Steam Bending Courses

Explore our steam bending courses…

Team using the steam bending jig to make Sussex MirrorChisels ready to be sharpened in the workshop

Tool sharpening and steam bending

2-DAY COURSE
£440

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Hands fixing coat pegsSteam bent hairpin coat hook

Make your own ‘Hairpin’ coat hook

3-DAY COURSE
£780

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Hands chiselling steam bent timberSteam bent Sussex Mirror

Make your own ‘Sussex Mirror’

5-DAY COURSE
£1,340

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“The course is far more than making a Sussex Mirror and it was a joy to work with the team of exceptional craftsmen.”

Paul M

Tool sharpening and steam bending course

2-DAY COURSE

Course Outline

Learn how to professionally sharpen your hand tools as outlined in our 1-day course. We will also introduce you to the art of steam bending.

We will take you through each step from timber selection and preparation to bending demonstrations and getting you physically involved in the process.

Sharpening:

  • Dismantling and cleaning your tools
  • Flattening and fine tuning the castings and components
  • Grinding a honing angle in preparation for the final sharpening
  • Sharpening a razor edge ready to shave with
  • Testing the tools at the bench
Chisels ready to be sharpened in the workshop

Steam bending:

  • Workshop induction
  • Timber theory and selection
  • Machining the timber blanks in preparation for steam bending
  • Soaking the blanks
  • Preparing the steamer and steaming the blanks
  • Bending the blanks into various pre-designed forms
  • Drying the bent components

Next available dates:
Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th August 2024
9.30am – 4.30pm daily (including lunch break)

Price: £440
(A 50% deposit of £220 is required to book your place)

BOOK NOW

Please read our Terms & Conditions

Make your own ‘Hairpin’ coat hook course

3-DAY COURSE

Course Outline

Come and join us in making your own ‘Hairpin’ coat hook to take away with you. Steam bending is at the heart of creating this piece and we will take you through all the stages involved from the theory, preparation, and process. You will be actively involved with every step of the activity, working alongside Edward and his professional team. You will also learn hand shaping, sanding, finishing, and oiling, all before you take your finished coat hook home at the end of the course. Alongside this we will also teach you to how to professionally sharpen your hand tools as outlined under our 1-day course. Please feel free to bring any number of your tools for sharpening.

Steam bent hairpin coat hook

Sharpening:

  • Dismantling and cleaning your tools
  • Flattening and fine tuning the castings and components
  • Grinding a honing angle in preparation for the final sharpening
  • Sharpening a razor edge ready to shave with
  • Testing the tools at the bench

Steam bending:

  • Workshop induction
  • Timber theory and selection
  • Machining the timber blanks in preparation for steam bending
  • Soaking the blanks
  • Preparing the steamer and steaming the blanks
  • Bending the blanks into various pre-designed form
  • Drying the bent components

Making:

  • Marking out, cutting, and drilling the frame
  • Sanding the frame ready for oiling
  • Oiling the frame
  • Gluing and wedging the hooks into the frame
  • Wrapping the coat hook for the journey home

Next available dates:
Monday 5th to Wednesday 7th August 2024
9.30am – 4.30pm daily (including lunch break)

Price: £780 
(A 50% deposit of £390 is required to book your place)

BOOK NOW

Please read our Terms & Conditions

Make your own ‘Sussex Mirror’ course

5-DAY COURSE

Course Outline

Come and join Edward and his team and make your own Sussex Mirror. With demonstrations, full instruction, and guidance throughout the week you will learn, and experience steam bending timber, spokeshaving and shaping, sanding, and refining, oiling, and finishing. You can also choose whether to make your mirror in ash or oak timber. Your mirror will be complete and ready to take home at the end of the week.

Alongside this you will also be shown how to professionally sharpen your hand tools as outlined under our 1-day course. Please feel free to bring any number of your tools for sharpening. Read our blog that outlines one of our ‘make your own Sussex Mirror’ courses in full detail.

Sharpening:

  • Dismantling and cleaning your tools
  • Flattening and fine tuning the castings and components
  • Grinding a honing angle in preparation for the final sharpening
  • Sharpening a razor edge ready to shave with
  • Testing the tools at the bench

Steam bending:

  • Workshop induction
  • Timber theory and selection
  • Machining the timber blanks in preparation for steam bending
  • Soaking the blanks
  • Preparing the steamer and steaming the blanks
  • Bending the blanks into various pre-designed forms including the Sussex Mirror
  • Drying the bent components

Making:

  • Flattening the frame
  • Marking out the frame for the various pegs, joinery, and end cuts
  • Using a Festool domino machine
  • Using a handheld router to apply rounds onto the frame
  • Spokeshaving some rounds that can’t be done by machine
  • Using a Shaper Origin handheld CNC machine to cut out the mirror back panel
  • Gluing and wedging the hooks into the frame
  • Sanding and oiling the frame
  • Wrapping it for the journey home

Next available dates:
Monday 5th to Friday 9th August 2024
9.30am – 4.30pm daily (including lunch break)

Price: £1,340
(A deposit of £670 is required to book your place)

BOOK NOW

Please read our Terms & Conditions

Steam bending course: Steam bending steamer in the workshop
Steam bending course: Using a router to shape the steam bent timber
Steam bending course: A shaper tool on a workbench
Steam bending course: Hands chiselling steam bent timber
Steam bending course: Team using the steam bending jig to make Sussex Mirror
Steam bending course: Steam bent timber in the drying rack

Further useful information about our courses

You will benefit from:

  • Working alongside Edward and his professional team.
  • Asking any questions relating to making, materials and techniques.
  • Introductions and demonstrations. 
  • Assistance from our professional cabinet makers.

We will provide:

  • All the tools and materials you need for your chosen project. 
  • Appropriate PPE ie masks, goggles and ear defenders.
  • Complementary tea and coffee throughout the course.
  • … and some good company!

What you need to bring:

  • Your own packed lunch as we are in a remote location.
  • Sensible clothing and footwear to get dusty and oily. 
  • Any hand tools you would like to sharpen.
  • As much dexterity as you can muster!

Terms and Conditions

We will run each course with a minimum of two participants. If for any reason, we cannot run the course an alternative date will be offered and / or a full refund will be given. All participants must be 18 years and over.

A 50% deposit is payable to secure your place on a course. The deposit is fully refundable or transferable up to 60 days before the beginning of the course.

If you cancel less than 60 days before the start of the course the deposit is not refundable.

The balance for the course is payable in full 30 days before it starts.

PLEASE NOTE: If the course you would like to attend is fully booked, please contact us and we will add your name to the waiting list. If a place subsequently becomes available, we will let you know. This will be offered on a strictly first-come-first-served basis in the order you were added to the list.

Any further questions?

If you would like to ask any further questions about our courses, please contact us or call us 01243 696606 and we will be happy to help.

Please check back regularly for information on new courses and updates.