I’ve heard before from others in the “making” or woodworking communities I’m a little behind the times.  I make cigar box guitars when they were totally two years ago.  Or I teach developmental woodworking in manner more suited to a different century.  So of course, I discover a sweet little hand tool project about a year too late.  Good thing great projects don’t age.

The Gottshall Block is a small project – just a few cuts and nicks with a chisel.  It takes about three to five forty-five minute sessions to complete for a student at about the third grade level.  The students learn the basic skills in cutting and cleaning up a dado, gain (stopped dado), rabbet and mortise.  I do the layout on the first run through.  I just ask the students to cut and pare.  Second run through, I will be having the students learn how to layout with a few shop-made squares.  I do expect them to have a difficult time managing that task, but I welcome the chance to improve their measurement skills.

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To check out the original source material, why don’t you follow this link:

Making Antique Furniture Reproductions: Instructions and Measured Drawings … – Franklin H. Gottshall – Google Books.

Make it safe & keep the rubber side down this week.