thumb Pekovich Tea Chest 1 640 Winter 2021/ Spring 2022 Class Schedule available.  Click here for more information.
Welcome to
The Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking
Bob Van Dyke - Founder & Director
Based on the idea of “learning by doing”, we provide a wide range of hands-on woodworking classes for men and women of all skill levels.

Classes are conducted in a variety of formats to suit the unique needs of our students. They include one- or two-day weekend classes, series classes that meet one or two nights per week for 4 to 12 weeks, weeklong intensive classes and more.

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Bob Van Dyke home page 250Our staff of instructors possesses a wide variety of skills and interests, but an intense passion for the subject they teach is common to them all. Whether it is a woodcarving class with Will Neptune, a furniture making class with the school’s director, Bob Van Dyke, or a class on inlay and bandings with Steve Latta, students are assured of thoroughly learning the skills in a relaxed hands-on atmosphere.

Projects and classes include a Shaker hall table, a 17th century carved frame and panel, a carved oak box, carving acanthus leaves, Arts & Crafts rocking chair with slip seat, and a portable tool chest.classes 009
hall table_thumb thumb Follansbee Frame and Panel Modified
Follansbee Box till 640 latta mother baby 640
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The school teaches the effective use of hand tools and gives an equal measure of attention to machine tools. Here, Bob is using the Laguna bandsaw to resaw a 12/4 slab of mahogany into three pieces. For more views of this operation, check our Facebook photo gallery.Laguna Bandsaw

Class Images

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Testimonials

Bob,

Just a quick note to say how much I appreciated and benefitted from the recent 5 week intensive. I hope you get as much satisfaction in teaching it as we received knowledge from the class. I didn’t return with a trinket, a box or a table … but I did return with a better understanding of workmanship and the process to get there. That was exactly what I was looking for.

The dovetails continue to improve (someday they’ll meet my standards), the L-fence is already on the saw and you gave me sufficient challenges to keep me busy for some time.

I hope our paths cross again.

Best,

Butch

5/21/2021

Bob,

Thanks for the last five weeks. This was one of the best learning experiences I have ever had. Thanks for your patience and I look forward to taking more courses in the future. Meanwhile, this summer, I'll keep practicing dovetails and I'll look forward to seeing you at the open house. 

Myles

Fundamentals of Furniture-Making

Woodturning

Professional Furniture Finishing Techniques

WoodWorking

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