About the school
Put together by woodworkers, one part at a time.
Austin School of Furniture is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit woodworking and furniture school in Austin, Texas. It began with one woodworker’s question, and a core group of furniture makers came together to answer it.
Exploded view
How the school was put together.
Every bench in our shop starts as a drawing and a list of parts. So did the school. Read down the list and each part goes into place.
Tap a letter to read its part.
- AThe legs · where it stands
A grandfather’s woodshop in Kansas.
Our founder, Austin Waldo, got his passion for woodworking by hanging around his grandfather’s woodshop while growing up in Kansas. Every bench starts on its legs, and that shop is where this one starts.
- BThe stretcher · what ties it together
Classes, craftspeople and a club.
Over the years he stayed an avid hobbyist and got involved in the woodworking industry: taking classes, managing social media for local craftspeople, and running a successful Meetup group, the Woodworking Social Club.
Woodworkers, together after hours - CThe aprons · the frame
2017: the demand was there. The question was how.
In 2017, Austin recognized that the demand was high for more woodworking education in the Austin area. The question was how to make it work as a business. So he set out to find the best furniture makers, investors and industry partners to help plan, open and run such a school.
- DThe top · where the work happens
A core group of makers came together.
Enthusiastic furniture makers joined him, and the Austin School of Furniture was born. Among them:
- Philip Morley maker
- Shota Yamaguchi maker
- Aaron Fox maker
- Leslie Webb maker
- EThe vise · what holds it steady
Now a nonprofit, run for the community.
Today the school is the Austin School of Furniture Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. A 7-person Board of Directors manages donations, which help fund scholarships, lower class costs and living wages for teachers and staff.
- FDrawn in dashes · still to build
A permanent home for Austin’s woodworkers.
The last part isn’t built yet. We’re raising money to buy a permanent property for the school, so the craft has a lasting home in Austin. Every part above is why it’s worth building.
The school today
How the shop works now.
Traditional craft, modern education. Our classes run from short community classes to multi-week courses, taught by local instructors and visiting guest teachers.
- 01
Community Classes
Beginner classes taught by volunteers. Small class sizes, a limited number of tools, and easy projects.
from $60Owl Nesting Box - 02
Fundamentals of Woodworking
The launching point into our sequential courses. You build a Japanese toolbox and Krenov-style sawhorses.
From $850Daytime or Tuesdays - 03
Classes, joint to rocker
From Hand Cut Dovetails and Marquetry to a Modern Rocker and Curved Stairways.
$525Hand Cut Dovetails - 04
Private Classes
Your project, your pace, for one, two or three students. Tools and design included, with a 4-hour minimum.
From $100an hour, 1 student
Everyone is welcome, whatever your skill level or background.
Students must be 18 or older.
Austin School of Furniture Foundation · 501(c)(3)
Where a gift goes.
Donations are managed by our nonprofit Board of Directors. They support a small, local school and the community of aspiring woodworkers it serves.
Tax ID 92-2744783
- 01Scholarships
- 02Lower class costs
- 03Living wages for teachers and staff
- 04Operating expenses
- 05Community events
- 06Supporting a small, local school
- 07 · part FBuying a permanent property for the school
Who runs the shop
The people at the bench now.
Three of the people you’ll meet when you visit. Every instructor and guest teacher has their own page, with the classes they teach.
See the shop for yourself.
1600 W Stassney Lane, Austin, TX 78745Tours by appointment · call 361-857-9228
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