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KEEPSAKE BOX COURSE

5 days. 6 students. 1 workshop. Craft your Keepsake Box with us.

Sponsored by Axminster Tools

A BEGINNER / INTERMEDIATE COURSE

Join Matt for a 5-day course at his Newbury workshop and learn every step involved in making the Keepsake Box. With only six participants per class, you'll benefit from one-on-one guidance whilst learning alongside likeminded individuals. If you're looking to hone your woodworking skills and fancy a trip to Matt’s workshop, this is your chance!

What's included in the course?

Lessons

5-Days of Learning

Whether it’s using a saw correctly or cutting the perfect dovetail, this course takes you through the basics and beyond, showing you what it takes to construct a premium handmade box built to last generations.

View Schedule

Equipment - Sponsored by Axminster Tools

All the Tools

If you think owning the tools will hold you back from this course, think again! We have all the necessary tools available to borrow, with plenty to go around. However, we encourage you to bring your own where possible, making it easier to transfer your new skills to your own workspace.

Check the Tool List

Supplies

Premium Materials

Wondering where the materials will come from? Don’t worry, everything you need to build the box is provided, including the wood, hinges, and a custom-made emblem coin for the lid.

See What's Supplied

The Schedule

Here’s a general outline of the course schedule. The order may vary, but this gives a good idea of how the days are likely to unfold.

  • 9:00am - The Course Begins

    • Introductions & Coffee
    • Workshop Tour
    • Collecting your Materials
    • Laying out components

    1:00pm - Lunch (30-60 Minutes)

    • Cutting dovetails
    • Removing waste
    • Begin chiselling shoulder lines

    5:00pm - Day 1 Complete

  • 9:00am - The Course Continues

    • Day 1 Recap & Coffee
    • Finish chiselling shoulder lines
    • Transfer to to pins

    1:00pm - Lunch (30-60 Minutes)

    • Remove waste
    • Begin chiselling baselines

    5:00pm - Day 2 Complete

  • 9:00am - The Course Continues

    • Day 2 Recap & Coffee
    • Finish chiselling baselines
    • Cut and pare mitres

    1:00pm - Lunch (30-60 Minutes)

    • Pre-sand, finish and mask inside faces
    • Glue by end of day

    5:00pm - Day 3 Complete

  • 9:00am - The Course Continues

    • Day 3 Recap & Coffee
    • Plane all joints flush
    • Cut slot around perimeter of box using slotting cutter
    • Finish removing lid by hand with a saw

    1:00pm - Lunch (30-60 Minutes)

    • Plane lid and top of box flat
    • Inset hinges
    • Add felt to base if desired
    • Glue internal lining into position

    5:00pm - Day 4 Complete

  • 9:00am - The Course Continues

    • Day 2 Recap & Coffee
    • Finish insetting hinges in Lid
    • General clean up and sanding

    1:00pm - Lunch (30-60 Minutes)

    • General clean up and sanding continues
    • Finish the box
    • General Q&A

    5:00pm - Day 5 Course Complete

  • And with that, five days of training, woodworking, laughter, and memories come to an end.

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    We hope your time at the workshop has given you new skills to take into your own work and inspired you to push your woodworking further.

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    Not to mention you'll be leaving with a beautiful new box to remember your time with us.

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The Tools

Our friends over at Axminster Tools have sent over all the tools and equipment you'll need to complete your Keepsake Box! However should you wish to bring your own tools, that's absolutely fine too. The list of tools you'll require (and we're providing) are listed below👇

  • Marking / Cutting Gauge
  • Marking Knife
  • Dovetail Marker
  • Engineers Squares
  • Awl
  • 30cm Ruler
  • Dovetail Saw
  • Ryoba
  • Coping / Fret Saw
  • 6mm Chisel (¼”)
  • 12mm Chisel (½”)
  • 18mm Chisel (¾”)
  • Smoothing or Jack Plane
  • Block Plane
  • Plough Plane
  • Rebate Plane
  • Shooting Board
  • Mallet
  • Clamps
  • Router Table
  • 6mm Slotting Bit
  • Glue
  • Finish

The Materials

All material supplied is pre-machined prior to your arrival at the workshop! You'll be able to select your choice of material as you book your order at the bottom of this page.

  • POPLAR

    Pale with a hint of green and a smooth grain. Easy to work with and widely available.

  • MAPLE

    Light and clean with occasional figure. Hard, durable, and mostly from North America.

  • CHERRY

    Reddish-brown that deepens over time. Smooth to work with and U.S. grown.

  • WALNUT (+£40)

    Rich brown with lighter streaks and bold grain. Carves beautifully and grows in North America.

  • OAK (+£40)

    Classic brown with a strong, visible grain. Tough, durable, and widely sourced.

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Points to Consider Before Booking

Public Transportation to the workshop is non-existent so please ensure you've worked out travel arrangements prior to arrival. This may include:

  • Using your own vehicle to get to the workshop (parking is available).
  • Car sharing with another participant of the course (we'll sort out a group chat with all involved).
  • Utilising a Taxi, Uber, etc. however that's something worth booking in advance to ensure no setbacks.

Hotels near the workshop are varied in regards to pricing and distance. Whilst the Workshop is a little way out of Newbury, the travel time from the centre is only around 15-30 minutes (traffic dependant) and hotel pricing can be cheaper within the town. Whilst we can't advocate for the quality of these hotels, we do have a few suggestions that would make travel easiest.

Food would need to be brought with you to the workshop each day. We will absolutely provide a feast of snacks and hot drinks, but as our tiny kitchen only features a fridge, microwave and kettle, our cooking options are very limited. But we can at least keep your meals cold.

Pricing & Booking