Q1. What is The Woodworkers Club?
Q2. What does The Woodworkers Club membership woodworking shop offer?
Q3.  How can I use The Woodworkers Club membership woodworking shop?
Q4.  How much woodworking experience do I need to join The Woodworkers Club?
Q5.  What if I need help with my project or the equipment?
Q6.  What happens when I join or purchase shop access?
Q7.  Who can purchase supplies in the store at The Woodworkers Club?

Q1.  What is The Woodworkers Club?
A.  The Woodworkers Club is a unique facility in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC dedicated to woodworking enthusiasts of all levels.  There are three components of The Woodworkers Club: a membership woodworking shop, a retail woodworking store, and a woodworking education center. 
 

Q2. What does The Woodworkers Club membership woodworking shop offer?
A.  The shop offers access to commercial-grade woodworking tools, room and workbenches to do your woodworking, assistance in completing your project, and storage for projects while you are working on them.  Our members have access to the state-of-the-art tools including the ultra-safe SAWSTOP table saw which will prevent loss of limbs.
 

Q3. How can I use The Woodworkers Club membership woodworking shop?
A. There are a number of different options for using the shop.   One membership allows access to the shop whenever it is open (70 hours a week).   The next level down membership only allows access to those folks available mid-day during the week.  The majority of these members are stay-at-home parents of school-aged children or retirees.   The one-month access card is usually purchased by woodworkers who have one small project to complete and do not intend to do more woodworking after this time.  The 10-hour block access card is for folks with a very small project to complete or those with their own woodshops at home but who would like to occasionally use some of the specialized tools found at The Woodworkers Club. 
 

Q4. How much woodworking experience do I need to join The Woodworkers Club?
A. Anyone with any skill level in woodworking, including brand-new woodworkers, can join and complete projects at The Woodworkers Club.  It is important for new woodworkers and those who have not done any woodworking for a long time to take the introductory classes.  These classes are specially designed to instruct students on the most commonly used woodworking tools and train them in basic use of these tools.  For example, the Fundamentals of Woodworking class has been designed so that students use 85% of the machines in the woodshop.
 

Q5.  What if I need help with my project or the equipment?
A. We have staff available at all times to help you with your project.  We hope you will not hesitate to ask for assistance.  The common types of questions that members ask employees is guidance in making an unfamiliar cut on one of the machines, design advice (for example, what type of joint could be used or what is the standard length of a coffee table leg?), finishing advice, or even the choice of lumber for your project.  If you need to become familiar with a new piece of equipment, our shop employees will help you learn the safe, proper way to use it.  Training takes place on a one-on-one basis, so you can understand the equipment fully.  All of our shop employees are expert woodworkers.  Look here for projects our members have made.
 

Q6.  What happens when I join or purchase shop access?
A.  When you first join the shop, you will be requested to read the shop access rules and the shop safety manual.  You may take as long as you wish to read this manual although you may not remove it from the building.  You will be asked to sign a document acknowledging that you have read this manual and understand the important safety factors of using large power tools.  You will then be "checked out" on the tools.  This frequently takes upwards of 2 hours and involves a walk-through of all the tools in the shop, one-on-one with an instructor.  At each tool, you will be shown how to operate the tool and the safest way to use the tool.  You will demonstrate your knowledge of the tool and you and the instructor will initial a sheet for each tool indicating that you are able to use that specific tool.  This "check out" should be scheduled ahead of time with the instructor to assure uninterrupted time.  After you have been "checked out" on the tools, you will be given the appropriate membership card.   When you arrive at the shop, you will be asked to sign in at the counter and to place your card on the rack so we can track shop usage and make sure that we schedule staff appropriately.
 

Q7.  Who can purchase supplies in the store at The Woodworkers Club?
A. The Woodworkers Club sells the complete line of Woodcraft products.  You'll find the most complete supply of lumber, hardware, tools (large power, small power, and hand tools) and finishing supplies available to you.   Anyone can purchase supplies.  If we do not have what you need in stock, we can usually get it in a few days.