Build It

If you’ve ever spent a Saturday afternoon watching PBS’s woodworking and construction gurus turn piles of lumber into tasteful pieces of furniture, you’ve probably thought one of two things: Those guys make it look way too easy, or, sure, they can make it look easy because they have all the right equipment. Well, say hello to WNC’s answer to Norm Abram. A woodworker of 35 years, Larry Hyman is opening DIY Woodworking Shop in downtown Asheville for pros and average Joes alike. The place, which is slated to open in September, will be stocked with an arsenal of equipment. For $60, you can log four hours on all the routers, saws, planers, jigs, and spraying equipment you’ll need to complete a project. And for bigger tasks, Hyman will rent longer blocks of time at reduced rates. “This is going to be a place where people of all skill levels will feel comfortable,” says Hyman, who’s planning to host classes at the facility. The subjects will take students far beyond the days of building birdhouses in shop class to include basic and advanced woodworking, remodeling, home repairs, and plumbing. Hyman even has a teacher who will coordinate women-only classes. So pull that half-finished bookshelf out of your garage; there are no more excuses for not getting it done. Visit diywoodworkingshop.com for more information.

Classes

Upholstery As Hank Hill once proudly said, “It’s not sewing, it’s upholstery.” Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and Haywood Community College can teach you how to add new life to a piece of furniture. Haywood Community College, Clyde; September-January; $175; (828) 468-6422; www.haywood.edu A-B Tech, Asheville; Mondays, September 13-November 15, 6-9 p.m.; Tuesdays, September 14-November 16, 6-9 p.m.; Wednesdays, September 15-November 17, 6-9 p.m.; $90; (828) 254-1921, ext. 369; www.abtech.edu Furniture Making Brasstown September 26-October 1 Spend a week learning to make an end table with a drawer. This session is for novice-level woodworkers who are already comfortable using a table saw. John C. Campbell Folk School, 1 Folk School Rd.; $474; 1-( 800) 365-5724; www.folkschool.org Shop Skills Asheville Asheville Hardware can turn you into a woodworking machine with classes including Fundamentals of Woodworking, Introduction to Cabinet Making, and the popular wood-turning sessions. Sign up now for a workbench building class, January 15, taught by woodworker Gregory Paolini, who also offers one-on-one and private group classes through his design studio (www.gregorypaolini.com). Asheville Hardware, 10 Buxton Ave.; (828) 252-8088; www.ashevillehardware.com