one week taster | Marc Fish

An Introduction to Handtools and Furniture Making

One Week taster courses run throughout the year. An introduction to hand tools and furniture making. No previous experience is required, just plenty of enthusiasm. These courses become fully booked fast! 5 students per class maximum.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Wooden Hand Plane with Theo Cook

Next courses: 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.
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.
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.
Marquetry with Audrey Fasquelle

Next course: TBC. New for 2025! We’re delighted to offer a Marquetry weekend course taught by Audrey Fasquelle, a highly experienced craftsperson and recognised as a Master FurnitureMaker for her marquetry work by the Furniture Makers Company.
RHS Newsletter & Instagram

Keep up-to-date with RHS news about Taster week courses, Weekend classes and Student work here on our Instagram account.
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.
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.