TRADITIONAL FINE WOODWORKING IN HUDSON
(Hudson Gazette Article published Wed 6 June 2001)

     The truth is out. Even the most die-hard of traditional woodworkers will make concessions to the machine. Machine tools in the hands of skilled woodworkers are incredibly accurate and they save time. However, all portable and stationary machine tools are essentially cutting edges with motors. Ultimately, people create magic with wood.

     Hand tools are fundamental to fine woodworking. In the right hands a woodworker can construct an ornate Louis XIII armoire with hand tools. Acquiring the necessary skills to achieve this requires practice, practice, practice and life-long learning. The age-old system of apprenticeship was established for a reason. Woodworking skills cannot really be derived from books or videos. These skills must be passed on at the workbench from master woodworker to novice.

     The art of woodworking combines many skill sets. First and foremost is a complete attention to detail where squareness (or roundness in some cases) and final dimensions approach complete accuracy. Woodworkers often work within tolerances of 1/32 to 1/64th of an inch. The initial stages involve a well-thought-out plan on paper, accurate marking-out on the stock and meticulous cutting and shaping of the wood by a variety of means.

     To be successful woodworkers must know their tools. The cutting edges must be razor sharp. They must have a thorough knowledge of joinery, the properties of soft and hard wood, wood-related heath and safety issues, cabinet construction methods and furniture styles. Additionally, furniture finishing, wood turning on a lathe, carving, veneering and shaping are follow-on skills which will raise the woodworking enthusiast to an even higher level.

     Finally, woodworking brings many benefits. Wood is simply the ultimate feel-good commodity. For example, you will never hear people say that they do not like wood. A day of woodworking also provides an excellent aerobic work-out. Additionally, with skill and practice, woodworkers can build quality furniture, often to a higher standard than most massed-produced pieces and in the process save a not inconsiderable sum of money. Finally, the sheer creative process of working with wood elevates the human spirit and provides an unconscious link to the past. For example, the Greek alpha used by modern woodworkers to mark the face of a board is almost certainly the same symbol used by two Jewish carpenters over two thousand years ago.

     Fine woodworking requires finesse, patience and tenacity of purpose, qualities women woodworkers bring to the work bench. A once all-male craft, women are taking up woodworking in increasing numbers and are consistently producing elegant, high-quality work.

The Gazette, Montreal, published Thursday, November 29th ,2001.

Women are flocking to woodworking course

ANNE SUTHERLAND
The Gazette

     When master woodworker Gary Dover decided to offer courses in his field, little did he know that women would wind up being his best customers.
     In fact, his first class was made up entirely of the gentler sex.
     Dover is the sole proprietor of the Merlin Wood School of Fine Woodworking, on the border of Hudson and Vaudreuil-Dorion. Nine months after he opened his workshop to students, 40 per cent of his clientele are ladies.
     "Women are my best students," Dover said.
     "They are more open and willing to listen, very artistic and have patience. There is no brute force in woodworking by hand.'
     Dover is a master cabinetmaker, trained in both England and Canada.
For the 30-hour courses he and his staff teache on four levels, one of the field trips in the first module is to Réno-Dépôt, an intimidating spot for those who know nothing about building supplies.
     "I show the class the different types of wood, the hardware they will need and the different finishes - and afterward it is far less intimidating," Dover said.
     Students like Wendy Nelligan have gone from never picking up a tool to making her own grandfather clock in just nine months.
     "I was a little apprehensive. I can't paint or do pottery. I'm not what you'd call crafty," Nelligan said.
"But the idea of using hand tools and the medieval traditions, that sounded different and I was curious."
Nelligan said the three hours she spends in the workshop every weekend gets her "creative juices flowing."
"I come out of there flying. It's very cathartic."
     Now on her third module of the course, Nelligan has made a cutlery tray, her own wooden mallet and a dowry chest.
     "It's a lot of fun and the chest will be something that is useful for generations, I will pass it to my daughter and she will pass it to her daughter," she said.
     Dover said the women in the class seem to gain a sense of empowerment
     "The ladies seem to like doing things themselves, taking control," Dover said. "I do have the machines, but the women tend to use the hand tools longer than the men."
     "The tools are loud and noisy, I like the back to basics aspects of using hand tools," Nelligan agreed.

For more information about woodworking courses,
schedules and prices, contact Gary Dover at (450) 458-0813.