The Warren is open
The Warren is a community workshop and store on Cross Street, in central Auckland. We have a fully equipped workshop with machines, power and hand tools, safety gear and workbenches. You can take a woodworking class, in a collaborative, supportive environment, or book a bench to work independently. We welcome beginners and experts.
The Warren Store sells locally made products, mostly out of recycled materials, along with The Warren merch and woodworking tools. We are always keen to hear from potential volunteers, woodworking teachers and makers who are interested in selling at the store - email us.
Upcoming classes
This four-week course will teach you how to safely operate the essential machinery in a wood workshop. Learn to select wood, mill wood to square, and gain confidence on major woodworking machines, including the mitre saw, jointer, thickness planer, disc sander, and router.
Join fine woodworker Josephine Jelicich on a six-week series, learning how to make a finely detailed pencil box with a sliding lid. This project has a degree of customisation, including the final finishing techniques and the choice of the wood for the lid, meaning you will leave with a unique piece.
A great, low commitment class to learn some basic workshop skills. This four-hour class will teach you how to safely operate the essential machinery in a wood workshop. Along with workshop health and safety, you will learn to use the band saw, disc, belt and orbital sander, and the table router.
In this six-week beginners’ course you will learn the basics of three-dimensional wood carving, as you carve your choice of native bird: tūī or rūrū.
Learn to carve your own wooden spoon from the brilliant Courtney Petley.
You’ll be introduced to Courtney’s carving practice, learn the basics of carving and properties of wood, learn how to use a hook knife and blade, and then get into carving your own spoon, which you will finish with sandpaper.
This four-week course will teach you how to safely operate the essential machinery in a wood workshop. Learn to select wood, mill wood to square, and gain confidence on major woodworking machines, including the mitre saw, jointer, thickness planer, disc sander, and router.
Understanding the technical side of wood as a material is critical to creating work that functions as intended and lasts. You’ll learn about the growth structure of trees and how this dictates the appearance and strength of the wood we use; the difference between hard and soft woods; about shrinkage; durability; wood grain and woodworking best practice.
The design process can be challenging, but it is also fundamentally exciting, as you generate original ideas. Spend a half day with John learning how to apply simple design techniques and open-minded thinking to expand and develop concepts into solutions.
This class offers a balance of explanation, demonstration, and practice, with the emphasis on practice. John will discuss the types and purposes of chisel and plane blades, sharpening stones, hones and grindstones.
A great, low commitment class to learn some basic workshop skills. This four-hour class will teach you how to safely operate the essential machinery in a wood workshop. Along with workshop health and safety, you will learn to use the band saw, disc, belt and orbital sander, and the table router.
Learn to carve your own wooden spoon from the brilliant Courtney Petley.
You’ll be introduced to Courtney’s carving practice, learn the basics of carving and properties of wood, learn how to use a hook knife and blade, and then get into carving your own spoon, which you will finish with sandpaper.
Join fine woodworker Josephine Jelicich on a six-week series, learning how to make a finely detailed pencil box with a sliding lid. This project has a degree of customisation, including the final finishing techniques and the choice of the wood for the lid, meaning you will leave with a unique piece.
This four-week course will teach you how to safely operate the essential machinery in a wood workshop. Learn to select wood, mill wood to square, and gain confidence on major woodworking machines, including the mitre saw, jointer, thickness planer, disc sander, and router.
Build your own flexible compact workbench as you learn to use machinery safely and accurately, over three days.
A great, low commitment class to learn some basic workshop skills. This four-hour class will teach you how to safely operate the essential machinery in a wood workshop. Along with workshop health and safety, you will learn to use the band saw, disc, belt and orbital sander, and the table router.
In this six-week beginners’ course you will learn the basics of three-dimensional wood carving, as you carve your choice of native bird: tūī or rūrū.
Learn to carve your own wooden spoon from the brilliant Courtney Petley.
You’ll be introduced to Courtney’s carving practice, learn the basics of carving and properties of wood, learn how to use a hook knife and blade, and then get into carving your own spoon, which you will finish with sandpaper.
Getting used to the table saw by trial and error can be a disconcerting experience. Learn how to correctly set guards, rip and crosscut, groove and cut angles, all safely and efficiently.
Learn how to use these hand-held machines safely. You’ll learn how to select cutters and more simple ways to use these super useful machines with control and accuracy.
This half-day workshop will help you get much more out of the bandsaw. Find out how to improve the performance of your saw and use it safely. Blades guides and maintenance will all be covered.
Flat surfaces and straight edges are made quickly and accurately by the jointer (aka planer). The thicknesser then works with these surfaces and makes the timber even in thickness. Find out what makes these machines tick, how to use them correctly and safely and how to keep them running sweetly.
Enjoy a few days discovering this beautiful part of the craft and expect to make at least two planes, and learn to get the best out of them.
Learn to carve your own wooden spoon with teacher Courtney Petley.
You’ll be introduced to Courtney’s carving practice, learn the basics of carving and properties of wood, learn how to use a hook knife and blade, and then get into carving your own spoon, which you will finish with sandpaper.
This four-week course will teach you how to safely operate the essential machinery in a wood workshop. Learn to select wood, mill wood to square, and gain confidence on major woodworking machines, including the mitre saw, jointer, thickness planer, disc sander, and router.
A great, low commitment class to learn some basic workshop skills. This four-hour class will teach you how to safely operate the essential machinery in a wood workshop. Along with workshop health and safety, you will learn to use the band saw, disc, belt and orbital sander, and the table router.
Join fine woodworker Josephine Jelicich on a six-week series, learning how to make a finely detailed pencil box with a sliding lid. This project has a degree of customisation, including the final finishing techniques and the choice of the wood for the lid, meaning you will leave with a unique piece.
Learn to carve your own wooden spoon with teacher Courtney Petley.
You’ll be introduced to Courtney’s carving practice, learn the basics of carving and properties of wood, learn how to use a hook knife and blade, and then get into carving your own spoon, which you will finish with sandpaper.
In this six-week beginners’ course you will learn the basics of two-dimensional wood carving through an ornamental design project.
Learn how to make four different mortise and tenon joints over three days: by hand, by router, by domino and with a chisel mortiser.
This four-week course will teach you how to safely operate the essential machinery in a wood workshop. Learn to select wood, mill wood to square, and gain confidence on major woodworking machines, including the mitre saw, jointer, thickness planer, disc sander, and router.