Beginners Bench: First Steps in Woodworking

A friendly beginners session designed for anyone new to woodworking or looking to rebuild confidence with tools.

You’ll learn the basics of working safely in a shared workshop, using hand and power tools, and completing a simple woodwork project to take home.

You are welcome to attend multiple beginners sessions, we have a rotation of projects for you to try so each month will be different. 

Project Schedule;

May - 600 x 200mm Window Box Planter  

June - 340 x 150mm Bird Box 

July - 350 x 180mm Storage/Beer Caddy

This session is ideal if you:

• have little or no woodworking experience
• want to learn how to use a drill, saw, and measuring tools
• would like to build confidence before joining regular workshop sessions

During the session you will:

• learn safe workshop practice
• identify, measure and cut timber
• drill pilot holes and fix screws
• assemble a simple project
• practise key woodworking skills with guidance throughout

By the end of the evening, you’ll have completed a small project and gained the confidence to continue developing your skills.

Who It's For? 

Complete beginner or 'not done it since school'

Beginners Bench sessions are aimed at people with no or limited experience using a drill and hand tools who want to learn the basics and build their confidence. You will complete a simple woodwork project as part of the session and learn about using the workshop and tools safely. 

If you are interested in coming along to Open Bench Club but you're not confident of your skills yet, Beginners Bench is a great place to start. 

What Happens Next?

Each monthly session follows the same format, so once you've completed Beginner Bench you may want to:

• Bring your own project to future Open Bench Club
• Join one of our other practical workshops

Already have some woodworking experience? If you're confident using tools independently, our regular Open Bench Club may suit you better.

If you're unsure which session is right for you, feel free to get in touch — we're happy to help.

What to Expect

When: Final Wednesday of the month, 6–8.30pm (dates available at checkout). The workshop closes at 9pm, allowing time for cleaning up and packing away tools and projects. 

What to bring: Wear sturdy footwear and comfortable clothes you don't mind getting dusty. The main workshop is not heated, so make sure to wear something warm if the weather is cold.