We may receive a commission when you use our affiliate links. However, this does not impact our recommendations.
Will Neptune
Another of the top-notch, first-time presenters at the 2014 edition of Woodworking in America (WIA) in Winston-Salem, N.C. in September is Will Neptune. While I have yet to meet Will in person, I’ve been told by many woodworkers that he is a star among stars. Will won the SAPFM Cartouche award in 2013. He and W. Patrick Edwards (also presenting at WIA 2014) are the award winners for the past two years. (You really should register for the conference, and I’d do it quickly because early-bird registration – save $50 – runs through midnight July 11th, 2014.)
At North Bennett Street School, Will, as a 15-year instructor, was known to answer any and all questions from students, even if that meant staying late into the night. As a furniture maker, he finds ways to solve woodworking problems regardless of the size and scope – that’s part of what keeps him interested in building custom furniture. He’s been known to say that if you pick up a hand tool, you’re losing money. But he’s also a master carver, and equally capable using both power and hand tools.
Will shares shop space with Freddy Roman, who provided a bit of insight into Will Neptune in an article in the April 2014 Popular Woodworking Magazine (issue #210). When asked about working in the shop with Will, Freddy said, “I grew significantly as a craftsman because of it …” That’s a true compliment.
Will was a featured guest on Rough-cut: Woodworking with Tommy Mac.
Will’s classes at WIA encompass a world of woodworking knowledge. If you’re in attendance you can sit in on two session. Table Saw Joinery: (Friday 9/12 @ 11:00AM) (Saturday 9/13 @ 11:00AM) Will discusses a variety of techniques, including stack lamination, bricking, coopering and bent lamination. As he demonstrates these techniques, he teaches you a variety of clever (and safe) methods for execution.
Curved Work in Furniture Making: (Friday 9/12 @ 4:00) To improve as a woodworker, we need to include curved elements into our work. Starting with the basics and moving on to more unusual situations, Will breaks down potential problems into a series of manageable steps. Demonstrations include mockups of typical furniture construction details to teach you methods that you can rely on in your own work to allow you to build furniture of greater complexity.
In looking at my schedule, I have the opportunity to sit in on both of Will’s presentations. See you there.
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.
Will is a gifted, no-nonsense teacher! If you leave his class or presentation not understanding, it’s you…. He deserves lots more attention. I’m so glad to see him included in WIA.
Will is a true master. I was blessed he was an instructor during my time at NBSS. Personable, knowledgeable, master of his craft. There are only a scant few in his league.
Will is a true master. I was blessed he was an instructor during my time at NBSS. Personable, knowledgeable, master of his craft. There are only a scant few in his league.
I have taken a few classes with Will Neptune and there is nobody better at making the hard to understand easily understandable.