Hand-Cut Dovetails Woodworking Class in Portland, Maine

Length: 12 hours over 4 weeks
Class Fee: $445
Times: 2026: 5-8 pm; 2027: 6-9 pm

Tue, Mar 2, 9, 16, & 23

In this workshop for beginners and intermediate woodworkers, you will learn the steps of making hand-cut dovetails for boxes, cases, and many other wooden pieces. You will learn layout, cutting and chopping dovetails with hand tools to make a small wooden step stool. You may bring your own chisels, but Factory 3 will provide all needed tools, and the class will begin by learning to sharpen hand tools.

About the instructor:
Rob Jansen is a woodworker with a background in scenic and environments design. His woodworking craft was shaped through hands-on study, including a two-year program with Gary Rogowski, and workshops in traditional chairmaking with Pete Galbert and Peter Follansbee. While Rob recently moved to Portland, he previously worked as a designer and teacher after receiving his MFA from North Carolina. Teaching holds a special place for Rob and it gives him joy to bring his love of making to people from all backgrounds who want to either build their skills or simply step into something more present and tactile.