It takes a community to bring a vision to life!
About The Woodshop
Located in the heart of SoHo, the Woodshop has been providing woodworkers a safe space to develop their skills since 2017. With 3,600 square feet of shop space and an extensive complement of tools, you can grow your skills with confidence and comfort.
The shop features workshops, courses, and masterclasses that are designed to help grow and improve woodworking skills, without sacrificing quality facilitation.
Looking for custom work? Contact us to see how we can help you order custom designs and projects through our Woodshop.
Work with Convenience
Centrally located, with free parking and nearby major transit
routes, the Woodshop is easily accessible from wherever you
are. Short-term storage is available for projects in process.
Join in the Community
Uncertain about a tool or how to complete your project? Talk to a community member! Many members are more than
happy to welcome you and show you how to use specific tools and chat with you about the best way to finish your project.
Wondering if a workshop or course is for you? Nervous about coming alone? Don’t be! No matter your experience in woodworking, you’ll find like-minded people and how easy it is to fall in love with woodworking.
Are you a group looking for a private event? We can do that too. We’ve hosted businesses, bachelor/ette parties, and more. Contact us to find how how we can host your group!
The Woodshop Team
Devon Curtis, Woodshop Coordinator
My woodworking career started at an early age. With a father trained in cabinetmaking, and a carpenter for a grandfather, tools were always close at hand, ready for me to steal away for self-education. While my first projects were crude and lost to time (probably for the best!), I rapidly developed a love for the tools, techniques and materials of woodworking, and the craft quickly became a primary creative outlet.
My involvement with the London Community Woodshop began as a volunteer and advisor during the creation of the shop. When the shop opened, I joined as full-time facilitator, focusing on running community programs and workshops. I was thrilled to contribute to the education of new woodworkers and to the future of a craft that had long sustained me.
After an incredible three years with the shop, I was offered an opportunity with Lee Valley Tools to become their product manager for woodworking tools. While difficult to leave the shop, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and so I moved to Ottawa to develop and bring to market new woodworking tools. Despite being in a woodworker’s candy store, I always missed the shop and teaching, and so after four years returned to the shop with a focus on workshop facilitation and custom work.
My woodworking interests are varied and have evolved over time, but today I am primarily interested in furniture making and greenwood products. I have a deep love and preference for hand tools, but openly embrace power tools for all they offer. My design preferences draw from Scandinavian, Japanese, and Shaker origins, with an emphasis on utility over ornamentation, and a reverence for the natural beauty of the material.
Woodworking has provided me with creative expression, deep satisfaction, and put food on my table. It thrills me every day that I am able to help others to experience the same, and to contribute to a vibrant community of diverse people united in a love of the craft.
Tyler Poplar, Woodshop Facilitator
Tyler’s bio
Woodshop Tools & Space
The Shop
Discover over 3,600 sq. ft. shop full of professional tools.
Our shop includes a functional space for members, storage for small projects, and materials available for LCW member use. Workstations are available for members to work on their latest projects and tools are available. We have an AXIOM CNC available for members to give projects that special look. Not sure how something works? Ask an LCW staff member or a fellow LCW member.
Discover Tools of the Trade
We selected the most needed tools in larger sizes than you’re likely to find in a home shop.
- 10” SawStop® Professional cabinet saw
- AXIOM AR8 Pro V5 CNC
- Laguna 18BX bandsaw
- Laguna 14SUV bandsaw
- 21” Excelsior scroll saw
- 12” DeWalt sliding compound mitre saw
- 10″ DeWalt sliding compound mitre saw
- 20” King helical planer
- 8” Laguna helical jointer
- 12″ x 48″ Oneway lathe
- 20” x 38” General lathe
- 14″ x 20″ Coronet Herald lathe
- 6”x 108” General edge sander
- 6”x 48″ & 12″ General belt & disc sander
- 1/4″-4″ King oscillating spindle sander
- 17″ King long stroke drill press
- Festool TS75 track saw
- Festool DF500 Domino joiner
- King Excelsior router lift & JessEm
- Mast-R-Fence
- Industrial dust collection system
- Various hand tools and accessories
See a tool not on the list that’s needed for your next project? We’re always adding to the list, so let us know!
Volunteer at the Woodshop
Want to contribute to the shop? The Woodshop is always looking for enthusiastic individuals to offer their time and expertise. As a busy workspace, there are always tasks and activities that need attention.
Front desk team
In this role, volunteers are the face of our Woodshop to members and the interested public.
You’ll welcome visitors and members to the shop, respond to telephone calls and visitor questions, and sign in members. You may be asked to assist during special events.
Requirements
- Availability to volunteer for a minimum of two 4 hours shifts per month (8.5 hours)
- Minimum 6 month commitment
Woodshop Monitor
If you know your way around a Woodshop safely, this might be the perfect volunteer role for you!
You will assist members in the Woodshop and monitor the shop to ensure that equipment is being used safely. Acting as the point person in the shop, you’ll respond to questions and issues as they arise.
Requirements
- Woodworking Experience
- Availability to volunteer for two 4 hour shifts a month(8 ½ hours per month)
- Minimum 6 month commitment
- Willingness to attend training sessions
Workshop Facilitator
Do you like to teach? Would you like to pass on your knowledge to others? Or do you have a specialty with a specific technique or project type? Become a Facilitator and discover how rewarding it is to pass on your knowledge!
In this role, you’ll teach workshops for groups in the community, from seniors to children. Your workshops could include projects like birdhouses to DIY bookshelves!
Requirements
- Availability to volunteer a minimum of 5 hours per month
- Willingness to learn
- 6 month commitment
Community Projects Team
Are you between projects right now? Would you like to look for new inspiration or try new tools? The community projects team would love your help! Join our team and help create kits for kids, projects for community spaces, and more!
This is a diverse project space, where you can make anything from birdhouses to benches to little libraries! This is a great opportunity to get started in woodworking and to give back to the community!
Requirements
- Some woodworking experience or willingness to learn
- Must be a team player
- Availability to volunteer a minimum of 6 hours per month
- Minimum 6 month commitment (Woodshop team is open to reviewing this commitment time frame on a case by case basis)
Woodshop – Back of the House Team
The team that keeps everything running smoothly! If you like organization and making sure things run in ship-shape, then this might be the role for you!
In this role, you’ll organize the tool crib and project storage, ensure dust collection, and maintain the shop environment. Occasionally you may be asked to help make shop fixtures.
Requirements
- Availability to volunteer for a minimum of two 4 hours shifts per month (8.5 hours).
- 6 month commitment