Wood Club

Learning woodworking skills is a never ending journey.  Wood is a natural and versatile material which is used extensively in NZ homes.  Learning to build a shelf, for example, provides you with skills and knowledge that can be applied to other home and garden projects. Practice grows confidence, and we aim to offer the opportunity to do just that with a Membership of the WomenzShed Wood Club.

Becoming a Member of the Wood Club allows you to practice skills you may have learnt from our workshops, as well as try new skills by working on individual projects under the guidance of an experienced supervisor.  We aim to support women who have already started their woodwork, DIY or trade journey and are looking to gain more experience.

Check out our FAQs (frequently asked questions) below if you wish to learn more.

Numbers are limited so if you’re keen to secure your place, please sign up sooner rather than later.

What does Membership of Wood Club give you?

Membership of the Wood Club gives you access to the tools and machinery in the extensive workshop, and the opportunity to learn how to use these effectively and safely in a supportive environment.  

How does Wood Club differ from Community Shed or similar ‘maker spaces’?

Community sheds and other maker spaces usually require their Members to contribute some of their time to help run and maintain the service and facilities which helps to keep their Membership costs down.  At WomenzShed, our supervisors cover these responsibilities instead.  In addition, learning is predominantly passive at community sheds whereas our supervisors actively guide your learning.

How much does Membership cost?

Membership costs from just $20 per 2.5 hour session (minimum 5 week booking) or you can pay $150 per term (usually 10 weeks long, approximately in line with schools). 

What does the fee cover?

The membership fee covers supervising and administration costs as well as workshop rental, tools and machinery maintenance and use of consumables.*  Numbers will initially be limited to 10.

What can I bring in to work on?

Members can bring in their projects to work on.  Examples include shelves, chopping boards, drawers to fix, boxes, stools, etc.  The limiting factor is that projects must be suitable for the space available but do also consider its complexity.  A set of drawers, for example, is tricky even for an experienced woodworker so if you’re relatively new to woodworking, starting with something simple is the best way to go.

What if I don’t have anything to work on?

We are working on providing ideas for projects if you don’t feel ready to ‘have a go’ at creating your own.  

Can I bring reclaimed or treated wood to work on?

Yes to reclaimed. No to treated.  We use metal detectors for checking wood for fixings which could damage workshop equipment but our extraction system is not designed to deal with the dangers posed by cutting or sanding treated wood.

Why are numbers limited?

We want our Members to feel they get value for money.  By limiting the number of people who use the space, we can ensure there is the time to provide meaningful support to everyone and that machines are available to use.  It also creates a safer environment.

Do I have to attend every session?

No. You pay for your chosen time period but if you can’t make any days, you are not obliged to come in. 

When is it open?

We are open on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8.30 pm.  You choose your start time and end time during those hours.

Are there any requirements for becoming a Member?

Apart from a wanting to work with wood, you must have completed an ‘Introductory’ wood workshop. This helps us maintain a safer working environment.

I think I would prefer to join the Community Shed. Can I do that instead?

Yes! We are affiliated with Auckland Central Community Shed who take on both women and men (particularly retirees) though they usually require you to have enough relevant skills to work reasonably independently.

Is there anything else I need to know? 

We’ve got a few terms and conditions which you have to agree to!  Don’t worry though, it’s not like the ones you get when you sign up to a search engine.  We simply want everyone to feel responsible for a safe and healthy environment.

* consumables only include PVA and sandpaper