Wendell Castle Workshop — Local services in Town of Wheatland

This was my first class at Wendell Castle Workshop and the first time I have heard of Wendell Castle. But this very likely will just be my first class; probably not my last.

The Japanese Hand Plane 1 class was great! Ken, the Director at Wendell Castle Workshop, and Ethan the Assistant were so welcoming and kind. They made sure we were fed, had what we needed and that we had a very generous, clean and well-equipped workspace to learn from. And, the instructor, Andrew, was superior.

The class was large and open, with plenty of workspace. There was a mix of high-end hand tools for use at each station and many modern and restored-antique tools around the building, that are in use today. There were examples and pictures of Mr Castle's work for inspiration - and they were inspiring!

In the class itself, the instructor, Andrew clearly has a deep and wide knowledge of the subject, which he is passionate about! Often, he would go on tangents, which actually added such richness and fullness to the class. He really has the ability to tailor lessons to people with very differing experience levels in a meaningful and encouraging way. I learned a ton! He gave a lot of individual attention to each of the students and was great at guiding us through the process - which he had simplified and made very accessible. If you know anything about Japanese hand tools, you know that's not always the case. Very impressive! He's a furniture maker and Japanese hand tool evangelist by trade, but he's a very talented teacher and a nice guy. It was a great class!

I had not heard of Wendell Castle before this class, but it introduced me to his work, a little bit about his methods and the legacy he left behind. He was an artist who had the ability to bring fantasy to life in otherworldly, organic "sculpture-furniture" that blur the lines between home furnishings and high art. Learning in the space was fun and inspiring. It was such a great experience.

There is a part 2 of the class in November at Wendell Castle and I'm looking forward to returning. If you're on the fence at all about taking a class at Wendell Castle Workshop... do give it a try. It is such a great value for money and not something you...

As someone whose woodworking skills could generously be described as “earnest but entirely unpracticed,” I wasn’t sure that I was the right audience for this course. As it turned out, everyone from the dabblist to the hobbyist to the practitioner derived immense value from the course. Andrew is a wonderful teacher; ardent, deeply knowledgeable, and, thankfully for me, endlessly patient. A zen master helping a clumsy novice try to figure out how to hold a hammer. Despite my best efforts to mangle my blade (he didn’t see that time it dropped), he never once rolled his eyes (at least not where I could see). He explained not just the “how,” but the “why” behind the techniques, from hammering the blade to searching for straight, he demonstrated how to find precision from the perfectly imperfect. His love for the craft was infectious; he conveyed the meaning of every wood shaving, the cultural history of the craft, and the passion and impetus to sustain it. The experience cultivated a sense of camaraderie among the entire class. Within a day this group of strangers was trading tips and techniques as colleagues would – the pros and the hobbyists alike. There was no ego in the room — just mutual respect, some laughs, and a shared appreciation for the quiet, meditative joy of taking a whisper-thin shaving off a piece of timber. When someone achieved a truly translucent curl, we celebrated their success as our own — which is either a testament to the strength of the community Andrew built, or a sign we’d all become mildly unhinged from joy and sawdust. If you have even a passing interest in woodworking, or simply enjoy humbling yourself in front of a beautifully made piece of steel and wood, this workshop is a must. Just be prepared to leave with sore arms, a full heart, and a sudden urge to sell all your...

This past weekend’s bladesmithing class was excellent! The small class size and high quality equipment created a great environment for learning. The instructor, Zach Tarbell, provided step by step instructions and demonstrations ensuring that every student ended up with an amazing knife at the end of class. Additionally, the casual conversations with Zach and Wendell Castle Workshop director Ken Page provided many additional nuggets of knowledge above and beyond the class objectives.

I wholeheartedly recommend WCW to craftsperson’s of all abilities. There is something for everyone to learn here. I will certainly take more classes in the future. The difficult part will be...