The dovetail tray is the 4th project I have now worked on from Tom’s various excellent kits, following on from the lap-joint box and then the jointed picture frame (x2). In all cases the videos and materials provided are high-quality and have been perfect to improve my skills on my woodworking journey. Tom was also very responsive to some questions I’ve had along the way, and provided great guidance on fixing a couple of mistakes I made, which were as a result of me rushing a couple of steps. I am now planning to tackle some of the projects from Tom’s Working with Wood book, which was a very useful guide to get me set up initially, and provides further great guidance to enhancing woodworking skills.

Having been on previous courses with Tom and thoroughly enjoyed them, I signed up for making a Japanese Tool Box. Tom breaks down the process of making something; clearly describes and then demonstrates each task as we progress. He has a relaxed but ever attentive approach to letting students get on with their work. The range of techniques and tools (hand and machine) used in the course has really helped me develop my knowledge and given me confidence to work on my skills at home. I love my tool box… Thanks Tom!

I am halfway through building my own telecaster style guitar but lost confidence when I got to the more tricky stage of measuring and cutting out the pocket for the neck. Tom gave me the skills and taught me the best way to approach the problem by making a jig. Tom explains everything in a patient yet jovial manner making the day thoroughly enjoyable. I’ve also built a tray kit at home which looks fantastic, not to mention the stool in a day, which impresses all that sit on it. A fantastic way to improve your carpentry skills and have fun.

Really great day making a beautiful and sturdy stool in just a day. Tom is a skilled woodworker and born teacher with an engagingly relaxed but professional manner. The day gave us experience in using big machines and hand tools, including a bit of whittling. We learned about different types of wood, tools, joints and safety when working. It was lovely to meet others on the course and work together. We were all proud of the stools we made in a day. Thanks Tom; will be keeping an eye out for future courses.

An excellent day. Tom is very experienced and has an amazing ability to explain skills acquired over years to someone who is a novice. He is patient, kind and has a great sense of fun. A great day, learnt a lot and took home a self-made wooden stool. Thank you. I highly recommend Tom.

I found the course amazing, getting to use a variety of tools and learn lots of new skills. Tom is really helpful, kind, patient and generally fun, but keeps the atmosphere relaxed and gentle. He also knows his stuff and has lots of useful tips throughout. I strongly recommend taking a course, and I’;ll have my stool to remember it by for many years to come.

Hours of enjoyment at Tom’s whittling course at the Arts Centre, Helmsley. Excellent teacher. Loved meeting new people and the cake was delicious too.

Tom created a relaxed environment helping me to learn some introductory principles to woodwork. I got to experience a range of machines and hand tools, techniques for different wood cuts and finishing. I really enjoyed the morning.

Really enjoyed building the wooden tray – learnt lots of new skills and got a chance to buy some really cool Japanese tools!

Videos were really informative – made it easy to get it right.

This was a great introduction to whittling. We both thoroughly enjoyed the morning and were very pleased with our achievement after a few short hours and Tom’s excellent tutoring. Many thanks Tom.

Thank you Tom! I really enjoyed the workshop especially your attitude of do it your own way, whilst also giving non intrusive guidance and support.

Very informative and enjoyable taster class Tom, you are obviously passionate about your craft. Looking forward to learning more, a regular class would be great.

Tom runs an excellent course for both beginners and those with experience that might want to improve their skills. He allows you to get on with it whilst always ready to help where you need help. He has a charming character that appears relaxed but is relentless in its pursuit for perfection. A great course – thank you.

Thanks Tom for a great class. Very well thought out project, walnut nicely prepared and plenty of helpful technique tips and help. I left with a lovely oval steam bent box after a couple of fab mornings in the workshop.

Thoroughly enjoyed my time making the shaker box as a very inexperienced woodworker learning new techniques and helpful tips

Tom is a great teacher and makes the course fun and fulfilling

I hope to return for further courses in the future

An amazing location, so lovely to be out of the city and in such a tranquil woodland haven. It was a really special weekend retreat, fantastic teaching from Tom, nature-based inspiration from Ida and mouth-watering food from Claire. Seeing all our different spoons carved from just one tree at the end of the weekend was wonderful.

Over three consecutive Fridays, Tom taught a small group of us how to build a stool from a few planks and batons.

We were taught many processes, involving a mix of hand tools and power tools, different types of woods, and ingenious improvisations. We were told about the structure of the wood where context was helpful for working with it.

Tom was extremely knowledgeable, supportive and charming. Every Friday I spent at the workshop was the highlight of my week. And I now own a beautiful stool that I made with my own hands, will last many decades, and which will age gracefully.

Really informative and fun with something great to take home and treasure for years to come.

I got the kit earlier in the year along with a set of the tools. The set is good because it takes you through everything. It even includes making a bench hook (where you will be doing your cutting etc) and a couple of small practice pieces. I enjoyed making that too! It comes in a fairly sturdy cardboard box which I used to store everything in whilst I was working on the box.

The videos are good; I ended up watching them twice to make sure I’d got everything. I did email Tom about one thing (I wanted to try a slightly different approach), and he gave a really helpful response.

I would recommend getting the kit too; the tools are good quality and the chisel comes sharpened which is important if you’re new to woodworking (best not to have to faff about with that immediately).

I enjoyed it; I’m going to get the dovetail kit next (for Christmas). I might well get the walnut version too.

Just finished Tom’s Joinery for Furniture Making Course, which, aside from being fun, has inspired me to take my hobby further. Tom has a real passion for wood and woodworking tools and he shares his knowledge and skills in a relaxed environment. Great instruction and then we worked at our own paces with Tom on hand to answer any questions and help out when things were not looking as professional as I was hoping for on my first try. Nice small class of four meant we had lots of attention too. Highly recommended!

I was bought your lap joint box project kit by my partner for my birthday and have just completed it and wanted to let you know how much I loved doing this. I have a growing interest in woodworking, its something I have dipped into over the last 2/3 years and the lap joint box is my 3rd project – the others being a stool and a wood turned bowl – and by far the most enjoyable and satisfying. I loved how I could take my time over this project (which I did especially when it came to sanding) and thought the videos were extremely informative and easy to follow. Like you said, I have learnt a lot making this box, and would do things differently next time around but I’m really happy with what I produced.

I hijacked the kitchen for a solid 11 days of measuring, cutting, chiselling, and sanding, before 2 slow days waiting for coats of Osmo to dry and now my tray is done!

I think you did a tremendous job with the videos. Bravo! They were easy to follow and full of great advice. The new set-up with 2x cameras really helped too, as that extra angle and detail fleshed out what you were describing.

I went a little off-piste after feeling overly confident by the success of my dovetails, and decided to mount the handles by way of a strange dovetail too.

Thanks for the great project kit and for the videos. It was so much fun to do, and I look forward to whatever the next kit will be.

And to think I never thought I’d be able to make a dovetail joint…

What a marvellous project this is, with lots of different techniques involved, and you end up not only with a lovely tray (splendid choice of woods) but also a pair of clamps, a very handy vice and a dovetail marker.

The video instructions are exemplary as ever (with added cute baby, banjo interlude and even instructions on how to eat an ice-lolly) and they make each step easy to follow. It is particularly good to know that when the project arrives it contains everything you need, in particular the high quality wood – something that is not always easy to obtain especially in small quantities.

Not that I’m hoping for lockdown to continue any longer than it has to but if it does, any chance of another project?

I would not hesitate to strongly recommend both kits to anyone. Even dovetail novices like me.

Thanks again, Tom.

Excellent project for learning woodworking skills, I really enjoyed the process from cutting the pieces and making my first lap joint through to the final sand and oil finish. Tom’s videos are incredibly informative guiding you step by step through the process as well as being quirky and engaging to watch. I would definitely recommend and I’m looking forward to trying another project soon.

Loved making it. Video instructions work really well, very clear and understandable. Achieved exactly what it said it would.

I really enjoyed making the box and found it was a good level of difficulty. I was worried that as it was pre-cut I might make it quite quickly, but there were lots of things to do and learn before it was finished. It was interesting to practice making lap joints and see how to go about preparing and gluing the box in the right order, without ‘painting yourself into a corner’. I think it’s important to point out that the videos add a lot of value, as they are very in depth with lots of tips and hints, and make it all seem achievable, even working at your kitchen table. Definitely worth a look if you are still on lockdown or just want a good project you can do without needing a workshop.

I heartily recommend this excellent project which happily whiled away a number of lockdown hours. Tom’s instructions are splendid, clear and helpful (with the added bonus of an occasional bit of singing and a smattering of banjo) and allowed me to create a non-too shabby end result. You know it’s pretty good when people say, “Did you really make that?” Thanks, Tom.

I really wanted to continue building up some woodworking skills, and during lockdown Tom’s course allowed me to do that. I also ordered the toolkit and everything arrived promptly. The instruction videos were really clear, I was never confused or left feeling like I needed further advice to undertake the task at hand. Great value and I now have a lovely box to store some of the tools!

A wonderfully taught course which is well-paced and able to be interesting and accesible to those with a variety of levels of experience. The stool is a brilliant finished product to be able to take home. Wednesdays became my favourite evening of the week!

Clear explanations and helps you achieve a lot in your afternoon. I attended the three hour workshop to make a baby stool for my newborn. Tom is an excellent teacher. He creates a really easy atmosphere, where you get to learn about a bunch of different techniques and breaks down the project into steps. I really appreciated his flexibility as I needed to feed said newborn and was still able to finish my little stool. Such a lovely day. Will recommend to friends.

If you like making things; if you like working with wood but if you think you are not capable of making something small, delicate, useful and aesthetically pleasing in 3 hours, take Tom’s taster course!

I had a fantastic time. Tom is extremely knowledgeable, patient and a great tutor. I’ll definitely be booking another course soon.

Tom is knowledgable, engaging, funny and great at sharing his master craftsman expertise (and tools!). Highly, highly recommended.

The introductory session is a perfect opportunity for woodwork hobbyists to learn which tools they should invest in to continue with their own projects. Tom is welcoming and very knowledgeable. This experience was bought as a gift and I had a great time.

Tom was a great teacher for a first time wood worker like me. His confidence made me go for it and have fun with it. The hours went so quickly! And I ended up with a beautiful hand made Christmas present to give away. I’ll be back!

I had a brilliant day making a wooden stool. Tom is very knowledgeable and helpful – I would definitely recommend his classes. The workshop is set within a small farm that has a cafe too. I hope to go back again soon!

What a great experience. I’ve been thinking about doing a woodwork course for a while but it’s only when a friend recommended Tom that I decided to go for it.

I chose to make this beautiful ash stool – all Tom’s design so can’t claim credit for that- as I needed a slim line table to go next to my sofa to put my cup of tea on.

I would really recommend Tom’s classes – such a relaxing and fun way to spend an afternoon or evening — learning new skills, making something of your own and meeting interesting people. Tom is a great teacher and a lovely person be around too.

Oh and what a great setting – the workshop is located on a city farm!

This would also be an amazing gift for someone.

Having bought a private morning class for my dad I came along too and we had a fantastic time. After discussing what we could make in the time we decided to learn a new skill rather than a finished piece and by the end of the class having not done any woodwork since school we had both made a dovetail joint. Tom was a brilliant teacher and his love of the craft, wood and tools shone through. We learnt so much in the short time, it was amazing with hints and tips at every step of the way. I would definitely recommend the classes and I think we may well be back to try another one in the future.

Challenging test for we more limited woodworkers but Tom explains every step clearly and importantly shows how it should be done. He was also very good a recovering our errors which increased our confidence and course enjoyment . Overall an excellent course and a very fine end product

The workshop with Tom was great. We worked on three different projects during which Tom went through many different techniques and tools in great detail. Also, it was possible to develop a more intuitive way to approaching any wood project, that would surely be useful when learning new techniques by your own.

Great experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in woodworking

Tom was such a patient and clear teacher, and the taster class so rewarding, that I’ve now been bitten by the woodworking bug. Tom has helped me step by step through my first project, kindly offering tricks of the trade at each step. And he has advised me on the feasibility of the next project, as well as how I can begin to embark on it. Fantastic experience, highly recommended!

Absolutely amazing weekend, worth putting yourself in a group of strangers and totally immersing yourself in the experience. The woods was beautiful. The camping spot was away from where we spend our time eating and chopping wood and carving. There was a teepee which was for breakfast and a general chillout area near where we camped. Tom is very knowledgeable and patient, an all round great teacher and had clearly put a lot of time, effort and energy into making sure we had the best possible experience. The food was phenomenal and in abundance, kindly prepared and brought to us by Tom’s friends who own the woodland. 10/10 and highly recommended.

Great course really enjoyed getting back to the old hand tools and picking up some new skills. Thanks Tom

Such a beautiful weekend in the woods! Spoon making seemed to flow organically from the space Tom and Ida held for us all – a space where we could relax into the environment around us, enjoy getting to know each other, chat around lovely home made, locally sourced food (kind and tasty additions for me as a vegan!) and then immerse ourselves in creating a spoon from the tree we helped to fell. Tom is an excellent teacher – clear, empowering, funny and placed a brilliant emphasis on being centred and present as we worked – both for the sake of safety and also connection with the wood and the creation emerging from it. Ida shared her passion for connectedness with nature – helping to keep us aware and grounded – such a gift to have this element which could so easily have been lost amidst the desire to make a thing! 😀 Sleeping under canvas in the woods, showering in Tom’s amazing hand built shower, and chatting round the campfire in the evenings were the icing on the cake. And amongst all that we each managed to produce a cool butter knife and a spoon! SO fun. Thanks SO much for a special weekend, Tom and Ida.

I recently went on Tom’s woodwork weekend in the Malvern Hills. A 40th Birthday present from my wife and it was a really excellent weekend. All ingredients were well thought through and well executed. Great location, great food, great teaching by Tom, a wonderful spiritual aspect to it. I’d certainly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a weekend away in a wood, to relax and work on wood.

Tom is a fantastic teacher with a bulk of knowledge and insight into all things woodwork. With knowledge of traditional and modern techniques it was a really insightful course. I would highly recommend Toms courses. When the right course is available I will be signing up again!

Fabulously relaxing weekend in the woods. Hammocks, camp fires, pizza ovens, cider, good times and a lot of chopping and whittling. Groups size was perfect and an interesting mix of people. Organisation all low key, relaxed and just to the right level of chilled. Tom was a great teacher and really knows his stuff. Highly recommend this weekend for anyone wanting some slow time in nature combined with practical learning and yummy food. The facilities were basic but perfect (the hot forest shower better than my shower at home!)

I had a great time learning from Tom during the group afternoon sessions. In just a few hours over a few days, we covered wood preparation, hand planing, sharpening and dovetails. Tom is an interesting and down to earth person who is clearly passionate about woodworking and a very good teacher. I will definitely be back for more!

I’ve done two classes with Tom and both have been amazing – its a great class after work to take a break and learn a new skill. Tom is a really good teacher – I have no background in woodworking and purely joined out of interest. Even though the class has a mix of backgrounds he does a really good job of catering to each person so no one feels left out. Will be singing up for my third class soon!

I really enjoyed the 3 afternoon classes with Tom. He was very helpful and open to questions about basic techniques and details, (suitable for my level) and good at sharing his time between us. He also gave a good balance of practical information about tools and techniques, and hands on advice too. I will definitely try to do some more classes with him.