Classes & apprenticeships

School of Window Craft

Intro to Sash Making

Learn the basic skillsets necessary to build an authentic turn of the century window sash in five days. Course includes basic mortise and tenon screen frames, offset mortise and tenon storm windows, cope and stick joinery casement sash, double hung sash and divided line sash.

San Antonio: August 26-30

Tampa: September 23-27

Objective

Understand the processes and tools necessary to replicate a true divided lite window sash. Students will complete multiple projects throughout the course, beginning with very basic concepts, adding new skills each day until the student can make a complex divided lite window sash.

Tools & Materials

Students are welcome and encouraged to bring for themselves the following hand tools: A measuring tape without fractions printed on the blade, pencil, utility knife, speed square, chisel, Japanese pull saw, nail pouch.

Cost

$1500. A non refundable deposit of $500 will hold your spot. Balance due 7 days before class begins. If class is canceled by WWM, deposit will be cheerfully refunded.

Time Commitment

Monday through Friday, from 8:30AM–4:30PM

Course Agenda

Screen Frame

Llearn the tools and procedures needed to turn rough lumber into a basic window screen frame using mortise and tenon joinery.

  1. Identify rough lumber sizes
  2. Basic millwork to make blanks
    • Circular saw
    • Jointer
    • Planer
    • Table saw
    • Chop saw
  3. Basic mortise and tenon joint
    • Hollow chisel Mortiser
    • Dedicated tenoning table saw
      • Dado blade
      • Sled
    • Adjustment tools
      • Pull saw
      • Chisel
      • Sanding block
  4. Basic measurement layout

Storm Window Frame

How to add a glazing rabbet to a basic screen frame to allow a piece of glass to be installed.

  1. Reinforce lessons from day 1
  2. Methods to make glazing rabbets
    • Router Table
    • Dedicated Table Saw
      • Dado Blade
      • Featherboard
      • Auxilary fence
    • Jointer
  3. Mortise and tenon joint with offset shoulders.
    • Dedicated table saw
      • Dado Blade
      • Sled

Casement Sash

How to add decorative profile to a storm window sash.

  1. Reinforce lessons from days 1 & 2
  2. Introduce “Sash Factory” router table
    • Make a decorative profile.
    • Make glazing rabbet
    • Make the “coped cut” profile.
  3. Make a “relish” with a drill press

Double Hung Window Sash

How to fashion and add meeting rails to a sash. 

  1. Reinforce lessons days 1-3
  2. Make a meeting rails for top and bottom sash
    • Make double tenons using a table saw with a vertical tenoning jig
    • Make adjustments for top sash meeting rail assembly
  3. Make pulley troughs
    • Router table set up
    • Handheld set up

Divided Lite Window Sash

How to fashion and add muntins to create a divided lite window sash.

  1. Reinforce lessons from days 1-4
  2. Use a calculator to lay out muntins
    • Converting fractions to decimals and vise versa
    • Calculate proper muntin spacing
  3. Mill small parts safely 

Total Wood Window Makeover

Learn the basic skillsets needed to restore all the elements of an historic wood window in five days. Course includes the Mechanical Makeover, the Sash Makeover and Frame Makeover.

Uvalde, Texas: June 10-14

Brandon, Florida: July 12-19

Objective

Understand the tools, procedures and order of operations necessary to complete a Total Window Makeover on an historic wood double hung window in five days. Students will engage with actual double hung windows from initial disassembly and finish removal to the final, painting, assembly and tuning.

Tools & Materials Provided

Students are welcome and encouraged to bring for themselves the following hand tools: Respirator, gloves. 

Cost

$1500. A non refundable deposit of $500 will hold your spot. Balance due 7 days before class begins. If class is canceled by WWM, deposit will be refunded.

Time Commitment

Monday through Friday, from 8:30AM–4:30PM

Course Agenda

Mechanical Makeover

Learn the basics of double hung window function, mechanics and how to set up a window for future work.

  1. Take a window apart and put it back together.
  2. Replace ropes and reattach weights.
  3. Make and replace parting beads.
  4. Basic initial tuning and set up for refinishing. 
  5. Board up a window with plywood. 

Sash Makeover

Learn how to strip, repair, prime and reglaze a window sash.

  1. Safely remove failing paint finishes. 
  2. Remove the glazing compound and glass. 
  3. Make minor wood and epoxy repairs.
  4. Basic paint prep, blemish control and priming.
  5. Clean and cut glass.
  6. Reinstall glass into sash.

Frame Makeover

Learn how to strip, repair, prep and prime window frame jamb and exterior casings.

  1. Basic frame construction and parts.
  2. Safely remove failing paint finishes.
  3. Intro to making basic sills, jamb legs, casings, stops. 
  4. Basic paint prep, blemish control and priming.

Frame Makeover Part 2

Learn how to prepare and apply finishes to a window jamb and casings and sash interior.

  1. Continued basic paint prep and blemish control.
  2. Finish paint coat on interior and exterior.
  3. Sash interior paint prep and top coat.
  4. Hardware restoration and protection.

Mechanical Makeover Part 2

Learn how to apply final paint coatings, assemble and fine tune window.

  1. Paint exterior sash top coat. 
  2. Final sash install and tuning. 
  3. Install and adjust locking and lifting hardware.
  4. Install stops and parting beads.

Historic Homes Workshop July 12-19, 2024

The Best in Hands On Learning:

Since 2009 Wood Window Makeover has been hosting workshops aimed at educating and empowering the historic house community. Join us this summer in Brandon, Florida as professionals and participants gather from across the country to unify and empower the Window Craft community in America.

Friday, July 12 6pm to 9pm: Exciting kick off party, meet and greet. Food and drinks provided. Free for all participants at any level.

Bundle Saturday and Sunday and pay only $250 for both days.

Several Opportunities to Connect and Learn. Click on a day below:

Saturday
Saturday July 13: Professionally guided Mechanical Makeover day. A risk free and hands on day of learning how to take a double hung window apart, rerope it and put it back together again. By the end of the day, everyone will have learned about all the tools needed and procedures to follow, and will have gained the confidence necessary to get a double hung window working on their own.
 

Sunday July 14: Professionally guided Sash Makeover and Frame Makeover day. Another risk free and hands of day of learning some of the MicroSkills vital to Window Craft such as how to safely and effectively remove old paint finishes and prep for new ones, how to cut glass and reglaze, how to use epoxy to make common wood repairs as well some of the basics of Window Craft carpentry. By the end of the day, everyone will have learned about the tools needed and procedures to accomplish many common Window Craft tasks on their own.

MicroSkills Workshop Description
Cost: $150

Sponsor a Class / Trainee

Apprenticeship Program

Long-term program for those seeking to master the movements of Window Craft and gain access to the historic house community at large.

Objective

Window Craft is an optimal blend of joinery, carpentry and finishing.  The apprenticeship gives maximum exposure to these three fundamental old house skills in a way that will serve the apprentice a lifetime.

The apprenticeship is a minimum year long.  

Complete the form below, and we’ll send you more information on what you can expect from our apprenticeship program.

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Men working on historic window sash
Working on window sashes as part of the Total Window Makeover Course