The Trinity College School Woodworking Club has been off to a flying start this year and, after two years of individual projects only, the students are enjoying being able to once again work together as a group. Specifically, the club has embarked on the construction of a 15' cedar strip canoe. Once completed, the canoe will be auctioned off at Bear Fair 2023 as a fundraiser for the TCS Parents’ Guild, who have donated the funds for the start-up materials. At this stage of the build, the students and I have almost finished the planking of the hull and will be ready to “fair” the hull in preparation for the application of the fiberglass and epoxy in the new year.
In addition to assisting on the boatbuilding adventure, the students have been busy working away on a variety of individual projects. Sarah Inglis is mastering skills on the scrollsaw and has begun work on a detailed intarsia project, while Ben Semmler is completing an intricate wildlife carving using power carving. Oliver Lynn is hand-carving a dough bowl out of black cherry and Evan Vukota has been competently using a variety of gouges to shape what will be a top-notch bowl out of Douglas fir.
This winter term the students will also have the opportunity to learn “steambending” techniques and build snowshoe furniture such as coffee tables, end tables and rocking chairs. Liam Halsall-Whitney has recently begun bending black ash to build an end table and is also learning timber framing skills as he completes a set of canoe racks. Stay tuned for exciting updates in the coming months.
- By Ty Bailey, club supervisor
