Toy Making Jigs

My son has very strong feelings about woodworking show hosts.  “Herm” (Norm) is his favorite – he’s in love with power tools.  Me?  I prefer St. Roy. In this episode, St. Roy discussed and built several toys from 18th century America.  I was especially fascinated by the jig he uses to create small parts.  IContinue reading “Toy Making Jigs”

Quick Pic: Cutting Boards

Somehow, several large planks of long-grain butcher-block style planks have come my way.  Nothing better to do than prep some cutting boards and let the kids turn them into something special. The boards are finished with food-safe mineral oil, specifically Wisconsin Hardwoods’ Wood Oil.  Always make sure you use a food-safe finishes (which limits youContinue reading “Quick Pic: Cutting Boards”

This Week in the Classroom: Production Boxes

If you ask him how to do it he’ll say just like noah built the ark you’ve got to hold your mouth right son and never miss your mark. -Guy Clark, “The Carpenter”

This Week in the Shop: Guy Clark and Boxes

From Guy Clark’s song, “The Carpenter”: He was tough as a crowbar, quick as a chisel Fair as a plane and true as a level. He was straight as a chalkline and right as a rule. He was square with the world.  He took good care of his tools The early results of my boxContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: Guy Clark and Boxes”

Physics Carriages

In my MWF fourth period class, my students have been discovering and elaborating on the scientific method. I chose cars & ramps (aka pinewood derby car) as an opening project.  We spent two weeks learning the different parts of the scientific method and how to measure our results.  We create reports (I’m on my fourthContinue reading “Physics Carriages”

New School Year: Boxes, Trays and Benches

This week, I’m proposing and planning projects for the 2011-2012 school year.    According to the Mayans, it should be a killer.  I’m attached to the Math/Sci crew as a “Technology Resource” – meaning I’m running a CAD workshop, an Electronics course and probably some sort of Lego Mindstorms-based course.  In my traditional role as aContinue reading “New School Year: Boxes, Trays and Benches”

This Week in the Shop: End of Summer Program

The summer program wraps up today.   Our summer program acts as an experimental zone, a transitional buffer and a slice of consistency for both teachers and students.  Personally, I love summer programs – no grades, no pressure, just the chance to provide as fun and therapeutic educational experience as possible.  Anyways, this summer saw the returnContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: End of Summer Program”

Current Projects: The Butterfly Chair

One of my woodshop classes have ended for the week, so I took the opportunity to document the progress: And this is what happens when a student ticks me off! (ok, ok, I was pulling a big nail with a small hammer…)

This Week in the Shop: Cardboard Prototypes

This week’s word:  Prototypes.  Brought to you by the letter C for cardboard. What a week!  My students spent last week drawing and planning and designing and planning and planning.  We got outside this week! My chair group is off to a fast start.  Both “makers” have created cardboard prototypes for their chairs, while theContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: Cardboard Prototypes”

This Week in the Shop: The Cajon Drum

This week, I prepped for this summer’s woodshop classes.  The students will be building these benches, mending and designing chairs and constructing Cajon drums.  I’ve secured enough lumber for the benches, pulling plywood chair designs from various sources and built this example project.  Look to the above link for construction details. I finished the sidesContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: The Cajon Drum”