Hey folks!

I received a letter from Mike in Washington and thought I’d share. He was looking for a pdf. for my Cabinetmaker’s Toolchest project and mentioned he had recently finished making a Funeral Chair following the plans in my book, The Unplugged Woodshop.

Mike used some cherry and red oak with a bit of beech for his project.

I think it turned out great.

Thanks again for sharing this with us!

The post A Funeral Chair in Washington appeared first on The Unplugged Woodshop.

After a very long winter here in Cape Breton, we’re pleased to announce our Summer/Fall 2025 class schedule is open for registration.

Join me for a one day workshop or a week long intensive.

Lots of dates and options are available with topics to suit everyone. Beginners are welcome!

If your schedule doesn’t work for any of our listed dates, I’m offering private, half and full-day options this year. A great way for you or a small group of friends, co-workers or family members to spend the day, woodworking with me here in my shop on Cape Breton.

Check out the CLASS SCHEDULE for details.

Classes sizes are limited so reserve your space today!

Hope to see you soon.

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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 update the classes page as we schedule.

If you can’t make it out to the East Coast, check out our online membership option where you’ll find over 1100 episodes of hand tool woodworking!

From furniture and cabinet design and making, to hand tool techniques. We’ve made everything from chairs to guitars, hand tools and art installations.

Thanks for all of the interest and support through the years and I hope you’ll join me in Cape Breton.

Make everyday a masterpiece!

The post Welcome ( back ) to Cape Breton appeared first on The Unplugged Woodshop.

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.

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 style, check out Greenwood Wednesday’s. For three consecutive Wednesday evenings you’ll learn and practice green woodworking skills. You’ll even get a FREE Mora knife!

If you’d prefer a class “for women by women”, then our Introduction to Woodworking for Women is for you!

For students who have the time and the desire for full-time training, the Artisan Program is a great place to begin. Monday to Friday from 9-4pm, full time classes for ten weeks. This program will change the way you work and think about wood and hand tools.

All of the classes and courses are now open for registration. The winter semester won’t begin until January of 2023 so don’t delay! Join me this Fall of 2022 for hand tool woodworking classes in Toronto.

REGISTER HERE

The post Woodworking Classes in Toronto appeared first on The Unplugged Woodshop.

**This is an interview I recently did with Rayonier.com 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 still use some hand tools, but few would be willing to give up the convenience and thrill associated with modern power tools.

Yet, as society has sped forward—adopting anything and everything to make life more convenient, efficient and streamlined—there have remained a minority dedicated to the “old school” way of hand-crafting wood. Today, in the fast-paced culture of 21st century North America, unplugged woodworking is experiencing a serious comeback.

One of the leaders in this movement is a former musician-turned-woodworking mentor and best-selling author: Tom Fidgen. He runs “The Unplugged Woodshop,” a 100% handtools-based woodworking school in the heart of downtown Toronto

Tom has written two books and teaches classes online and abroad (and has some big fans here at Rayonier!). We caught up with Tom to learn more about his journey to going unplugged and the growing trend of hand tool-based woodworking.

How Tom Went From Record Deals To Woodworking Unplugged

Most modern woodworkers use a combination of power and hand tools, with more emphasis on the power tools. This once was the case for Tom, who originally learned how to build from his father.

“I started woodworking with my dad at a very young age. He was a firefighter and did carpentry jobs in his spare time. After high school I became a professional musician, signed a record deal and did a lot of touring. Whenever I wasn’t playing music or on the road, I was always building or making something.”

Tom put his woodworking skills to work in set design, carpentry shops and building wooden boats.

As a guitarist and singer, he was always hyper-aware of the risks of using power tools for the sake of his hands and hearing. But it wasn’t until he moved from the Canadian East Coast to Toronto that he gave up power tools for good.

“Not knowing what kind of shop space I’d be able to afford in the city, I decided to leave all of my power tools behind and see if I could make a go at making furniture with only hand tools. That was around 2007 and I haven’t looked back since. Hand tools made sense and have been my norm for the past 14 years.”

Blogging Opened The Floodgates For The Unplugged Woodshop

Like many artists, Tom started a blog to document his process and display his hand-crafted furniture. Little did he know his blog would launch a new career path.

“Soon after I started the blog I was approached by Popular Woodworking to write a book on the subject, Made by Hand: Furniture Projects from the Unplugged Woodshop. Two years later, I signed another publishing deal with the Taunton Press. With the release of my second book, The Unplugged Woodshop: Handcrafted Projects for the Home and Workshop, I started to get invited to teach in woodworking schools all over the world.” 

Tom soon opened his own school, The Unplugged Woodshop in Toronto. There, he welcomes students from all over the world, in-person and online, to learn how to hand craft furniture and other works of art using hand tools exclusively.

The Unexpected Benefits of Going Unplugged

When asked what types of people his classes attract, Tom replied: “I get a lot of engineering students, architects and artists in my classes. But that said, I get men and women, young and old, amateur and professionals. I think we as humans enjoy the creative process and making things with our hands is critical in our behaviour.”

Students sign up for Tom’s classes to gain experience practicing his unique form of hands-on instruction. But for many, the classes and the process become about much more than just the woodworking:

“I think so many people sit in front of a screen day-in and day-out with nothing to physically show at the end of their days. Woodworking, especially using only hand tools, fills the gap.”

Slowing down and working with hand tools also gives students the added benefits of stress relief, increased focus, and a feeling of accomplishment.

“Learning how to slow down and make things by hand is extremely important and healthy in our fast-paced society.”

For Tom, what he loves most is the process and the people: “I love the challenge. Both in teaching as well as in my own making. I also love meeting people and watching them grow and get excited about learning a new skill. It never gets old.”

Tom’s Favorite Wood, Favorite New Project and Sources of Inspiration

When asked about his favorite wood to work with, he said, “Hmmmm…that’s a tough one….probably maple if I had to pick just one.” A fitting tribute to his home country.

His favorite new project blends his two passions for music and woodworking: building guitars.

“After playing since I was a kid, and being so involved in woodworking, I knew the two mediums would someday meet. Two winters ago I finally decided it was a good time to try building instruments and I absolutely love it. Mixing the two things I like most, music and wood.”

After talking with Tom and spending time on his website and blog, it’s hard to imagine he ever lacks inspiration. However, every artist needs his muse.

“As far as cabinetmaking, I love the work and philosophy of James Krenov,” Tom says. “But as far as inspiration, that oftentimes comes from other non-woodworking places. A painting, a fabric or texture, a photograph or a good design. Inspiration is everywhere, we just have to allow ourselves the time to find it.”

Tom’s Advice For Aspiring Unplugged Woodworkers Is To Literally Unplug

“Just start. Step away from the computer and go and make something. I have a membership site on my website where people can join for $20 a month and see what I do day-in and day-out. I just posted episode 890, so there’s literally years of content with lots and lots of wood working projects. In June I’ll be teaching in Sewanee, Tennessee, at Shakerag Workshops. And of course I’m always at my shop here in Toronto.” To learn more about Tom and the Unplugged Woodshop, including membership and upcoming events, check out The Unplugged Woodshop website and follow him on YouTube and Instagram @theunpluggedwoodshop.

The post RETURNING TO WOODWORKING’S ROOTS: appeared first on 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, you’ll find more information through the links.

Enjoy the rest of the summer and we look forward to seeing you in the Fall for more hand tool woodworking in Toronto.

The post Fall Classes appeared first on The Unplugged Woodshop.

Cottage Life TV

Hey folks!

I’m happy to finally share the documentary I was a part of back in May. It’s a nice look into wood and all of the effects it has on our lives and our environment. “The ancient craft of woodworking has made a comeback!”

For the Love of Wood by Cottage Life TV.

Enjoy~

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Hey folks!

Thanks for stopping by. I’m out here on the East Coast in my summer workshop enjoying a little bit of the summertime pace and getting one of my “TO-DO” list projects underway. All through the winter and spring, back at the Unplugged Woodshop Toronto, every time I picked up my crooked knife I thought, ” I have got to make a little case for this thing.” When I arrived home, it’s the first project I tackled. A simple little shell to protect an odd shaped tool.

An Unplugged Life

Over on the members only area of the website I post weekly episodes of what I’m up to both in and out of my woodshop. Here are two free episodes you can watch and see if An Unplugged Life is something you may enjoy. You can become a member for only $20. a month or save $40. and join for $200. a year. Not a bad price for 669 + episodes ranging from hand tools and techniques to projects and travel. I always have a handful of new episodes each and every week no matter where I’m at or what I’m working on. Inspiration, motivation, education and …. well, woodworking. Lots of lots of hand tool only woodworking!

It’s hand tool woodworking for everyone!

Here are a handful of projects I’ve shared over the last few years:

THE UW WORKBENCH

A FIXED FENCE KERFING PLANE AND FRAME SAW

A JAPANESE TOOL CHEST

A WALL CABINET

A CARVER’S TOOL CHEST

A SHOOTING PLANE AND BOARD

ARTS AND CRAFTS DINING ROOM CHAIRS

THE ALLAN SLAIGHT PROJECT

THE GLASS CABINET

A STEP STOOL COMMISSION

WOOD & LEATHER SATCHEL

…and a whole lot more!!

So here is a very small sample size of what you can expect on An Unplugged Life, I hope you’re enjoying your summer and thanks again for the interest.

Cheers!

Tom Fidgen, An Unplugged Summer 2019

The post Free Episodes of An Unplugged Life appeared first on The Unplugged Woodshop.

Brain Storm

Hey folks!

We’re back with a new project and beginning with the absolute fundamentals.

Working with the concepts I’ll introduce in my next book, It Starts with a Box, we’ll look at the steps I take when beginning a new project.

From the initial ideas and inspiration, to how decisions are made and what elements dictate the design.

I hope you’ll find this insightful, as well as useful in your own workshops and projects.

Enjoy~

Filmed & Edited by Tom Fidgen

The post The Glass Cabinet – Episode 1 appeared first on The Unplugged Woodshop.