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 […]
You will be part of a team restoring tongue and grooved wood flooring in a historic house in the Central Park National Historic District in Hannibal, Missouri. This is a tuition-based class with a limit of 8 students. You will be working side-by-side all three days with instructor Bob Yapp. Bob is nationally recognized as […]
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 […]
Explore historic blacksmithing methods and hammer out cookware, hardware, lighting, tools, and more. Gain inspiration from archaeology finds of Europe, the Near East, and the Viking world. Make period-appropriate gear, from fire steels and belt buckles to trivets, shears, and chest hinges. SCA-ers, historic food fanatics, and other nerds welcome–come flesh out your kit! No […]
Restoring Historic Wood Windows (Including Sash Mechanics) (3 days) – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm daily Old windows continue to be important to the mechanics of historic buildings as well […]
In this one-day class, youth (12-15 yrs) will experience what its like to safely forge, grind, heat treat and finish their very own knife just like they do on the hit television show Forged In Fire! This class is hard work but well worth it and will teach a little of all we offer here […]
April 6 – 16, 2026: Monday - Thursday 6PM to 9PM Cost: $400 Topic: Advanced Masonry Conservation (Designed for Students with Experience in Masonry or Who have Completed the Basic Masonry in Historic Structures Seminar) Goal: Equip participants with skills to conserve and restore complex historic masonry systems, from decorative façades and carved stone to ancient mortar […]
April 6 – 16, 2026: Monday - Thursday 6PM to 9PM Cost: $400 Topic: Advanced Masonry Conservation (Designed for Students with Experience in Masonry or Who have Completed the Basic Masonry in Historic Structures Seminar) Goal: Equip participants with skills to conserve and restore complex historic masonry systems, from decorative façades and carved stone to ancient mortar […]
Wednesdays ~ April 8, 15, 22, 29 6:00pm-9:00pm Join us as the weather warms, but before summer blazes in the blacksmith shop for our Spring Evenings Beginners Course. This class is designed to appeal to students who are interested in blacksmithing but the time commitments and scheduling of our weekend and weeklong classes may pose […]
Wednesdays ~ April 8, 15, 22, 29 6:00pm-9:00pm Woodturning is a truly satisfying craft, and the raw materials to produce useful, gorgeous and unique objects are all around us. This four-session class will introduce you to the lathe and the tools used to shape a basic piece of wood into a unique, attractive and useful […]
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 […]
Faux (Fake) Painting & Restoration of Painted Stone & Wood Grain will be a unique class. Before the 1870’s it was not very classy to have much real, natural wood. You could really show your affluence if you could afford an artist to grain your plain pine or poplar to look like exotic woods such […]
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 […]
The challenging process of a blacksmithing project creates an environment and guidance that, through challenge, enables learners to leave with a renewed sense of empowerment and self-confidence. This two-hour experience will take the students through a demonstration and introduction to the forge. They will practice some basic blacksmithing skills while creating their first forged hook! […]
The challenging process of a blacksmithing project creates an environment and guidance that, through challenge, enables learners to leave with a renewed sense of empowerment and self-confidence. This four-hour experience will take students through the process of forging a basic knife with a paracord-wrapped handle. No experience is required! $300 per student 1 pm - […]
Historic Plaster-Making & Restoring Decorative Plaster is a fun and intense, three-day, hands-on, learn by doing, total immersion experience in historic plaster molding creation and repair. Students will learn state-of-the-art techniques in mold making, casting & mixing plaster. You will also learn to create straight runs of plaster moldings. How these decorative plaster elements are installed […]
If you’ve never heated metal in a forge and swung a hammer to shape it on an anvil, this is the class for you! Learn the absolute basics of blacksmithing on our half-day course. Get an introduction to the safety, tools and techniques of this ancient art. Leave the shop confident in your abilities, and […]
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: April 18-19, Saturday - Sunday, […]
If you’ve never heated metal in a forge and swung a hammer to shape it on an anvil, this is the class for you! Learn the absolute basics of blacksmithing on our half-day course. Get an introduction to the safety, tools and techniques of this ancient art. Leave the shop confident in your abilities, and […]
Learn the basics of furniture making and shop tools. This entry-level course is intended for the beginning woodworker. You'll be introduced to the how’s and why’s of woodworking, the use of hand tools, and the safe operation of shop equipment. Demonstrations and discussions will supplement hands-on learning as you each build your own one-drawer end […]
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 […]
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 […]
Come examine traditional joinery and take it a few steps further. Learn from techniques of the past and develop unique ways of joining metal using basic forging and making the point of connection an essential design element. You will have the opportunity to make the joinery a main visual aspect of your personal projects. Open […]
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 […]
Learn advanced woodworking techniques and jumpstart your own woodworking business or career. This certificate is designed for the intermediate to advanced woodworker, furniture designer, and maker. You will learn drafting and design techniques, advanced furniture building skills, and business basics for a woodworking business. Class Schedule April 27 - May 22 Monday - Friday […]
Exterior Painting of Historic Structures is a fun and intense, three-day, hands-on learning experience. Students will learn how to paint the exterior wood of any structure. You will be part of a team painting a section a historic structure in a Hannibal Historic District. This is a tuition-based class with a limit of 10 students. You […]
Jump into the amazing world of blacksmithing. You will learn basic techniques from tapers to scrolls, bending, forming, hot punching and drifting, hot cutting, basics of tool usage and selection from hammers to tongs to anvils and vises! Expect to leave with a baseline understanding of hot forging of steel, coal forge maintenance and tool […]
Many of the specialty tools for timber framing are hard to find new or used. Students will learn to make their own tools using basic wood and metal working skills. This class allows both experienced and aspiring carpenters to forge a personal connection with the tools of their trade. Students will complete a slick, a […]
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 […]
This six-day class is taught by an experienced timber-framer & builder, Chris Newman, and by a structural engineer with decades of experience, Tom Nehil. Both are members of the Timber Framers Guild. Students can expect to begin hands-on learning within a few hours of the first day of class. Tom will discuss design elements and […]