Course Catalogue

Box Making Series

Much of woodworking is built around the simple box. Cabinets, chests, drawers, and casework all rely on box making skills. Learning to build boxes is one of the best ways to develop accuracy, joinery skills, and confidence in the woodshop.

Join skilled instructors for this series of classes exploring the art of box making. Each class focuses on a different style of box and introduces new techniques, tools, and design approaches while building beautiful and functional projects.

The series explores several major traditions of box making. Students will begin with classic joinery boxes that develop core woodworking skills such as box joints, dovetails, half laps, and mitered construction. The series then explores functional boxes that incorporate moving parts and mechanisms including wooden hinges, sliding lids, music box movements, and jewelry box compartments. Students will also learn decorative techniques used in fine box making, including the use of marquetry and veneered panels. Finally, the series explores sculptural box making through bandsaw boxes and turned boxes on the lathe, including threaded lids.

Participants may take individual classes or progress through the entire series as their skills grow, building a wide range of box styles while developing both technical skill and creative design experience.

Hinged Lid Wooden Box (May 9-10, 2026)