Work with sustainable Vietnamese reclaimed teak. Learn essential hand-planing, joinery, and sanding to craft a stunning food-safe breakfast serving board.
- Learn foundational woodworking techniques with traditional hand tools
- Work with ethically reclaimed Vietnamese teak and rosewood timber
- Hand-shape ergonomic handles and chamfered edges with custom profiles
- Finish with 100% natural organic food-safe beeswax conditioner
- Take home your completed heirloom serving board in a canvas tote
About this experience
Experience the deep satisfaction of working with raw, fragrant timber. In this hands-on carpentry workshop located in Hoi An, you will transform rough reclaimed teakwood into an exquisite, smooth-as-silk wooden serving tray or cheese board. Under the guidance of our veteran woodworking craftsman, you will learn workshop safety, timber grain reading, and essential traditional joinery. You will operate Japanese pull saws, shape ergonomic side handles with rasps and spokeshaves, and hand-plane surfaces until the natural golden-brown grain gleams. To conclude, you will hand-sand through fine grits and massage a food-grade organic beeswax and mineral oil conditioner into the wood. The piece is food-safe and immediately ready for serving artisan cheeses, pastries, and afternoon tea.
What you will do
- 01
Safety Induction & Timber Selection
Workshop safety briefing, reading grain direction, and selecting reclaimed teak stock.
- 02
Milling & Handle Shaping
Cut handle profiles with coping saws and refine contours using Japanese shinto rasps and spokeshaves.
- 03
Surface Planing & Chamfering
Hand-plane surfaces flat, relieve sharp edges, and rout subtle perimeter juice grooves.
- 04
Progressive Sanding & Oil Curing
Progressive hand sanding from 120 to 600 grit, followed by hot beeswax and mineral oil massage.
What's included
- Premium reclaimed solid Vietnamese teakwood blank (approx. 32cm x 20cm x 2.5cm)
- Use of professional Japanese pull saws, hand planes, rasps, and clamps
- Tins of natural homemade beeswax and food-grade mineral oil board butter to take home
- Durable workshop safety goggles, heavy canvas apron, and dust mask
- Fresh tropical fruit smoothies and iced Hoi An herbal tea
Before you arrive
- No prior woodworking experience required; step-by-step guidance provided at all times.
- Closed-toe shoes are mandatory for workshop safety (no sandals or flip-flops).
- Wear casual clothes you do not mind getting wood dust on.
- A safe locker is provided for your personal belongings during the session.
Location
56 Tran Phu, Cam Chau, Hoi An
Hoi An, Vietnam
Open in Google MapsMeet your instructor
Master Carpenter & Sustainable Wood Designer
“Wood has memory and life. When you work with the grain instead of forcing it, wood reveals its true character and warmth.”
Tran Quoc Viet has over 14 years of fine woodworking and furniture making experience in Quang Nam. He is passionate about sustainable timber reuse and empowering everyday people to build enduring objects with hand tools.
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