Hand Tools for Teenagers

[marcus]

Hi there,

I'm going to be teaching some woodworking classes at a school over the next year, and at the moment and trying to sort out the workshop. These are going to be recreational classes so it's hopefully a chance to get some of the kids interested in doing some real woodworking purely for the enjoyment of it.

I'm thinking about hand tools that will need to be purchased, mostly the basics, ie tenon saws, planes and chisels. I'd love to fill the shelf with a row of Cliftons this isn't realistic on the budget I have! I'm wondering about Axminster's basic smoother and block plane. Does anyone have experience of these? Are they at all useable? Any alternatives in that sort of price bracket? If not it will have to be the secondhand route, but I'd rather avoid it as it could mean many hours of searching and fettling.

Also any recommendations for budget tenon saws or chisels (preferably with wooden handles)?

Basically the less money spent the better, but they quality has to be sufficient so that the tools don't become a frustration to use, as that would defeat the object of the exercise

Thanks

Marcus

 

[pedder]

Hi Marcus,

some of the chinese planes get great reviews. so you shpould try them.

For sawsi think Veritas is the one to beat regarding value/price. I think I read that Veritas gives returned tools to such projects, so it is probably no fault to write Rob Lee a pm. (Or waiting that he chimes in. after I mentioned hids name.)

Cheer
Pedder

 

[Jensmith]

Are there not some suppliers specifically set up for providing equipment to schools. I know there are ones for timber. They should be a bit cheaper if there are any.

 

[SVB]

I think Axminster do an eductional service (not sure whether it involves filling your basket for you or offering a deal though!).

As others have mentioned, I would avoid their cheaper planes - may be worth giving Matthew at workshop heaven a call. I would think one decent plane between two would be better than a crap on each.

Also worth thinking about what type of planes to get based on your students' average hand size - a #3 may be better than a #4 if they are 13 / 14 yr olds?? I think there was a write up a while ago in either British Woodworking or F&C - can't remember and I binned the back-issues a short while ago (typical!). The jist of the article was someone in just your place considering what tools and what type to buy for a school. May be worth a call to the mags to see if you can get a pdf?

Best of luck with the project,
Simon

 

[Harbo]

Nick Gibbs of BW posted recently looking for schools to take up A Plane Making Challenge - I think he provides the materials given by sponsors?

Rod

 

[SVB]

I think there was a write up a while ago in either British Woodworking

Found it!

BWW Aug / Sept 2010 pp 60-62.

Drop me a PM and I am sure we can sort something out if you would like a look.

BRgds

Simon

 

[marcus]

Thanks for these suggestions! There are some educational suppliers, but they seem to be more aiming at CDT classes, and I haven't found one yet which sells what I need. I've been in touch with Nick Gibbs, re the plane making competition, but am not sure we will be able to get it sorted in time for this year. Next year I hope we will be able to enter. I think the students are mostly large enough to be comfortable with a no 4, but I have a no 3 if needed.

I'm following up a few of these things at the moment, I'll let you know how it works out!

Cheers

Marcus

 

[Racers]

Hi,

If you have no luck I am sure people on here have some spare planes etc they would let you have, I have some chisels planes and coping saw etc I could let you have.

Pete

 

[woodbloke]

As an ex-woodwork teacher (probably one of the last) with 20 years at the chalkface, it really depends on the age range that you're teaching as younger pupils, say year 7 (11years old) in many cases don't have sufficient strength in their wrists and arms for sustained activity like preparing rough material from scratch...I assume that you'll provide them with par timber? They also find adult sized tools very unwieldy, no matter what sort and how good, they're simply too big and too heavy.
If I were offering a serious recreational woodwork course, I'd pitch it at students that are much older and more physically able...say around Yr 10 (13 or 14) Make sure as well that you only take the ones that are really keen, you're bound to get some possibly dubious characters who will only turn up for a bit of a larf...turf them out at the first opportunity. I'd also structure the course very carefully so that they all learn the basics before moving onto more complex projects. It's also important that they can achieve success early on and actually make something, pay for it (most important) and take it home to show mum and dad. Sorry to go on, but I think these things are important if your course is to be a success - Rob

 

[marcus]

Hi Rob

Thanks for that, feel free to go on, I'm only to glad to benefit from your experience!

My plan at the moment is to get them making some basic tools for themselves first - bench hook, mallet, oilstone box, and a simple plane. Then teach some basic joints, and after that give them some freedom to go in the direction they want.

They will be aged between 15 and 18 and quite small groups (only 5-6 students at a time). Does this sound to you like a good way to proceed? Do you think it would be realistic/worthwhile to teach timber preparation and edge jointing to this age group, or would you always give them PAR?

Thanks

Marcus

 

[Jensmith]

I know a bench hook is a very useful tool but is this not a bit boring for the kids to make?

If I was attending a class I'd want to learn the basics but I'd want to do it while making things that were a bit more exciting. Like making a box with specific joints.

A bench hook is probably pretty quick to make but I'd be careful that you don't start off with things that don't really engage the kids. At that age there's not going to be that many that are keen given hormones start raging etc etc and woodwork isn't exactly the pursuit of the masses

If they really are keen then that's one thing but if you need to spark the interest then I think you perhaps need to start off with something that really gets them excited and once they're more committed you could look at making the tools.

Just my opinion based on what I would have wanted to do at that age. I did design & technology at 'A' level and my big project was to make a storage unit for my bedroom which I still have today. I was capable with a bit of help and I still have a huge sense of achievement from making it.

I just worry you're not going to get much interest if you say "today we're going to make a bench hook and a mallet"......

Perhaps you need to be saying "today were going to make 'x' and to achieve that were going to make a bench hook and a mallet" but have the pieces prepared so the bench hook and mallet are pretty quick to make so they can quickly achieve something and then move on to a more exciting project.

Jennifer,

 

[woodbloke]

Hi Rob

Thanks for that, feel free to go on, I'm only to glad to benefit from your experience!

My plan at the moment is to get them making some basic tools for themselves first - bench hook, mallet, oilstone box, and a simple plane. Then teach some basic joints, and after that give them some freedom to go in the direction they want.

They will be aged between 15 and 18 and quite small groups (only 5-6 students at a time). Does this sound to you like a good way to proceed? Do you think it would be realistic/worthwhile to teach timber preparation and edge jointing to this age group, or would you always give them PAR?

Thanks

Marcus

Assume Manuel default position...'I know nothing'

and start from square one. Basic use of hand tools, marking out face side/edge, marking gauge (incredibly difficult for them), how to plane properly, safety procedures (both hands behind the cutting edge)etc and then work up from that. Explain why your doing it and incorparate these skill into a first simple project, which could involve a basic joint...could be for example a pair of book ends (or a rack for DVD/CDs etc) where there's an element of design as well. Give them decent timber, so no cheap 'shed' pine as that's one of the most off putting things when you start. It doesn't have to be Cuban Mahogany, but a mild working hardwood is ideal and I would start with timber that's at least been planed both sides - Rob

 

[marcus]

Thanks for that, Rob, very helpful. I know what you mean about decent timber - when I had woodworking classes at school we were given horrible, knotty spruce to practice M & Ts on - with the knots inevitably just where the joints needed to go. As a result I came to the conclusion that I must be useless at woodworking because everything turned out such a mess.... It was many years before I tried again.

Jennifer, I see where you're coming from re making things that engage the students. My thinking was that although a mallet may not seem exciting at first, most people seem to find it fun and very satisfying to use tools they have made themselves, and it gives an early feeling of competence. At least it did to me! I have a few different classes so I may experiment with slightly different approaches in each and see what happens.

Regards

MarcUs

 

[Richard T]

How about a pole lathe and shave horse? They both have very simple cuts and joints and can be made from any wood (all that you need apart from wood is the centres and cord for the lathe) They move and spin and grip and bounce, I think this would certainly engage the attention.
They can both be made by the usual seasoned wood working methods and then can be used for green wood work with one feeding the other. Foot powered co ordination fun ...

 

[Anonymous]

The first things we were taught and had to make were a bench hook, then free handed joints, cross halving joints etc etc, using a tenon saw and the bench hook. We had to perfect one joint at a time, each joint being harder than the last one. Then once say the 4 joints had been completed to the satisfaction of the tutor, we had to re do them all, one after the other (practice makes perfect). then we were taught the dovetail joint.

After all this was completed.

We then made a tool box which incorporated all these previous joints.................. Which I took home to show my parents. (I've still got it)

 

[mtr1]

Here is some material from my grandfathers course from school, might be useful?

Don't know if its of use.

 

[Anonymous]

Thats seriously old school Mark, I like it

 

[Racers]

Hi, Marcus

How about trivets? I have been making some up recently.

They seem like a good project it involves marking sawing planing etc and you end up with something usefull.

I made mine with just a protractor, plane, japinese saw, and you can show them the kerfing in trick to close the corners up, not that mine needed it :-" :wink:

Pete

 

[woodbloke]

Pete, those are quite good first projects, plenty of basic skills for newcomers to learn. I'd go one further and make them square to incorporate a ceramic tile of their choosing, set into a rebate - Rob

 

[marcus]

Love those old notes, some pretty advanced joinery there - don't think I'll be teaching the stuff in the sixth picture for a while ! Pete, the trivet idea is good, I'll try it with a tile like Rob suggests - would be good if they can make their own tile in the pottery class....

On a different subject I'm wondering what people think about the idea of using Japanese saws in the classes. I don't use them myself but someone suggested to me that kids might find them easier to use than a Western tenon saw - any thoughts?