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Wood and Shop Traditional Woodworking School

Woodworking Class: Make a Dovetail Saw + Tenon Saw with Tom Calisto (2 Days)

Woodworking Class: Make a Dovetail Saw + Tenon Saw with Tom Calisto (2 Days)

Regular price $375.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $375.00 USD
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Make your own custom dovetail saw and tenon saw in this two day woodworking class with renowned woodworking hand tool maker Tom Calisto. Please carefully read all details below before registering for this class. 

Class Full? Get on the Waitlist!

If your desired class becomes sold out click here to get added to the wait list. People may cancel, we may add more slots, or we may decide to add another class date if enough students request it.

Other Payment Methods

If you'd like to pay for class registration with a check or cash, please contact us here.

Full Description

In this two day class you will make your own custom, open-toat, 18th century dovetail saw, and tenon saw! Using fine wood for the handles, a brass back, brass nuts, and spring steel for the saw plate, you’ll have finer saws than can be purchased in any store. Master tool maker, Tom Calisto, will work closely with you through the process of shaping the handle, fitting the saw plate to the brass back & handle, boring holes for brass nuts, punching the teeth with his retoother, and finally shaping and sharpening the saw to perfection.

Class Syllabus

DAY 1:
• Clean up handle blank and mark for the plate and back
• Cut slot and mortise for the plate and back
• Bore stepped holes through handle for the traditional flush saw nut
• Begin shaping handle to suit students hand for a custom fit

DAY 2:
• Tooth the saw plate using a vintage Foley Belsaw retoother
• Set and Sharpen saw plate
• Punch saw plate for saw nuts
• Prepare and install brass back
• Assemble saw and tune as necessary
• Polish/finish metal and wood components

Meet your Instructor

Read about this instructor on our page: "Meet the Instructors".

Materials Fee & Required Tools

A class material fee of $50 covers the dovetail saw making kit, and is payable to the instructor before or on the day of the class. Most students make a second saw (either a tenon saw, or a carcass saw, for example) within the two days, so any additional saw materials can be purchased from the instructor during the class. Tenon saw kits are $65. You are not required to bring any of your own woodworking hand tools to this class, but can do so if you wish.

Class Policies, Liability Waiver, & Cancellations

No students under 18 years of age are allowed. A PDF document with the full class policies and a liability waiver will be available after you register. All students are required to sign this document, and bring it on the first day of class.

Anyone can cancel a class up to 3 weeks prior to the class for a full refund (minus a $45 fee that covers credit card processing fees and administrative work). Cancellations under three weeks before a class begins will be given a refund (less $45) if we can find someone else to fill the slot. If we have to cancel a class for an unforeseen emergency, inclement weather, instructor illness/injury, or low number of registrations, a full refund will be given to students. We encourage students to not book non-refundable flights, car rentals, or lodging in case of these cancelations.

Student Tool Discounts

After you’ve registered for a class, you are eligible for a discount from Lee Valley (Veritas) and Taylor Toolworks. Lee Valley offers a 15% discount, and a discount form PDF will be available for download in your Wood and Shop dashboard after your purchase. For a 10% discount from Taylor Toolworks fill out this form and upload a photo or screenshot of your class order email (under the “Student ID” section). The discounts may not be available after the end of the class, so try to place your orders before then.

How to Get Here & Where to Stay

Please read our page: "Getting Here and Where to Stay".

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