Charlie Kocourek

Woodworker, Artist, and Teacher

Charlie Kocourek is a woodworker, an artist, and a teacher with a broad range of skills. He teaches woodworking classes in the Twin Cities area and at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Maine. He’s also a contributing editor for the Woodworker’s Guild of America where he writes articles and produces woodworking how-to videos. Charlie’s been featured on the PBS show American Woodshop, and written articles for Popular Woodworking Magazine and for the Marquetry Society’s Marquetarian Magazine. He’s also known for designing an adjustable height workbench called the Jack Bench. Charlie’s websites are Jack-Bench.com and CharlieKocourek.com.

Charlie’s 2023

Seminars included with general admission

Friday 12:30 - 1:30 Wood Finishing Fundamentals

In this class you will learn all of the most important things that you need to know about wood finishing. Charlie will discuss why we finish wood, how to prepare the surface, and various application methods. He will also demystify the process of selecting which finish to use and why. Finally, you will learn how to apply two very beautiful and very easy wood finishes.

  • Why Finish Wood
  • It Starts with a Vision
  • Importance of Lumber Selection
  • Preparation is Key
  • The Three Most Important Safety Items When Finishing Wood
  • Demystifying Finish Product Selection
  • Oil vs Film Finishes
  • Why Shellac and Lacquer are in a Category All Their Own
  • Oil/Varnish Blends
  • Hard Wax Oils
  • Oil Based Varnish vs Water Borne Varnish
  • Which Brush to Use and When
  • Two Very Good and Easy Wood Finishes!
Friday 2:30 - 3:30 Veneering Made Easy
Knowing how to work with veneer will expand the possibilities that you do with your projects.  In fact, you can do things with veneer that would be impossible with solid wood.  Not only that, but getting started with veneering is very inexpensive. In this class you will learn everything you need to know to get started working with veneer.
  • What is Veneer
  • Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Where to Buy
  • Cutting Veneer
  • Assembling
  • The Best Veneering Substrates
  • About Veneer Glue
  • Beauty of Bookmatching
  • Using a Vacuum Press
  • Pressing Veneer Without a Vacuum Press
Friday 4:30 - 5:30 Wood Finishing Tips & Tricks
In this class Charlie will reveal his best wood finishing tips and tricks.  You will learn why shellac is a favorite among professional woodworkers, various ways to enhance the figure in wood, the proper way to apply wax, and how to get amazing results with water borne finishes.  Charlie will also show you how to get a crazy cool finish on figured wood.
  • The Beauty of Shellac
  • Enhance the Figure with Oil
  • Amazing Results with Water Borne Finishes
  • Pop the Texture With a Glaze
  • Three Ways to Preserve Unused Finishes
  • Easy Way to Remove Dried Glue
  • Why and How to Finish the Finish
  • Rattle Can Finishes
  • A Simple Trick to Apply Wax
  • What You Need to Know About Brushes
  • Crazy Cool Maple Finish
Saturday 11:30 - 12:30 Wood Finishing Fundamentals

In this class you will learn all of the most important things that you need to know about wood finishing. Charlie will discuss why we finish wood, how to prepare the surface, and various application methods. He will also demystify the process of selecting which finish to use and why. Finally, you will learn how to apply two very beautiful and very easy wood finishes.

  • Why Finish Wood
  • It Starts with a Vision
  • Importance of Lumber Selection
  • Preparation is Key
  • The Three Most Important Safety Items When Finishing Wood
  • Demystifying Finish Product Selection
  • Oil vs Film Finishes
  • Why Shellac and Lacquer are in a Category All Their Own
  • Oil/Varnish Blends
  • Hard Wax Oils
  • Oil Based Varnish vs Water Borne Varnish
  • Which Brush to Use and When
  • Two Very Good and Easy Wood Finishes!
Saturday 1:30 - 2:30 Veneering Made Easy
Knowing how to work with veneer will expand the possibilities that you do with your projects.  In fact, you can do things with veneer that would be impossible with solid wood.  Not only that, but getting started with veneering is very inexpensive. In this class you will learn everything you need to know to get started working with veneer.
  • What is Veneer
  • Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Where to Buy
  • Cutting Veneer
  • Assembling
  • The Best Veneering Substrates
  • About Veneer Glue
  • Beauty of Bookmatching
  • Using a Vacuum Press
  • Pressing Veneer Without a Vacuum Press
Saturday 3:30 - 4:30 Wood Finishing Tips & Tricks
In this class Charlie will reveal his best wood finishing tips and tricks.  You will learn why shellac is a favorite among professional woodworkers, various ways to enhance the figure in wood, the proper way to apply wax, and how to get amazing results with water borne finishes.  Charlie will also show you how to get a crazy cool finish on figured wood.
  • The Beauty of Shellac
  • Enhance the Figure with Oil
  • Amazing Results with Water Borne Finishes
  • Pop the Texture With a Glaze
  • Three Ways to Preserve Unused Finishes
  • Easy Way to Remove Dried Glue
  • Why and How to Finish the Finish
  • Rattle Can Finishes
  • A Simple Trick to Apply Wax
  • What You Need to Know About Brushes
  • Crazy Cool Maple Finish
Sunday 10:30 - 11:30 Wood Finishing Fundamentals

In this class you will learn all of the most important things that you need to know about wood finishing. Charlie will discuss why we finish wood, how to prepare the surface, and various application methods. He will also demystify the process of selecting which finish to use and why. Finally, you will learn how to apply two very beautiful and very easy wood finishes.

  • Why Finish Wood
  • It Starts with a Vision
  • Importance of Lumber Selection
  • Preparation is Key
  • The Three Most Important Safety Items When Finishing Wood
  • Demystifying Finish Product Selection
  • Oil vs Film Finishes
  • Why Shellac and Lacquer are in a Category All Their Own
  • Oil/Varnish Blends
  • Hard Wax Oils
  • Oil Based Varnish vs Water Borne Varnish
  • Which Brush to Use and When
  • Two Very Good and Easy Wood Finishes!
Sunday 12:00 - 1:00 Veneering Made Easy
Knowing how to work with veneer will expand the possibilities that you do with your projects.  In fact, you can do things with veneer that would be impossible with solid wood.  Not only that, but getting started with veneering is very inexpensive. In this class you will learn everything you need to know to get started working with veneer.
  • What is Veneer
  • Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Where to Buy
  • Cutting Veneer
  • Assembling
  • The Best Veneering Substrates
  • About Veneer Glue
  • Beauty of Bookmatching
  • Using a Vacuum Press
  • Pressing Veneer Without a Vacuum Press
Sunday 1:15 - 2:15 Wood Finishing Tips & Tricks
In this class Charlie will reveal his best wood finishing tips and tricks.  You will learn why shellac is a favorite among professional woodworkers, various ways to enhance the figure in wood, the proper way to apply wax, and how to get amazing results with water borne finishes.  Charlie will also show you how to get a crazy cool finish on figured wood.
  • The Beauty of Shellac
  • Enhance the Figure with Oil
  • Amazing Results with Water Borne Finishes
  • Pop the Texture With a Glaze
  • Three Ways to Preserve Unused Finishes
  • Easy Way to Remove Dried Glue
  • Why and How to Finish the Finish
  • Rattle Can Finishes
  • A Simple Trick to Apply Wax
  • What You Need to Know About Brushes
  • Crazy Cool Maple Finish