Workshops

Car Care | Carpentry-Shed/Greenhouse/Cold Frame Construction | Computer Building |Dropped_Ceiling l Drywall_Workshop l Electrical | Energy_Efficient_Window_Upgrade l Home Reno l Laminate_Flooring_lBicycle Maintenance Workshop |
Sheet Metal/Welding | Small Engine Seasonal Maitenance | Intro Silversmithing | Advanced Silversmithing | Tiling l Woodworking-Basic l Woodworking-Intermediate l Woodworking-Build Your Own Project

Registration Information:

• Workshop registration is on a first come first service basis.
• Registration fees vary for each workshop.
• Registrants must complete a liability waiver form to participate.
• Registration for each course commences after the date has been finalized on the website, generally 3 weeks prior to each workshop. 
• Please check back on this website!
• Your confirmation of enrolment in a workshop will occur when you have registered and paid.

Car Care Clinics (3 evenings, $75):

Designed primarily to provide participants with some basic information on how an automobile works, the terminology you are likely to hear, and to let you see some of the components which may require replacement during the normal life cycle of an automobile. The clinic will also include some basic maintenance that you can do yourself.

• Parts identification
• How to know what is the proper oil for your vehicle, changing oil
• Different kinds of oil; Winter and summer oil
• Changing tires; tire pressure; tread wear, winter and summer tires
• Changing wiper blades
• What fluid levels you need to check
• How to change headlights and other lights
• How to change a belt
• What is in a highway survival kit
• And lots more

Carpentry-Shed, Greenhouse or Cold Frame Construction(1 evening, 2 days, $100 or 1 day $60):

The goal for participants is to develop a familiarity with basic woodworking tools through demonstrations, hands-on practice and construction of a practical project.

The project will cover:

• Reading and reviewing plans
• Layout
• Measure and cut, frame the walls
• Build basic Trusses 
• Frame in Window/Door
• Putting it together

Cold Frame Construction

Course Objectives

• Learn to setup and adjust the various wood working tools including chop/mitre saw, router and skill saw and various hand tools
• Learn to use a handsaw and when to use screws or nails
• How to salvage wood and where to get it
• Consturct a simple cold Frame, and be able to adapt the method to windows of any size using salvaged materials

Details

• Safe and proper use of tools ad salvaged materials
• Importance of lunber being square and flat
• 'Cut once, measure twice' and test cuts
• Preserving untreated wood naturally
• All materials provided including windows

Computer Building Course (2 days plus 3 evenings, $125):

The informative computer building course often covers the following components:

Construction: 

• Students will build a computer from discrete components
• Instruction will be given as to what the part are, what they do and how to assemble them
• Students will learn how to load and update the Operating System and base programs

Software Instruction:

• Software installation
• File formats and extensions
• How to surf the net
• Safe and effective email techniques
• Disk creation (burning)
• Overview of MS Work Suite
• Microsoft Help and Search

Dropped Ceiling/Acoustic Tile Workshop ( 2 evenings, $60):

This 2 day, evening course is designed to give students hands on experience and knowledge of the process and installation of dropped ceilings (a.k.a. t-bar/acoustic ceiling tile).  

5.      Find out how to estimate the amount of materials needed.

Drywall Workshop (2 day, weekend course, $100):

Students will be learning the basics of Drywalling and Taping. The following will be covered in this informative course:

• Boarding
• Hand Taping
• Hand Troweling
• Corner Bead Installation
• Coating
• Mudding 
• Sanding
• Some angle finishing

In addition, apparatus safety and use, work place safety, the importance of tool cleanliness and general tips of the trade will be covered. 

Electrical (2 Day course, $100 or 1 day course, $50):

The evening electrical course generally covers the following:

• The tools and materials you use and need for home projects
• Safety issues and considerations
• Overview of household power systems—what’s in your house
• Installing ceiling fixtures, switches, receptacles and dimmers

Energy Efficient Window Upgrade (2 day Workshop, $80):

The weekend course will cover the following:

• Hands on learning about the safe use of the tools involved with the removal and installation of replacement energy efficient windows
• Observe safe removal of old windows. learn to carefully remove old windows and keep in one piece
• Learn about the possibilites for recycling old windows
• Find out the latest in Energy Saving Window information
• Learn how to measure and order new windows
• If time permits, Hands on practise on how to install wood interior and exterior window trim. 

Home Renovation Clinics (2 day Workshop, $100):

Plumbing:

• Changing faucet washers
• Removal and cleaning of S traps
• The wonders and mysteries of toilets

Electrical:

• Installing a motion sensor
• Replacement of wall receptacle
• Replacement of switches – 2-way and 3-way
• Cord repair

Dry wall repair:

• Repairing holes and scratches in dry wall
• Mudding and finishing

Painting:

• Overview of different kinds of paints and their applications
• Designing and applying various kinds of faux finishes

Laminate Flooring Workshop(1 day Workshop, $60):

This one day course is designed to give students hands on experience in the measurement, installation and maintenance of laminate flooring.

4.      Learning about the installation and importance of underlay

5.   Learn various methods of cutting laminate.

Bicycle Maintenance Workshop(4 evenings, $75):

Sheet Metal/Welding (2 day Workshop, $100):

The extremely popular welding/sheet metal courses cover the following in this interesting and instructional class:

Sheet Metal Mechanics intends to introduce students to the following:

• Overview of materials used in sheet metal
• Demonstrations of the machines you will be using—brakes, bending machines, cutters, drill presses, dimpler and hand tools (punches, snips, shears, scratch awl, etc.)
• Demonstrations will be one at a time and then you will get the opportunity to use the machines and tools for parts of your projects.

Welding courses overview the following:

• Overview of the materials
• Demonstration of welding equipment and devices—MIG welder, torches, plasma cutter
• Using both welding and sheet metal devices and techniques, you will then construct your project

Small Engine Seasonal Maintenance (1 evening, $25):

The evening course will cover the following topics and introduce the students to:

• The difference between 2-stroke and 4 stroke engines: 4-stroke oil bucket, 2 stroke hill side mix
• Identify basid engine components
• Demonstrate how to complete basic seasonal maitenance: spark plugs, oil, filter, fuel and blade.
• The importance of cleaning equipment after use

Intro to Silversmithing (1 evening, 2 days, $125):

The ever popular silversmithing course introduces participants to the following:

• Introduction to tools and equipment
• Practice with the tools and materials you will be using
• The first project will be a silver ring and you will learn about cutting, sizing, soldering, polishing and finishing
• You will design and produce at least one item of your own choosing

Advanced Silversmithing (2 days plus 2 evenings, $150):

The prerequisite beginner silversmithing course, students can further their skills in the following:

• Fabricating of a silver pendant with a cabochon cut stone
• Be taught how to construct silver wire and plate
• Learn to pour silver ingots using a rolling mill
• Discover how to use a draw plate, as well as annealing metal, soldering, and piercing
• An introduction in setting of cabochon cut stones and polishing will be covered
• A discussion on chain making will commence if time permits

Tiling (2 evenings, 1 day, $100):

In the basic tiling course, students will tile a table top, and see a demo tile of a back splash. The following topics will be covered:

• Tools for tiling
• Cutting, grouting, measuring
• Sorting tiles and sealing

Woodworking-Basic (2 evenings, 1 full day, $100): 

• Learn to setup, adjust, and safely use the following woodworking tools: drill press, skill saw, jig saw, chop/mitre saw, router, table saw, and various hand tools.
• Learn to sharpen and use chisels.
• Construct a simple wall hung bookshelf.

• Safe and proper use of the tools
• Wood properties
• Basic joinery techniques
• Importance of lumber being “square” and flat
• “Cut once, measure twice” and the importance of “test cuts”
• Finishing – surface preparation, basic finishing options
• All materials will be provided.

 Woodworking-Intermediate (2 evenings, 1 full day, $100):

• The correct and safe use of the following woodworking tools will be reviewed: drill press, skill saw, jig saw, chop/mitre saw, router, table saw, planer, biscuit jointer, and various hand tools.
• Students will learn about various joinery techniques, and use at least three of them to construct their project.
• Students will have the opportunity to build a small end table out of local pine/spruce.

• Safe and proper use of the tools
• Wood properties
• Basic joinery techniques
• Importance of lumber being “square” and flat
• “Cut once, measure twice” and the value of “test cuts”
• Finishing – surface preparation, basic finishing options (note: surface preparation will be completed in class, final finishing will be done later at home)

 Woodworking-Build Your Own Project (5 evenings, $100): 

• To complete a simple woodworking project – chosen by the student.
• (Note 12 hours of construction time, limited shop space and available tools may dictate appropriate projects)

• The first evening – November 3^rd – will used be to discuss the project design, construction and materials to ensure that they are feasible and each student has the opportunity to learn from the others. Students will present their project to the class. Final dimensions, materials and joinery will be discussed.   If necessary, students will make revisions to their plans before the November 10^th class. 
• Materials will be organized, with shared costs and purchasing where feasible.
• Students are required to purchase their own materials.
• Students may meet with the instructor prior to the course starting if there are questions or concerns about their project.
• Note: There is only 12 hours of shop time. Therefore, students should chose a project that can be completed in this time frame (note: things often take longer than you expect.

• Cleaning and lubing drive train
• Tire changing
• Brakes - v-brakes and disc brakes ( theory and adjustment )
• Shifting ( theory and adjustment )
• Bring your questions; we’ll provide answers

• Learn to setup adjust and safely use the following woodworking tools: drill press, skill saw, jig saw chop/miter saw, router, table saw and various hand tool

• Learn to use a hand saw, and when to use screws or nails
• How to salvage wood, where to get it
• Construct a simple cold frame and be able to adapt the method to windows of any size

Details:

• Safe and proper use of the tools and salvaged materials
• Importance of lumber being 'square' and flat
• Cut once, measure twice and the importance of 'test cuts'
• Preserving untreated wood naturally
• All materials provided, including windows and lunch.

Course Objectives: