Traditional Arts Workshops for January, February, and March, 2014

Friday, January 17, 9AM-5PM, Metal Casting Class in Brass/Bronze. Furnaces, fuels, molds and metals. Students ( mature teens welcome) will complete one or two castings. In addition to some lecture, students will have hands-on experience creating green sand patterns which will receive molten metal from a crucible. Metal will be heated in a cylinder furnace using propane fuel. There will be a choice of patterns, including a door knocker, sun dial and others. Non-Members $175 Members $165

Saturday, January 18, 9AM-1PM. Woodworking, Mortise and Tenon Construction. Make a Buck Saw. Beginners will make a half size buck saw out of maple wood using mortise and tenon joinery. A turnbuckle will be created to achieve the proper blade tension. Non Members $65 Members $55. All materials provided. Adults and teens welcome.

Saturday and Sunday, January 25 & 26, 9AM-5PM. Woodworking, Dovetailing, Make a Blanket Chest Class. Learn to make dovetail joints using traditional hand tools. Prepare all the joints for a traditional ix board chest with a hinged top. Non Members $275 Members $265

Saturday, February 1, 9AM-4PM. Blacksmithing: Make Hardware. Learn basic metal work with a propane forge. The project may consist of making hinges, latches, a set of handles, a door knocker or a coat rack ( see photo). Non Members $125 Members $115

Saturday and Sunday, February 15 & 16, 9AM-3PM. Metal Casting Class: Make Your Own Metal Casting Furnace. Create a cylinder furnace fueled by propane for aluminum, brass, and bronze casting. Non Members $175 Members $115

Saturday and Sunday, March 1 & 2.. 9AM-3PM Blacksmithing: Make a Draw Knife and/or Slicks (chisels). Shape a blade out of spring steel on a coal or propane forge. Form tangs to fit wooden handles to. This will be offered as a package deal or singularly with the Create a Shaving Horse Class ( 20% discount). Intermediate students can make a froe (see photo) involving a forge weld. Non Members $275 Members $265

Saturday and Sunday, March 8 & 9, 9AM-4PM. Woodworking: Create a Shaving Horse Class. With master woodworker Fred Chellis of little River Windsor Chairs, students will learn riving, an early woodworking technique in which a froe, wedges and a maul may be used to split a big log into workable lumber. The wood will be further shaped and fitted with a shaving knife and other tools. Non Members $275 Members $265

To reserve your place in the class, contact us at: director@willowbrookmuseum,org and/or (207) 793-2784.

Workshops in Restoration for the Young and the Mature

Model T Restoration Classes

• Re-Wooding a Homemade Vintage Model T cord saw
• Restoring a Model T engine 

Country Store Panel Wagon Restoration Class

If you would be interested in being a member of one or both of these workshops, contact us: director@willowbrookmuseum.org or (207) 793-2784. We will consider teens for these classes, as we believe these types of hands-on learning experiences to be important foundational skills and knowledge for young minds.


In discussing workshops for the near future, we are planning to offer two unique workshop opportunities. The workshops will involve restoring a Model T engine and re-wooding, with some blacksmithing necessitated as well, a horse drawn grocery wagon. Students will pay a nominal fee to support the cost of materials and the instructor's time. The students will be given mini-lessons to carry out the individual steps of these restorations. The class will last one season with a weekly meeting planned. Students will learn about tools and materials; they will complete the class knowing that they have contributed to the restoration of this museum object, and that its functionality will continue to both impress, educate, and inspire. The student of these classes will become knowledgeable of this technology. They will be prepared to replicate this process foir themselves and for others.