Design and craft your own hand-carved solid oak sign using traditional tools and techniques.

Who is this course for?

Anyone looking to learn a slow woodworking skill or embarking on a longer journey into woodworking will love this. A hand-carved wooden sign also makes a wonderful addition to a home, workplace, or as a gift. You can also purchase this course as a gift here.

What will you learn?

On this course we will cover:

Chisel sharpening
Importance of proper wood selection
Understanding grain orientation
Sign layout and design
Hand planing
Detailed letter carving
Wood staining and finishing

What will you take away?

In addition to your new knowledge, you will leave with:

A personal carved sign
An appreciation for hand cut imperfections
Patience
A new understanding of wood as a material
Knowledge on wood staining and finishing

How is the course structured?

Following breakfast at 8:30, we start the day in the workshop with an introduction to what letter carving is, looking at templates and tools. We then go through the basics of tool sharpening, an essential skill to learn before we start work! We look at wood selection and grain orientation and move on to rough and fine letter carving. On day two we look at planing, sanding and finishing of your sign and continue work on your pieces. We have lunch at 1pm each day.

What’s included?

The course fee of €330 covers tuition, the use of tools and materials, and two wholesome and nutritious daily meals each day curated by our on-site chef, as well as tea, coffee and cake when it is most needed.

Staying with us at The Common Knowledge Centre

At The Common Knowledge Centre we now have a range of accommodation options on site to suit all budgets and needs. When you stay with us, you’ll be supporting our newly established guesthouse and be close to the action. We recommend arriving the evening before your course. You can view available accommodation on our booking page.

More information

For more information about booking a course, accommodation options, and preparing for your course at Common Knowledge, see our
FAQs page
.

Course Instructors

Team

Eoin Reardon

Eoin Reardon is a traditional woodworker, mostly known for his online presence and as the resident heritage woodworker in Bunratty Castle. He restores and uses vintage hand tools to restore and replicate wooden articles.