Guild of Oregon Woodworkers

Guild Membership Survey

Data Presentation and Conclusions

Data Analysis Graphics Notes

• Data from the survey was grouped into interest areas.

• The Google Apps data presentation was not useful for a visual comparison of survey data due to varied x-axis scales.

• For this presentation, graphic scales have been normalized to a consistent scale between charts.

Focus on: Foundational Skills

[Computer-generated inlay (laminations)][Build a cross-cut sled for your table saw]

[Tool making][Drawing (by hand)]

[Coopering][Installing knife hinges]

[Steam Bending][Vacuum forming/vacuum bags]

[Metal working for woodworkers][Bent Laminations]

[SketchUp - Intermediate][Dovetails - jigs]

[Invisible repairs][Glue-ups]

[Dovetails - band saw and other methods][Working with gnarly wood (straightening_ planing)]

[Floating tenons][Drawer making_ with alternative joinery]

[Steam bending][Make alternative jigs & sleds for powered machines]

[Dovetails - freehand][Joinery overview]

[Reading wood][Purchasing hardwoods]

[SketchUp - Overview][Fundamentals of furniture design]

[Tricks and secrets of woodworking]

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Foundational

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Focus on: Power Tools

[Rebuilding old machines]

[Scroll saws (in-depth)]

[Overview of routers]

[Setting up shop & layouts]

[Drill press (in-depth)]

[Sanders and sanding (overview)]

[Dust collection]

[Sleds and jigs for table saws]

[Machine maintenance]

[Intermediate router ]

[Router jigs_ making and using]

[Table saws (in-depth)]

[Band saws (in-depth)]

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Power Tools

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Focus on: Hand Tools

[Sharpening carving tools]

[Sharpening turning tools]

[Build a wooden plane]

[Using a spokeshave]

[Card scraper sharpening]

[Sharpening spokeshaves_ router bits_ plane blades_ etc.]

[Using a card scraper]

[Overview of sharpening systems]

[Understanding hand planes]

[Sharpening chisels and plane irons]

[Measuring_ marking and layout]

[Using planes]

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Hand Tools

Series3Series2Series1

Focus on: Finishing

Finishing Series -

[Exterior finishes]

[Tools_ environment and lighting]

[Apply a waterborne (green) finish]

[Removing the finish and refinishing]

[Sealing and Shellac]

[What you should know before you mill your lumber]

[Coloring techniques]

[Apply a lacquer finish]

[Apply an oil finish]

[Finishing overview and safety]

[Preparing stock for finishing - sanding_ planning and scraping]

[Apply a varnish finish]

[Finishing the finish]

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Finishing

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Focus on: Decorative Arts

[Incise carving]

[Power carving]

[Scroll saw basics_ including what to buy]

[Knife/chip carving]

[European/relief/Asian carving]

[Double-bevel marquetry]

[Overview of carving (applications_ tools)]

[Scroll saw techniques]

[Sharpening carving tools]

[Overview of veneering]

[Inlay decorations]

Marquetry_ Scroll Sawing_ Inlays

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Decorative Arts

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Focus on: Turning

[bowls - intermediate]

[- Advanced topics]

[Sharpening tools]

[Introduction to Turning]

[bowls - beginners]

[Demonstrations by master turners]

[Basic - hands-on]

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Turning

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Focus on Furniture

[Hall mirror]

[Plant stand]

[Wall cabinet]

[Blanket chest with hand-cut dovetails]

[Bed]

[Lamp]

[Furniture restoration]

[Bookcase]

[Greene & Greene Furniture (parts 1 & 2)]

[Drawers - simple and sturdy]

[Intro to Drawer making]

[Fundamentals of Furniture Design]

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Furniture

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Focus on: Furniture (Tables)

[Trestle table]

[Live edge side table]

[Bill Bolstad- 4-way table class]

[Table with Bill Bolstad]

[Dining table]

[Hall table]

[Contemporary night stand with drawer]

[Overview of table making]

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Tables

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Focus on Furniture (Chairs)

[Cane a chair seat]

[Ladder back chair_ Brian Boggs style]

[Adirondack chair]

[Chidwick style rocking chair]

[Upholster a chair seat]

[Maloof style side chair]

[Dennis Loveland-Make a chair project]

[Stool]

[Bench seat]

[Maloof style rocking chair]

[Design and build a chair of your design]

[Overview of chair making]

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Chairs

FutureNowSeries1

Focus on: Famous Speakers (1/2)

[Craig Vandall Stevens_ Marquetry]

[Elia Bizzarri_ Windsor chairs]

[Dave Jeske_ Making hand tools]

[George Vondistra_ Techniques]

[George Walker_ Design]

[Al Breed_ traditional furniture_ carving]

[Garrett Hack_ Hand tools_ furniture]

[Chris Cochner_ Hand tools_ furniture]

[Ed Pirnik_ Furniture_ shop design_ workbenches]

[Frank Klausz_ Furniture_ craftsmanship]

[Glenn Huey_ Furniture making & Techniques]

[Aaron Radelow_ Marquetry]

[Brian Boggs_ Chair design]

[David Marks_ Furniture_ Turning]

[Gary Rogowski_ Design_ techniques_ furniture_ joinery]

[Christopher Schwarz_ Hand tools_ furniture]

[Chris Becksvoort_ Hand tooks_ Shaker furniture]

[Doug Stowe_ Boxes_ small cabinets]

[Andy Chidwick_ Chairs_ furniture design]

[Bob Flexner_ Finishing]

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Famous Speakers 1

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Famous Speakers (2/2)

[Mary May_ Carving]

[Mike Dunbar_ Windsor chairs]

[Paul Schurch_ Inlay_ Marquetry_ scroll saw]

[Peter Galbert_ Windsor chairs]

[Richard Grell_ Windsor chairs]

[Michael Fortune_ Design_ curvilinear furniture_ band saw]

[Mario Rodriquez_ Furniture_ craftsmanship]

[Peter Gedrys_ Finishing]

[Phil Lowe_ Traditional furniture]

[Teri Masachi_ Finishing]

[Jeff Miller_ Furniture and chairs]

[Jeff Jewitt_ Finishing]

[Roland Johnson_ Hand tools_ power tools_ finishing]

[Roy Underhill_ Hand tools]

[William Ng_ Shop techniques]

[John Economaki_ Making hand tools]

[Robert Lang_ Furniture making Techniques]

[Jim Tolpin_ Hand tools_ furniture]

[Will Neptune_ Furniture design & craftsmanship]

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Famous Speakers 2

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Focus on: Shop Furniture and Tools

[Hammer][Mallet - make a wooden mallet]

[Benchtop bench][Tool tote]

[Winding sticks][Saw bench][Try square]

[Wooden hand plane][Shop tool stands]

[Krenov style cabinet][Marking gauge]

[Tool chest][Shop storage cabinets]

[Veneering - making_ applying_ working with][Saw and saw sharpening]

[Workbench][Shop tips]

[Chisels][Wall tool cabinet]

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Shop Related

FutureNowSeries1

Focus on: Other Topics

[FSC wood]

[CNC - intermediate]

[CNC - beginning]

[Safety]

[CNC machines - an overview]

[Marketing and Selling your products on the internet]

[Harvesting and milling trees]

NEXT LEVEL (NL) Classes

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Other Topics

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Class Development Opportunities

• Of all survey respondents, 36 have never taken a Guild Class.

• Of these:– 8 rate themselves as advanced woodworkers;– 10 rate themselves as beginning woodworkers;– 13 rate themselves as intermediate woodworkers;– 3 rate themselves as professional woodworkers– 2 rate themselves as beginning woodworkers

Class Development Opportunities

• This chart depicts the class interests of those who have never taken a Guild class:

Client Development

Hand Tools`

Intro to Woodworking

Jewelry Boxes

Marketing

Sales

Carving

Inlay

Marquetry

Outdoor furniture

Musical Instruments

Artistic Objects

Turning

Finish Carpentry

Small Projects (toys, etc.)

Furniture

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

Series1

Conclusions

• Of the 106 survey respondents, 36 (33%) have never taken a Guild class.

• If the survey results are representative of Guild membership, roughly 121 members have never taken classes.

• No survey data was collected that offers insight into the decision not to take classes.

• A second survey targeted to the members who have never taken classes would help to understand that thought process and allow the Education committee to effectively respond.

Conclusions

• Among all respondents, furniture-making topics have the most interest. Classes that fall in this subject area should be offered during every class scheduling period (Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer).

• In the category of Foundational Skills, two interest areas stand out: “Tricks and Secrets” of woodworking, and Fundamentals of Furniture Design.

Conclusions

• In the Power Tools area, there is high interest in in-depth study of the Band Saw, Table Saw, and Router (and associated jigs and fixtures).

• In the Hand Tool area, the three high interest areas are in measuring, marking and layout, and understanding and using hand planes.

Conclusions

• Although strong interest exists for decorative arts classes (including veneering, marquetry and inlay) these are more specialized classes, and should probably be offered less frequently than some of the others called for in this survey.

• There is minor interest in turning (~10% of respondents). This interest might best be met through some sort of exchange program with one of the northwest Oregon turning clubs.

Conclusions

• Surprisingly, chair-making is substantially more interesting to respondents than table-making. A separate class series focused on chair-making might be viable based on survey data.

• No single speaker of national reputation garnered enough votes to consider bringing him to Portland. Many factors likely influenced these results, including the large number of choices, and the possibility that many of the selections are not known to the Guild membership.

Conclusions

• In the “Other Topics” area, the Next Level classes continue to draw considerable interest, both now and in the future. This series of classes should continue.

Special Thanks

• Bob Oswald spent considerable time developing many of the graphics used for this presentation. Thanks, Bob.