Aspen Golann, a renowned furniture maker and educator, brings her extensive knowledge of hand tool woodworking to Shaper's exclusive masterclass series.
This course is just one of many free woodworking classes available on the Shaper Tools website, where experts from around the world share their craft. From chairmaking and marquetry to guitar building and box making, these masterclasses offer invaluable insight into various woodworking disciplines, along with free project plans for each.
In this masterclass, Aspen focuses on blending centuries-old hand tool techniques with modern technology, particularly through the use of Shaper Origin. Trained at the prestigious North Bennet Street School, Aspen specializes in traditional woodworking methods, but she emphasises that it’s not about recreating 18th-century furniture; it’s about understanding the timeless techniques and how they can be applied to contemporary projects. Across seven video lessons, she showcases how tools like spoke shaves, rasps, and card scrapers can be paired with the Shaper Origin to craft unique, modern bent lamination forms.
The series begins with an introduction to hand tool basics, where Golann walks through the proper use of essential tools. Viewers then learn about the ancient 5:7 Rule, a shipbuilding technique that guides efficient wood shaping. The core of the masterclass focuses on creating a tapered lamination form using Shaper Origin, with detailed instructions on glueing, clamping, and assembling the project. The final lessons cover the shaping of a brush and dustpan project and applying finishing techniques, with a bonus segment on hand-tying brush bristles from natural tampico fibers.
For those eager to follow along, the complete project plans for the bench brush and dustpan are available for free on ShaperHub. And for woodworking enthusiasts looking to deepen their skills, this class is just the start. Shaper Tools offers a broad range of free masterclasses from world-leading experts, covering topics from hand plane restoration to advanced joinery. These classes feature knowledge from renowned artisans such as author and box maker Matt Kenney, boutique guitar luthier Christoph Noe, and veteran furniture maker and educator Darrell Peart.
Learn from the best, with free access to these expert-led courses and accompanying project plans, and take your woodworking journey to new heights.
