Rio Grande's program in Fine Woodworking is a "hands-on" experience, and most of the students' time is spent in the shop
building fine furniture. We operate like a professional, custom furniture shop using machines for dimensioning stock and increasing efficiency. Hand tools are used to cut fine joinery and create the many fine details that machines can't duplicate.

We design and build jigs to use with the table saw, shaper, and other machines to increase safety and production. Dovetail joinery, turning, carving, and other visual details are done by hand. We feel that learning this balance between hand tools and machinery is the key to making fine furniture. The Fine Woodworking classes, along with courses in math, science, and communications, greatly increase the marketability of graduates of the Fine Woodworking program.

Rio Grande also offers a one-year (three semesters) certificate in Fine Woodworking, which includes all of the woodworking courses in the two-year program. This program starts in the Fall Semester and ends with the Summer Semester.

• Graduates of either program will have the skills and knowledge to be productive in custom furniture shops and architectural/cabinet shops.
  

Eric Matson

Fine Woodworking Building
740/245-7441