Woodshop 101: Cutting Board

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.

The Class

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.

What I Learned

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

The Project

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.

Takeaways

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.