Keep up-to-date with RHS news about Taster week courses, Weekend classes and Student work here on our Instagram account.
RHS Newsletter & Instagram
Make a Wooden Hand Plane with Theo Cook
Next courses: 25th, 26th & 27th Oct. 2024 and 24th, 25th & 26th Oct. 2025.
Learn how to make a wooden plane. This will involve skills such as band-sawing, routing, drilling, shaping with a spokeshave, sanding and finishing. A 3 day course. Cost: £400. Tutor: Theo Cook.
Wood Finishing Weekend Class
Next courses: 1st & 2nd March 2025 and 22nd & 23rd Nov. 2025.
An ideal course for anyone who wants to learn more about finishing techniques and get some practical, hands-on experience. Cost: £295. Tutor: Marc Fish.
Wood Carving with the Wood Warlock
Next courses: 23rd & 24th Nov. 2024 and 29th & 30th Nov. 2025.
We are delighted to have Dickie join us to offer would be woodcarvers chance to explore this ancient art form with a master of the craft.
Cost £295. Tutor: Dickie Baugh.
Carbon Fibre and Composites Weekend Class
Next courses: 8th & 9th Feb. 2025.
This course provides hands-on experience of the sophisticated techniques used in the composites industry.
Cost £480. Tutor: Theo Cook.
Making the Perfect Dovetails Weekend Class
Next course: 22nd & 23rd March, 2025 and 15th & 16th Nov. 2025. Ideal if you want to know more about the mark of a master craftsman – the dovetail joint! When well-executed it is the epitome of high-level work. Cost: £295.
French Polishing with Derek Jones
Next course: 16th May, 2025.
A one day course on French polishing with shellac, run by Derek Jones, once editor of Furniture & Cabinetmaking magazine and author of French Polishing, Finishing & Restoring Using Traditional Techniques.
Cost £195.
Laminating Weekend Class
Next course: 31st May & 1st June, 2025.
Experience these amazing techniques and take your work to a different level! As laminating is more accurate than steam bending, it is ideal for combining sculptural work with fine cabinet making.
Cost: £295. Tutor: Marc Fish.
Steam Bending with Charlie Whinney – 1 Day
Next course: 19th July 2025.
Steam bending is an ancient woodworking process which is found on every continent.
Charlie is the UK’s leading steam bending expert; his work is sold internationally and can be found in museums, private residences and commercial premises.
Cost: £240 – 1 day.
Making Jigs & Templates
Next course: date TBA.
Learn how to make your own jigs and templates at this one-day course with senior tutor and master craftsman, Theo Cook.
The course covers making jigs by hand as well as the use of CAD programs, laser-cutter, and a CNC router. Cost: £195.00.
Introduction to Hand Tools for Furniture Making
Next course: dates TBA.
Covering hand tools, there will be practical sessions on planing, sawing and chiseling – forming the ideal starting point for cutting and fitting accurate joints.
Cost: £150. Tutor: Theo Cook.
Veneering One Day Course
Next course: date TBA.
This one-day introductory course is designed to help attendees understand and apply different approaches to veneering.
£195 for one day course.
Spindle Moulding Weekend Class
Next course: dates TBA. The spindle moulder is a versatile machine – we cover safe use and setup, rebating, shaping, using formers, tenons, power feeds, jig making, and guarding.
Cost: £295. Tutor: Derek Jones.
Wood Machining Weekend Class
Next course: date TBA.
For either a beginner or an intermediate. If you’ve invested in new machines and want to know how to safely use or set them up, on this two day course you can learn from the professionals! Cost: £295. Tutor: Marc Fish.
Staked Stool with Derek Jones
Next course: 2025 dates TBC.
This three day course takes you through completing a three-legged stool. Using through-tenoned construction (now known as “staked”construction) is a skill worth learning for any furniture maker. Three legs instead of four means the stool will never wobble, no matter what floor it’s sitting on, the mortise layout is simple, and, of course, there’s one less leg to make!
Cost: £295. Tutor: Derek Jones.
Japanese Toolbox with Derek Jones
Next course: 2025 dates TBC. Japanese style joinery can be extremely complicated but there are occasions when simplicity and function come together to make the perfect form.
Cost: £295. Tutor: Derek Jones.
Make A Six Board Chest with Derek Jones
Next course: 2025 dates TBC.
The six board chest is a design that is almost as old as the concept of furniture itself and is as relevant today as it has ever been.
Cost: £295. Tutor: Derek Jones.
Make a Cricket Table
Next course: TBA.
This course is taught by expert maker Derek Jones. The key principles for building a cricket table are simplicity, necessity and ingenuity. Using just two types of joint it’s possible to create a robust structure from almost any species of wood that can be used to make a variety of different pieces of furniture.