Sawdust Studios owner Cruz Chavez believes that everyone should experience turning raw materials into beautiful, functional items which can last generations. In 2020, this dream became reality when he opened a 4,500 square foot community woodworking studio. "My vision for Sawdust is to provide beginners the opportunity to learn woodworking and experienced woodworkers the space and tools to practice their craft."
The belief that anyone can become a carpenter has driven the evolution of the studio into a truly welcoming community staple. In addition to offering classes and workshops targeted at a range of skills, like learning bandsaw basics to hand-cut dovetails, Cruz is passionate about teaching children the magic of creating with wood. Cruz teaches multiple children’s classes each month, where children and a trusted adult can make sleds, bird houses, balance boards, and more! The shop has also hosted girls’ birthday parties, boy scout events, and donated nearly 200 handmade wooden toys to local charities during the holidays. Rumors of a spring pinewood derby–for both adults and children–have begun circulating amongst members.
For adults interested in exploring the world of woodworking, Cruz teaches basic shop safety, a free monthly clinic targeting a single skill or tool use, and rotating projects like cutting boards, wooden boxes, serving trays, and pour-over coffee makers. For intermediate and advanced woodworkers, the president of the Midwest Woodworkers’ Association, Dean Gregory, teaches a monthly, three-hour skill builder course in traditional, hand-cut joinery, handmade tools, tool sharpening, and other techniques.
The shop is loaded with professional-grade power and hand tools, including two SawStop table saws, two bandsaws, a 24-inch drum sander, a CNC laser engraver, two router tables and a handheld router, and much more. To ensure the health and safety of shop users, dust collection and air filtration systems are installed throughout the shop. In the future, Cruz envisions expanding the studio to include a dedicated classroom, individual studios for rent, a finishing room with a spray booth, and expanded hand tool selections. Memberships are available for a monthly fee and require completing a safety course, and members are provided a key fob for 24/7 access to the shop. Classes are available to members and non-members, and do not require a prerequisite safety course.
The concept of a 24-hour woodshop has been a long-held dream for Cruz. “Sawdust Studios allows me to make my dream a reality and provide an inviting space for others to join me along the way.”
Cruz has been selling his hand-crafted wood cutting boards and other creations at Columbia Farmers Market since 2021. He farms the trees for his projects from his own land, ensuring a high-integrity and local product. To learn more about Sawdust Studios, you can visit SAWDUST247.COM.
