'll take the cabinet apart and adjust the fit on the drawer dividers. From there we'll dry fit the cabinet, check out the drawer dividers and then take the cabinet apart again!?! From there we'll fine tune the drawer dividers […] The post Episode 890 -Dry Fits and Drawer Dividers is written by tom appeared first on THE UNPLUGGED WOODSHOP TORONTO ..read more