Wood Bending: Shaker Oval Boxes
1 Day: Saturday, November 8, 2025, 9AM-5PM
Tuition: $225
Ages: 14 & Up
Instructor: Steve Skornicka
Instructional Delivery Method(s): In person
Prerequisites: None
Program Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Program Description:
Spend a day mastering the Shakers’ timeless method for bending thin wood into elegant oval boxes. Through live demonstrations and plenty of hands-on practice, you’ll discover how heat and moisture make wood flexible, then learn the precise steps for shaping, fastening, and finishing a matched set of three nesting boxes. No prior experience or tools are required—all materials and equipment are provided.
Learning Objectives:
Learn to carve the “fingers” on carefully prepared thin strips of wood
Learn how to control heat and steam to bend wood safety without cracking
Learn how to fasten box walls with traditional copper tacks
Learn how to fit and peg lids and bottoms to complete each box
Students will leave with a finished set of three oval boxes, plus the skills to bend wood for future projects.
Attendance Requirements: Students must attend all days
Location: Sam Beauford Woodshop, 1375 N. Main St, Building 41, Adrian, Michigan 49221
Class Size: Min 5 / Max 10
Refund, Cancellation, and Complaint Resolution Policies
If you have any questions about this class, please contact the Administrative Office at (517) 759-3070 or email admissions@sbwi.edu.
Craft, bend, and take home a beautiful piece of Shaker heritage—all in one day!