NCLL woodshop carves out tricks of the trade

A group of area residents with an interest in woodworking gathered this morning in the Jacobetti Skills Center at NMU.

Today was the first day of a new session of the Woodworker’s Rally class. The class is an open workshop course offered by the Northern Center for Lifelong Learning. It allows students to come up with their own projects and learn how to use the woodworking tools safely and effectively. It has been going on for two decades.

“Some of the people have been here for seven, eight years or more taking the class – mostly repeat people – and we welcome new people all of the time,” said instructor Sam Carey. “It’s a place to get together, work, socialize with everybody, just enjoy yourself, and accomplish something.”

Projects vary from refinishing to building furniture and other wood crafts. The class provides those interested in woodworking with a chance to use high–end equipment in a large, warm shop environment.

“I’ve got a lot of the woodworking tools at home in my garage, but by the time I heat it, especially in this weather, coming up by noontime if I could get it up to 40 degrees, then your machines are still cold. Here, it’s beautiful,” said class member and retired shop teacher John Dawydko. “Where else can you get a nice warm building with all the tools, come in here and work for a minimal amount of registration fee?”

The class meets Monday mornings at 8:00 a.m. There are two sessions in the fall and two in the spring. Each session runs for six weeks.

If you are interested in this or any of the other classes that the NCLL offers, you can get more information on their website.