Hand Plane Chopping Board Course

What you'll learn

Learn how to use a hand plane to create your own cheese or chopping board with our woodwork short courses in Sydney!

This is a great introduction to woodwork course for anyone who would like to be introduced to the joys of working with timber and in particular working with hand planes. Hand planes may seem a bit old-fashioned, but through this course, you will learn about their many uses and upkeep.

Across the day, you will learn about timber and metal hand planes, including assembling a plane from parts, preparing it for use, and planning a range of timbers. You will learn about the properties of timber, how best to work with reclaimed timber, accurate measuring and marking, and the safe and effective use of a variety of hand planes and other tools. You will discover the nourishment that comes from creating something tangible with your hands and working with ethically sourced materials.

By the end of the day, you will have a strong understanding of hand planes’ use and care, practiced hand planning skills, as well as a small hand-finished cheese/chopping board to take home.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this Hand Plane Chopping Board course, you should be able to:

Appreciate the value of second-hand timber
Understand the structural properties of timber
Safely and effectively use a variety of traditional hand tools
Understand woodworking terminology
Use a range of hand planes and square and straighten a range of timbers
Make your own reclaimed timber cheese/chopping board
Understand different woodworking finishes
Have the confidence to start your own projects at home

Course content

What will be covered in this Hand Plane Chopping Board course?

Knowledge of general safety in the workshop
Timber selection and an understanding of second-hand timber
Grain direction and strength and weaknesses
Timber and metal hand plane design, construction, assembly, and care
Use of various woodworking marking tools and equipment
Finishing woodworking projects

Intended audience

Who is this Hand Plane Chopping Board course for?

Any learner who wishes to improve their personal and practical skills for self interest or the workplace.

Knowledge required

This workshop is aimed at people with no experience with woodwork. It is open to anyone 18 years and over.
The course is run using entirely hand tools so you need to be aware that there is an element of physicality involved.

Information for booking students under 18

Among the Trees is committed to child safety and has zero tolerance for child abuse. We care deeply about the children’s well-being and are committed to acting in their best interest at all times. You can read our full Child Safe Policy.

Among The Trees accepts students under 18 in two groups:

Students 13-15 years of age must attend all courses with a parent or guardian. This parent or guardian must also purchase a place in the course and take part. One parent/guardian is able to attend with multiple students.
Students 16-17 years of age may attend a course without a parent or guardian present.

For all students under 18, the full name and contact information for parents and guardians must be provided when booking. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us.

Course venue

Among The Trees Workshop

27 Sydney Street, Marrickville NSW 2204

We encourage students to utilize the numerous public transport options nearby or ride their bicycle to Among the Trees, there is a bike rack on site. Street parking is limited during the day and onsite parking is off-limits for course participants during business hours (Wed-Sat 10am-4pm). Please contact Among the Trees directly if you have access concerns or requirements, there is an accessible parking spot available that we can reserve if requested. Outside business hours there are 3 onsite parking spots available.

About Among The Trees

"We can’t get enough of reclaimed and recycled timber, and we believe it should be accessible to everyday people. There’s nothing like working with wood, and to use and love a product that would otherwise have been sent to landfill or be burned off helps keep the story of that piece alive.

We want to show you how and why we love this material and share with you how to work with it. We are Among The Trees, and we can’t wait to say hello."

Course materials

Tools and materials

This course will be taught using entirely second-hand timber. You will be taught to use a variety of woodworking tools and materials including:

Reclaimed Timber, where to find it and how to use it
Measuring and marking tools
Timber and metal hand planes
Timber finishes

All tools and materials to be provided by Among the Trees.

Please note: This course may involve materials that are allergens for students. Nut and seed oils, as well as fine wood dust, may be present at points throughout the course. If you have any allergies please get in touch with us.

Requirements and safety

You are encouraged to bring your own facemask, protective eyewear and ear protection however sanitised Personal Protective Equipment will be available to use. Any borrowed PPE needs to be sanitised after use.
A face mask can be provided for each student when booking any course that includes sanding.
You are required to wear closed-toe shoes.
Please wear clothing that can get dirty (e.g. sawdust will be present).
Long hair needs to be tied back and no loose hanging jewellery should be worn.
For your own safety, facilitator instructions regarding the correct use of tools and equipment must be followed at all times.
Any people thought to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be able to take part in the workshop.

Additional information

Please note the following:

Concessions or discounts cannot be applied to classes hosted at the Among The Tree venue.

Please advise Among The Trees about:

your emergency contact (name, relationship and contact phone number), and
any special requirements (e.g. wheelchair access) if applicable

A 30-minute lunch break will take place halfway through all-day classes. Students are encouraged to bring their own lunch. Alternatively, there are cafes and takeaway restaurants nearby.

Course testimonials

Tatyana said: Oh my goodness, this was so much fun and informative. Liz was a great tutor, her enthusiasm for wood was so evident. She was engaging and inclusive. Luke was a good back up for information. I'd recommend this course for anyone looking to familiarise themselves with working with wood and understanding the need for safety, respect and enjoyment. It was a pleasure to work with beautiful wood.
Suzanne said: Tutors impressed me with their confidence which pulled me through the course. I would definitely do this course again or tell a friend to have a go at it. They are also mindful of waste and showed this throughout the course.
Juan said: Great venue and great course! Would do again
Simon said: A very interesting course, and one that differs from the other courses offered here. Rather than spending the entire course time creating an item, it was a deep dive on one particular tool - the plane. While the final product was less complicated than other things you can make at these courses, this gave you a lot of time to simply practice using the plane on scrap pieces of wood before moving onto the chopping board. Great for beginners to mess around with before moving onto the item we were actually working on!

Course tutors

This course has no current classes. Please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Hand Plane Chopping Board Course