WFM300J24 Wood Forming with Michael Fortune

Put some curves in your life!

Discover the fascinating world of wood-bending, and unlock a new realm of possibility for your woodworking. 

In this hands-on workshop, master woodworker Michael Fortune will introduce you to a variety of methods for bending wood into exact shapes. These techniques can be adapted to make everything from chair parts and table aprons to musical instruments and even boat ribs.

Internationally recognized for his striking furniture designs, Michael is known for using very few straight lines in his pieces. Out of both interest and necessity, he has mastered a variety of methods for creating curves in wood, and has written and taught widely to share his techniques.

Over the course of an action-packed week, Michael will introduce you to a variety of options for bending and shaping wood, including:

• Steam bending
• Laminating
• Vacuum forming
• Hot pipe bending

You will learn how to choose the most appropriate technique for any application, starting with selecting the right wood species, all the way through how to cure and stabilize bent parts — and even when to simply use a band saw to create curves.

We will cover methods for working by hand, as well as how to safely use machines to create curves, and we will practice various methods of joinery for all those curved parts. 

We will set up several workstations so that you can hone your newfound skills and push the limits of the various techniques — and you will learn how to duplicate these setups in your own workshop.

This incredible course will take the guesswork out of bending wood and greatly expand your options for shaping and joining wood.