The Rochester Woodworkers Society |

Paul Schürch (November 22 and 23)

Paul Schürch’s woodworking career started during highschool, which led him to study under several European masters of the trades. Paul held apprenticeships in piano and pipe organ building, boat building, furniture restoration, and marquetry with both wood and stone....

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From The Chair – October 2019

Experience Teaches Judgement Greetings RWS members, Have you ever surprised yourself by selecting the right size socket for a bolt or hex key for a set screw on the first try? You probably had thought about the vintage and origin of the fastener at hand and guessed...

From The Chair – August 2019

Collaboration of the Long Distance SIG Greetings RWS members, Welcome to the 2019/2020 season of RWS. Another new beginning for the organization with more opportunities to learn and do. High in my attention lately has been my impending retirement from the world of...

From The Chair – April 2019

Finding the artist within Greetings RWS members, At the most recent RWS national speaker workshop, as Yoav Liberman reviewed his work, I was struck over and over by the same question: “How did you come up with that design choice?” These were his artistic choices, not...

From The Chair – February 2019

And the sign said, “Help wanted” --- You may have heard that Connie Gates will soon step down from her position as RWS Librarian. Thank you, Connie, for your years of service to RWS members. You have been a joy! But her position won’t go vacant, because John Alescio,...

From The Chair – December 2018

Tis the season for reflecting --- As this year winds down with the holidays upon us, my mind has been going a million miles an hour thinking about how fast life flies by, about this charmed life I have been given, about what I have and haven’t yet done with it, and...

From The Chair – August 2018

Holy Cow Moments Greetings RWS members, Thank you for this opportunity to serve as your new Chairman. I am very grateful for the experiences that RWS has provided me, and I intend to repay that favor by doing all I can to sustain and enhance the RWS experience for...

From The Chair – April 2018

Changes About two years ago I began my term as RWS Chairman. The position was about to become vacant, and as our bylaws state, only an existing board member can assume the chairmanship. As one of the longer serving members on the Board, I agreed to accept the...

From The Chair – February 2018

Saying Goodbye A short time ago I was talking with a friend about radial arm saws. We each had an old Craftsman saw and marveled at its versatility. Besides being able to make com-pound cuts, it could be used with a dado blade, a molding cutter, a sanding drum, a...

From The Chair – December 2017

It’s the Wood, Stupid! Many of us who grew up in the post-depression era learned to get by with less. Times were harder back then, so for me at least, before buying something it had to pass the ‘need’ test. Even though life is less trying today, old habits are hard to...

From The Chair – October 2017

Woodworkers and Their Tools If you asked me what I find most appealing about woodworking, I would have to answer “it’s all about the tools”. I don’t care what they are or what they do as long as they’re sharp and as long as they work. My father was a skilled...

Using Stationary Power Tools – Alan VanDeMoere; October 26, 2019
Shaker Table 1, design, material selection, layout, lumber machining – Alan VanDeMoere; November 2, 2019
Shaker Table 2, mortise and tenon rails, top glue up, tapering legs – Alan VanDeMoere; November 16, 2019
Shaker Table 3, assembly, finishing, finish-the finish – Alan VanDeMoere; December 7, 2019
Shaker Table 4, hand cut dovetails – Alan VanDeMoere; January 11, 2020
Introduction to Spindle Turning – Mike Brawley; January 25, 2020
Tuning a Peppermill – Terry Lund; March 7, 2020
Bench Bull – John Alescio; April 4, 2020
Veneering for Beginners – TBD; May 2, 2020

National Speakers for 2019-20

Click on a link for the speaker’s web site, if available.

Alf Sharp – Fine Furniture and Finishing; September 20 and 21, 2019
Seri Robinson – Spalted wood, turner and woodworker; October 18 and 19, 2019
Paul Schürch – Marquetry and veneer artist; November 22 and 23, 2019
Tom McLaughlin – Fine Furniture & Rough Cut TV; January 17 and 18, 2020
Mike Mascelli – H.O. Studley presentation & upholstery; February 21 and 22, 2020
Dave Hurwitz – Fine furniture, design, and carving; March 20 and 21, 2020
Glenn Lucas – Woodturner; May 21, 22, 23 and 24, 2020 (together with Finger Lakes Woodturners Association – FLWA)

We are a group of men and women in Upstate NY dedicated to the enjoyment of woodworking. Membership includes lectures and workshops by renowned woodworking personalities and local professionals as well as free access to our extensive lending library of books and videos.

RWS welcomes everyone interested in the craft whether professional or hobbyist. Join the company of hundreds of enthusiasts – carvers, turners, furniture makers, boat builders, and other skilled craftspeople and take your woodworking skills to a new level.

Local Workshops for 2019-20

National Speakers for 2019-20