You're invited to an Open House at Henderson's new woodworking school!

Return to shop class: adult woodworking classes to begin in October

 

Legacy Woodworking and Design to host beginner, advanced classes, open house

LAS VEGAS — Legacy Woodworking and Design has partnered with long-time woodworking mentor and instructor Jamie Yocono to offer a host of woodworking classes for adults at its location at 175 Cassia Way Ste. A113, in Henderson. Those interested can take a tour of the facility and speak with instructors during an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. Refreshments and a parent/child-friendly activity will be available during that time while supplies last. 

The fall class schedule begins in October with basic woodworking, a pre-requisite for all forthcoming woodworking classes, following with November’s instant gratification workshop, which allows participants to create various gifts for the holidays. 

The basic woodworking class is set for 6 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays Oct. 20 through Nov. 10 with the instant gratification workshop from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays from Nov. 18 through Dec. 16. All four-week classes are $400, with an additional $150 for materials due the first night of class. A $100 deposit is due upon initial registration.

Additional two-week classes will be offered in the coming months including floating shelf construction Jan. 7 and 14 and picture frames for your home Jan. 19 and 26. Two-week classes are $300 and include all materials except finish.

Open shop times will also be available for two Saturdays per month to those who have completed the basic woodworking class.

The basic woodworking class is the foundation for all future classes and is meant to arm students with the knowledge and skill necessary to feel safe and confident when using tools such as a table saw, planer, sander, jointer, band saw and drill press as well has hand and power tools. The class also enables participants to be knowledgeable when purchasing tools and setting up their own woodshops, if desired.

Class curriculum will consist of how to set up, use and maintain all major woodworking tools and instruction on wood lamination and planning, inlay, hardware installation and more.

The instant gratification workshop will provide the space and instruction for graduates from the basic woodworking class to create simple, one-night projects that make perfect holiday gifts. Each class session will focus on a fun, beginner-friendly project designed to be completed in just one evening, and participants can expect to create around a dozen or more gifts.

Yocono, who has taught woodworking in Las Vegas for more than 20 years, facilitates Sin City Woodworkers, a social and networking group for woodworkers and has noted increasing demand as Las Vegas Valley residents seek woodworking skills for everything from hobbyist to how to complete their own projects.

“It’s also an opportunity for people to get out and work with their hands,” she said. “The best part of every class I’ve ever taught is how it brings people together. And these classes will also provide a homebase the woodworking community has sought for a long time.”

Legacy Woodworking and Design’s roots are in the community as it began in the wake of the Oct. 1, 2017 Route 91 festival shooting. The fundraiser that followed brought woodworkers together from across the Las Vegas Valley and raised $17,317 for the victims of the tragedy. Ken Beck, co-owner of Legacy, met Yocono in the woodworking community, and they realized it needed a place to call home, to learn and hone skills, and to welcome others who wanted to learn, connect and go on a bit of an adventure together.

“We’re hoping people will try a new skill, meet new people,” Beck said. “And together, we can put some good out into the world. We’ve already shown what we can do when we come together, and I think that’s just the beginning.”

To register for classes visit https://woodworkingclassesinlv.blogspot.com/, send email to learning@legacywoodworkinglv.com or call 702-779-3454.

Legacy Woodworking and Design was first created in the home woodshop of Ken Beck when he inherited a small woodshop from his father. Working behind a desk all day at a corporate job gave him the motivation to increase his skills and finetune his business. In April 2019 he quit his corporate job and joined forces with Eric Carr to bring Legacy out of the garage and into a space in Henderson. 

Find out more about them at www.legacywoodworkinganddesign.com. 

Summer Break is over! Come to our September meeting and catch up with the latest!

 Sin City Woodworkers, a Vegas valley social and networking group committed to serious (and not so serious!) woodworking discussions. We meet on the third Thursday of each month to share everything from techniques and ideas, demos and information about local suppliers and much, much more. 

There’s some pretty exciting news for the woodworking community, so be sure to scroll down and read this whole announcement!

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 18 at 7:00 and long time member Steve Coffee, will be sharing some of his one or two-night Christmas projects with our group. 

 Steve got interested in wood by watching the Saturday morning TV woodworking shows on PBS; particularly Norm Abram and the New Yankee Workshop. H ewas captivated at how easy Norm made woodworking look, and was further amazed that he completed his projects in a weekend! He bought several of Norm’s woodworking plans and DVDs, watching them over and over again  - and said “it’s like learning from an instructor. I guess like most everything in life “practice makes perfect.”

He’ll bring some handouts on these projects, and examples of what he’s made. He’ll also briefly discuss the tools needed for each, as well as the woodworking techniques that can be learned. A couple are lathe projects; another using the bandsaw, and others just basic tools like a drill press, table saw, sanders, etc. The best part of each of these projects is that they can be completed in a weekend.

The exciting news? There’s a new school opening in town, and Henderson residents who’ve longed for a facility down in their neck of the woods will be pleased. Ken Beck from Legacy Woodworking and Design will join us to speak about their plans to open an educational division to their thriving cabinet shop. So if you’ve longed for evening classes, or hoped to find a shop to work in - this will be a discussion you won’t want to miss! 

Want to read more? Check this out:  www.woodworkingclassesinlasvegas.com

Finally - we need a favor from our members - Opportunity Village recently hired a woodshop coordinator and they’re hoping to add pen turning to their repertoire. They sell these crafts in their on-site Gift Shop. 

 They have a few basic tools, but are in desperate need for some pen turning donations.  If you have anything associated with pen turning - like mandrels, pen kits, wood, tubes, EZ Wood tools, trimmers, CA Glue, and especially a pen assembly press - please consider bringing your donations to our next meeting. (Cash donations are acceptable too - they can purchase what they need!) If needed, we can get you a receipt for your donation. 

This meeting will be held at Woodcraft of Las Vegas at 5220 W. Charleston Blvd.  As always, the public is welcome to attend the meeting, so members - please feel free to bring a guest along. If you have questions or need directions, call (702) 672-8981.

Looking for donations!

Hey fellow woodworkers!

Remember a few weeks ago, when I wrote about Opportunity Village looking for a wood shop monitor? They needed someone to run their woodworking department, supervising their crew to make wooden gifts for sale in their gift shop.

The good news is – they found someone!

But after surveying some of the equipment and supplies that they have – they have realized that they need some help with their lathe efforts.

So that is what this message is about – I'm looking for donations for using a midi lathe. They would like to start turning pens and bottle stoppers, but do not have proper accessories to make these.

If you have some pen making supplies laying around your shop, that you would be willing to donate – please let me know. 

They need anything that will help with pen turning – a mandrel, a pen press, some pen kits would be great – anything you have, we will take! A set of EZ-Wood tools would be great, too! I am not sure of their sharpening capabilities.

Reach out to me through Facebook, or call me directly at 702–672–8981 and I will figure out a way to pick up your donation.

Many thanks!

Summer vacation break from our monthly meetings

We're taking the rest of the summer off - see you in September!

Don't forget - the AWFS show is coming to Las Vegas in one week - check out this link to read more, or to register.

AWFS Show / Las Vegas

 

Looking for employment in a woodshop?

 Hey friends and fellow woodworkers - Opportunity Village reached out to me for possible help in finding someone to man (or - woman!) their woodshop. 

Never heard of Opportunity Village? It’s an amazing non-profit that offers a variety of services for people with disabilities including workforce development, community employment, day services, and (my favorite) - fine arts and social recreation.

Among the programs they offer to individuals with disabilities is a Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) initiative that includes dance, theatre, music, visual arts—and (best of all) woodworking.

 

Opportunity Village (OV) is currently seeking someone who is not only skilled in woodworking, but also passionate about their mission of inclusion and empowerment. Their shop is well equipped (and air-conditioned!) and the possibilities are endless. It would be a chance to develop and expand a woodworking program that manufactures and sells a variety of items for sale in their gift shop. Enjoy making cutting boards? Turning pens? You’d be supervising the creation of a line of crafts that their artists will create.

 

This would be a full-time role, and while compensation is modest (as they are a nonprofit), the work is deeply meaningful and has a lasting impact on the lives of those whom they serve.

 

Interested? Contact me (702-672-8981) and I’ll put you in touch with them. Seriously, this organization offers a unique chance to work in the woodworking field and make a real contribution to our city. 

 

Interested in adding a CNC to your tool arsenal? Come to our June meeting!

 Sin City Woodworkers, a Vegas valley social and networking group committed to serious (and not so serious!) woodworking discussions, will now be meeting on the third Thursday of each month to share everything from techniques and ideas to information about local suppliers and much more. 

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 19, at 7:00, and if you’re looking to learn more about CNCs, or hoping to be a part of a CNC community here in Vegas, this meeting is right up your alley! We’re thrilled to have Chris Daly as our speaker; he’s passionate about CNCs, and  is a go-to resource for all of your CNC questions. Chris hopes to start a CNC group, similar to our Sin City Woodworking group here in town. So if you’re looking to be involved with like-minded CNC enthusiasts, this meeting is for you. 

BTW - CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control, which refers to the computerized operation of a tool - in this case, specifically a router. These machines can cut, carve, drill and shape wood in ways that the average woodworker cannot. And - the results are dead-on perfect, and easily duplicated. Most people think this tool is for large makers, mass-producing furniture or accessories. But Chris will discuss how the home-shop can benefit with the addition of a CNC in their tool arsenal. 

Chris grew up and earned two degrees in North Carolina - one in Industrial Systems, and the other in CNC Machining. Listening to him for just a few minutes and you’ll realize he’s probably the most knowledgeable CNC woodworker in town. (Not an exaggeration!)

Chris will discuss a variety of subjects - including some basics like entry level machines, spindles VS, routers, how to get to the next level, and will pose this question - what’s holding you back? 

A lot of woodworkers buy CNCs and get frustrated, often not being able to fully utilize the strengths and features of their machines. We hope this discussion will de-mystify this amazing tool.

This meeting will be held at Woodcraft of Las Vegas at 5220 W. Charleston Blvd.  As always, the public is welcome to attend the meeting, so members - please feel free to bring a guest along. If you have questions or need directions, call (702) 672-8981.

 

Sin City Woodworkers May meeting - featuring the work of Dennis Patchett

 Sin City Woodworkers, a Vegas valley social and networking group committed to serious (and not so serious!) woodworking discussions. We meet on the third Thursday of each month to share everything from techniques and ideas, member’s work, demos and much, much more. 

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 15 at 7:00 when emeritus member - Dennis Patchett - will be sharing his technique for making intricately carved boxes.  

These boxes - mostly made with Mahogany (but occasionally Walnut, which ridiculously harder) - feature dovetailed joinery and custom feet. (Dennis will also speak about the feet that he crafts for each box.) But the most amazing aspect of these boxes is the meticulous carvings on every box he makes. 

I’ve said it before - mostly because he prefers to stay out of the limelight - but Dennis is one of the best woodworkers in this town. Period. His carvings alone show skill that most of us will never achieve. When he adds these carved details to the furniture he builds,  he’s creating heirloom pieces that will be cherished for generations. Most days, you’ll find him carving away in his shop, enjoying his process in solitude. 

He makes these boxes as gifts, and has never sold a single one. Each takes about six weeks to make, with Dennis working about 3-4 hours a day on each one. The detail and perfection in these boxes are something to be seen in person!

One last note - we recently lost one of our charter members - Jim Chadbourne - and I recently wrote a post about his passing. You can read about it here: https://sincitywoodworkers.blogspot.com/2025/04/a-loss-in-our-woodworking-world-jim.html

We will miss him immensely, and send much love to MaryJane and the rest of his family. 

This meeting will be held at Woodcraft of Las Vegas at 5220 W. Charleston Blvd.  As always, the public is welcome to attend the meeting, so members - please feel free to bring a guest along. If you have questions or need directions, call (702) 672-8981.