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 […]
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 […]
May 4 – 14, 2026: Monday - Thursday 6PM to 9PM Cost: $400 Topic: Basic Carpentry for Heritage Structures (Designed for Beginners) Goal: Introduce participants to the fundamentals of historic carpentry […]
Stone Grave Marker & Monument Cleaning & Repair Basics 1 Day – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm While cemeteries are often considered to be perpetual, their most prominent feature, the […]
Essential framing and power tool skills for structures. Learn the essential tools, terms, and techniques of carpentry while building a small structure such as a shed or playhouse. In this supportive, hands-on course, you’ll safely use a range of hand and power tools and explore the basics of house framing, layout, and the “anatomy” of […]
Gain hands-on experience felling and milling a tree for lumber. For those considering harvesting logs for lumber on a small scale, building with materials from their own woodlot, or purchasing a sawmill, this course will provide an overview of methods and options for small scale sustainable harvesting and wood production. The bulk of the course […]
A two-day introduction to square rule timber framing Perfect for students with a budding interest in timber framing, this course will cover the basics through a hands-on building project. We'll introduce basic layout concepts and terminology, and every student will experience cutting joinery. Each student will make their own mailbox post to take home. Read […]
Designed for students who have taken Blacksmithing I & II, this two-day class teaches new skills such as forge brazing and ornate punch & chisel work. Supervised time in the shop with a myriad of tools will provide students the space to create additional projects. Advanced class (must have completed Blacksmithing I and II). […]
Learn traditional mortise and tenon joinery techniques and fundamental design skills to apply to your own project. Yestermorrow's four-week Timber Framing Certificate Program is designed for those looking to jumpstart their craft to pursue a career in timber framing, build a dream home, or simply learn more about this historic building style. Through workshop time, […]