Window Restoration & Weatherization Boot Camp is a fun and intense, three-day, hands-on learning experience. Students will learn cost-effective restoration & weatherization of historic, double-hung, wood windows. You will be part […]
Basic Plaster Wall Repair 1 Day – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm A traditional and versatile building material, plaster was historically used as a protective and decorative coating for walls and ceilings. Plaster can result in finishes much harder than drywall which creates a more durable wall surface, and is more adaptable for specialty design […]
Covering the same content as our Basic Carpentry Skills 101 courses, this course serves as a joyful affinity space specifically for genderqueer and non-binary students. Course Tuition: $0 Materials Fee: $90* Our free courses are offered in solidarity and made possible by support from our community. If you would like to give a gift to […]
In this timber framing class, you’ll learn the fundamental skills you need to approach constructing timber frames yourself. Be part of a team that creates a frame of great beauty and strength. Gain satisfaction and competence with tools and the craft. For 7 Day Class: $1300-$2600* *Please pay what you can within this range. The […]
Design and craft your own stained glass panel. This class will introduce students to basic tools and techniques for layout, cutting, shaping, and connecting stained glass using the copper foil method by building a panel of your own design. Read Syllabus Class Schedule: June 27-28, Saturday-Sunday, 9am-5pm Credits: 1 Sterling College CEUs Click […]
Always wanted to try your hand at the forge? Cover the basics of forging and layout as you make a plant bracket for your home. Practice everything from fire maintenance to hand hammer techniques and time at the anvil. No previous experience required; all levels welcome. Instructor: Derrick Bliss Skill Level: All Levels […]
This course combines the core of our previous timber framing, homebuilding, and apprenticeship curriculums into one package for those seeking a career in timber framing or a deeper understanding of the skills needed to build their own timber frame. It's ideal for those who seek more opportunities for development than are provided in our one-week […]
Too often in our society fathers tend to spend more time teaching their sons how to think in a so-called “handy” way. As instructor and owner of The Belvedere School, Bob Yapp says, “This is really unfortunate. In truth, when women are given the opportunity to learn this way of thinking, their skills almost always exceed men’s. Our goal for […]
Casting Plaster Medallions & Enrichments 2 Days – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Among the most dramatic ornamental plaster forms are ceiling medallions and enrichments. Typically, medallions related stylistically to the cornice ornament are also found in the room and could be created with or without a plain-run surround. These decorative units were generally attached […]
Many teens see blacksmithing in movies, video games, and online and become curious about this timeless trade. Tillers offers a two-day blacksmithing class specifically for young people ages 12 to 16, accompanied by a parent. This beginner class introduces teens to the fundamentals of the craft: fire tending, shaping, heat treating, and more. It is […]
In this four-month carpenter training, you’ll learn essential carpentry and building skills through immersive mentorship—including framing and finishing a tiny house and working on your own small design-and-build carpentry project. Spring Session: March 10 – July 1, 2026 (tiny house intensive dates: March 24 – April 1, 2026) Fall Session: July 21 – November […]
Step back in time and learn the art of window and door construction in this immersive 5-day course. This class will guide students through the transformation of Eastern White Pine boards into simple, historically accurate window sash and doors. Students will learn appropriate historical restoration methods along with window sash repair and reuse. The class will also […]
In this two-day class, students learn how to use a wide variety of handtools for working wood, including marking and layout tools, hand saws, hand drills, chisels, planes, and much more. Sharpening and adjustment of chisels and planes will also be covered. Students should bring along their own hand tools if they are interested in […]
Historic Preservation Boot Camp 3 Days – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm (daily) Although generally considered permanent, masonry is subject to deterioration too. Our preservation practices attempt to keep masonry structures from deteriorating further; respect the significance of original materials and details; and stabilize, repair, and retain features wherever possible to ensure their safekeeping for […]
A basic carpentry class that breaks down the barriers keeping women from being comfortable with tools. Leave the class feeling confident and ready to tackle household projects on your own! Class Sessions: April 2-5 April 27-30 May 7-10 June 4-7 July 23-26 Pricing: Single Class: $850-$1700* Package (Includes Basic and Advanced Women’s Carpentry): $1600-$3200* […]
Too often it just seems easier to rip out the old and replace exterior materials on old and historic properties with new products. This urban legend is just not true. For historic property owners this will often diminish the value of their property and cost them more money than repairing original exterior wood. Cost effective […]
Construct and raise a small timber frame structure using mortise and tenon joinery. In this hands-on course students will learn layout techniques, tool use, and joinery cutting methods as we work on a small timber frame project, culminating in a raising on the final day. This course will focus on traditional hand tools and joinery […]
Repointing Special Joint Profiles Using Lime Mortar 1 Day – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm As the number of historic buildings continues to increase, so does the demand for masons who have the necessary skill and knowledge critical to the preservation of vintage structures. A skilled and exacting mason can match rebuilt sections of masonry […]
The decision to repoint a masonry structure is most often related to some obvious signs of deterioration, such as disintegrating mortar, cracks in mortar joints, loose bricks or stones, or damp walls. On the surface, restoration projects may appear straightforward and intuitive, but there’s no substitute for skill and experience. Good repointing practices guarantee the […]
A basic introduction to carpentry and power tools. This two-day course is an introduction to the vast world of carpentry. You'll learn key vocabulary, become comfortable using basic hand tools, and gain confidence and fundamental knowledge to pursue future carpentry projects by completing a small project. Read Syllabus Class Schedule: August 1-2, Saturday-Sunday, 9am-5pm […]
In this timber framing course, we will layout timbers using the traditional square rule method developed in the early 1800s. Participants will learn proper hand tool use and sharpening techniques and will also have the opportunity to make pegs using a shaving horse and draw knife. The instructors will provide demonstrations of how to layout […]
“Advanced Historic Masonry Repair Techniques” is a fun and intense, two-day, hands-on learning experience. The stone, brick and mortar being preserved will be done in accordance with The Secretary of the Interiors Standards for Rehabilitation. You will be part of a team of students learning & performing masonry repairs on stone and brick in historic […]
This fast-paced two-day introduction moves students through the fundamentals of blacksmithing: basic hammering and forging techniques, heat treating, forge welding, and identification of “found” steels will be explored. Safety, tools, techniques, materials, terminology, and shop set-up will all be discussed. Students will make a cold chisel, drift punch, bottle opener, and wall hook in this […]
This is a beginners class for those who are interested in learning the basic skills to manipulate copper. Students begin by learning to deburr, clean and anneal copper. Basic hammer control introduces texturing. Design layout and chasing will add another skill level by introducing chisels and their unlimited uses. Students will also learn the technique […]
OVERVIEW: Scribing is an art as much as a craft, requiring a good eye and a steady hand. It involves laying out and transferring joinery intersections from one timber to another using plumb bobs, levels, and marking devices instead of tape measures and math. This traditional method is useful for incorporating out-of-square, naturally curved, or […]
Window Restoration & Weatherization Boot Camp is a fun and intense, three-day, hands-on learning experience. Students will learn cost-effective restoration & weatherization of historic, double-hung, wood windows. You will be part of a team restoring the original wood windows in a historic property located in the Central Park National Historic District in Hannibal, Missouri. This is […]
Rather than cutting out and replacing damaged or decaying brick and stone, impressive repairs can be achieved by using modern lime-based mortars. Saint-Astier® Lithomex® is a state-of-the-art brick and stone resurfacing and repair material specifically designed to restore the profile, surface finish, texture, and color of the original masonry unit. This workshop introduces participants to Lithomex® and the […]
This two-day class builds on skills learned in Blacksmithing I and introduces new skills, such as punching and riveting. Students will make a center punch, a pot trivet, and a set of tongs. Students will also be able to work on personal projects with the experienced instructors and ample supplies here at Tillers. Intermediate class […]
Overview: In this class we will be taking a deep dive into French Scribing, a centuries-old technique for laying out joinery with minimal numeric calculation or math. It is particularly useful for joining out-of-square timbers and curved timbers that have been milled with flat faces. (For an introduction to scribing with round logs, you'll want […]
Introduction to Mineral Paints & Stains 1 day – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Discover the history behind and the differences between mineral based coatings to decorate masonry as opposed to using modern paints. This class will demonstrate how to match historic brick and stone colors using potassium silicate paints and stains along with covering […]