In The Villages there are lots of ways to express your creativity and even give back to the community.
One of those places is at The Villages Woodshop.
The Villages Woodworkers Club was started in 2001 to provide a place for Villagers who were passionate about working with wood to express their creativity. The club manages an 8000 square foot woodworking shop that is located on Oak Street, just off of Rolling Acres Road, north of Country Road 466. The shop is open from 8 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday and membership is open to any resident of The Villages. There is a one-time wood shop fee as well as annual dues.
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Interest Areas
The Villages Woodworkers Club breaks members into five different categories based on interests. Among the most popular of these categories are Villagers who are interested in making children's toys.
Over 5,000 toys are produced from the woodworking shop every year. Even if you have no desire to go anywhere near power tools, you can still help this tremendous cause by volunteering to help paint the toys. Donating handmade toys to children is an excellent way to combine a woodworking hobby and a desire to give back to the community.
In addition to children's toys, the Villages Woodworkers Club also has groups dedicated to cabinet making, woodcarving, wood spinning, and special projects. No matter what you like to make, there is probably someone else with a similar interest in the club.
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Education & Certification
Experience is by no means a requirement to join The Villages Woodworkers Club. The club has educational programs that are available to anyone interested, even if you've never used a table saw or a drill press. Classes are offered in six different categories that include: carving, demonstrations, equipment operation, general training, project made, and turner. Each of these categories has beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes.
In addition to these classes, the club also offers certification videos and training for each piece of equipment in the shop. If there is anything you would like to know more about, all you have to do is ask and someone will be glad to help you learn.
Equipment
The best thing about The Villages Woodshop is that they have all of the equipment that you will need already there. You can literally show up to work empty handed because they have everything down to dust masks and coffee. Imagine the thought of building an entire project without having to run to the store for that one item you forgot about!
The shop has a separate room for carving projects that includes a small band saw, a tool sharpener, and a number of large tables with adequate lighting. There is also a turning area that has eleven lathes. The larger shop floor has just about any tool you could imagine, including band saws, table saws, scrolling saws, jigs, drill presses, planers, and dozens of other tools.
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Shirley Bohren says
As always thanks Ryan for keeping us up on what’s happening here in the villages…… We don’t watch a lot of TV so we look for you to fills us in……. LOL