SEI Maker Plus: Come Build with Us in Friendship

The nonprofit encourages woodworking and also provides a workspace for individuals who can't afford to buy tools.

Director Tom Cassidy. Photos by Cheryl Damon-Greiner.

(Friendship, Ind,) - Tucked away in Friendship, Indiana, SEI Maker Plus is a nonprofit community woodworking shop that is quietly becoming a creative resource for makers across the region. While easy to miss from the outside, the shop offers a well-equipped workspace and a strong sense of community inside. If you've ever wanted to build your own furniture from scratch, make homemade wooden bowls, build toys or cutting boards, or even handcraft a custom chess set, here's a place to start!

SEI Maker Plus operates as a nonprofit organization with a focus on education, skill-building, and access. The shop provides woodworking classes, workshops, and open shop time for members of all experience levels. A very reasonable yearly membership gives access to professional-grade equipment, including planers, lathes, saws, sanders, and routers once proper training is completed. They even provide the protective gear – gloves, eye covers, ear plugs. And lots of encouragement!

What sets SEI Maker Plus apart is its people. Experienced craftsmen regularly work in the shop and share their knowledge that comes from years of hands-on experience. New members often learn by working with longtime woodworkers who can explain techniques, safety practices, and problem-solving approaches.

 Photos by Cheryl Damon-Greiner.

Beginners are welcome, and many start with no prior woodworking background. Instruction focuses on safe tool use and practical skills, helping members build confidence while learning at their own pace. A recent class on making a cutting board included precut slats of different woods, glueing and setting up vises, planing the rough wood, routing the edges, sanding, and oiling and taking home a one-of-a-kind cutting board. There are even projects for small kids – they will precut and predrill wood for children to make their own footstools engraved with their name. Classes and monthly events provide structured learning opportunities for small groups of students, friends or families, while everyday shop time encourages informal mentoring and collaboration. They have wood you can buy or bring in your own.

SEI Maker Plus is designed to lower barriers to entry for woodworking. In addition to affordable membership pricing, the shop allows visitors to stop by, look around, see sample projects and ask questions at no cost. The goal is to make woodworking approachable while preserving the quality and safety of a shared, professional workspace.

As a nonprofit, SEI Maker Plus emphasizes community over profit, using its resources from grants and donations, to support education, creativity, and shared learning. For anyone interested in woodworking—whether building a table, a toy, or a cutting board for the first time or continuing a long-standing craft venture, it offers a practical, local option. They invite you to come on down and take a look around the shop and meet the woodcrafters. Call for information: Director Tom Cassidy, (813) 334-8421