Woodworking courses

[nabs]

as someone who is in the process of learning the basics without any formal training, the only point I'd add to the good information shared above is that trying to grasp even the basic skills this way requires a *lot* more time and patience than you might imagine, simply because it is so inefficient to have to learn by trial and error.

I happen to get a lot of satisfaction from learning in this way, and it suits my personality, but I realise many (most?!) people would regard it as a poor use of their time, in which case allocating some of the money you expect to spend on your hobby to training is the obvious thing to do (for all the good reasons provided above).

 

[Peter Sefton]

Tom, as a young teenager I had a really poor woodwork teacher but as I moved up into my 4th and 5th year the new teacher was fantastic. His enthusiasm would often produce 5 or more youngsters who would join the trades.

He was an "old school" trade qualified tradesman and an excellent teacher, not sure if he would pass muster now in the need to hold a degree to teach, what a shame some of these top teachers have gone. Some of the teachers who have remained have been dragged down by the system and lost their enthusiasm.

Cheers Peter

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I remember a comment from an elderly chap one day that he was fortunate to have been taught during the war - his metalwork teacher was a retired blacksmith and his woodwork teacher a retired joiner.

 

[Garno]

Custard, You always mention training when a topic like this comes up
I could be described as unwilling to spend my money on timber and skills, and one could say I've nothing to show for it either
But I'd like to think, I have the skills to do what I have in store for me for the next good while ...
And in some folks opinion, I have a good quanity of nice timber ( all salvaged )

I must say I do spend a lot of time on this forum and others, but even if I did not, and just read the thread I linked,
and watched those videos....
I think I would have a good grasp on the basics....ie, getting a board S6S sufraced six sides.

I'm not saying I know how to make a chair like those you've shown before, but I think some folk will be making videos on the subject...
hopefully soon !
I understand lots of folks make videos on the basics, and cater to the novices only, but I think this will change.
If it doesn't, I guess there are folks who will be making videos on all specialist topics, before long
( Just remembeered I have paid for skills before on luthier DVD's ) (homer)

Basically, I challange anyone to watch a David Charlesworth DVD and not be absolutly crystal clear about the procedures
that will be replicated.
His woodworking videos explain proceedures in such a precice absolute way, that's far better than any demonstration I've ever seen or heard....
and his methods are 110 percent reliable to boot.
He really goes to the trouble scripting the DVD's, and uses the english language to its best, describing things to such detail...no one I've seen comes close.

And I can watch them again, and again..
Beats the pants of going crosseyed from fatigue, learning from someone who I just didn't strike a chord with

I'd save the classes for later, because of all the great information freely available on Youtube and here.
That's my 2 cents

Interested to see the counter agrument from someone who has watched a DC DVD

Tom

Space, that is my counter argument.

I have yet to see any youtube clips where the person doing the video does not have a near fully equipped workshop.
An awful lot of those clips are of no use to me as I do not have a fully equipped workshop, I struggle to even store a little bit of wood because my workshop is so tiny 54" x 78". Because of this I have to find work -arounds for everything I do. I don't even have a vice and I do my sanding on top of my tabletop router.

I have not watched a DC DVD and I am sure they have their place, but I genuinely feel that the only option for me would be self taught, I tend to ask a lot of silly questions but always get some good answers that I sift through and work my way around the problem.

I hate being the exception.

 

[Peter Sefton]

I remember a comment from an elderly chap one day that he was fortunate to have been taught during the war - his metalwork teacher was a retired blacksmith and his woodwork teacher a retired joiner.

Sounds like he had 100 years worth of experience showing him the way! That's what were talking about.

Cheers Peter

 

[Ttrees]

Space, that is my counter argument.

I have yet to see any youtube clips where the person doing the video does not have a near fully equipped workshop.
An awful lot of those clips are of no use to me as I do not have a fully equipped workshop, I struggle to even store a little bit of wood because my workshop is so tiny 54" x 78". Because of this I have to find work -arounds for everything I do. I don't even have a vice and I do my sanding on top of my tabletop router.

I have not watched a DC DVD and I am sure they have their place, but I genuinely feel that the only option for me would be self taught, I tend to ask a lot of silly questions but always get some good answers that I sift through and work my way around the problem.

I hate being the exception.

Not much if any powertools in this lot , I will say if you don't have a bench that is flat, or can't be made so ...
it might be more difficult to start from scratch.
Sure you can use a vice for planing, but you won't learn the way a plane works quite as well...
I don't even have a vice anymore :shock:
you may be able to match up two pieces of wood together in the vice, but that doesn't mean you've made those pieces flat.
Look in the dump and get a fire door, and learn to plane quickly.. nearly always dumped in the skip around a hotel refurbishment.
And if you watched a DC video, and a few of David Weaver's YT videos for total tearout free planing on hardwoods anyway, you would not need help learning how to plane a board flat. No way.
I've probably annoyed plenty of you guys by now, so I'll stop waxing on about it
Good luck

Mitch Peacock,
David Charlesworth,
Bob Van ****,
Mike Pekovich,
Chris or Christopher Schwarz,
Andy Lovelock Brit01425,
Hendjim,
David W,
David Barron,
Simon James,
Lie-Nielsen toolworks,
Renaissance ww
Scott Horsburgh,

Some of the rest I've mentioned have machines... Rob Cosman has lots of machinery, but he doesn't
make dovetails and such with machinery ...that stuff is for lumber prep

 

[Tasky]

A twelve week woodworking course is quite a financial and personal commitment but works out at around £12 per hour. For my students this includes all the materials and teaching by 5 others craftsmen specialist in their own areas. £12 is not cheap but still half the price per hour as a driving lesson. I only wish I had the overheads of a driving instructor

Learning the basics of driving also doesn't usually take 480 hours... and the students aren't committed to a set duration of the course, can leave at any time, etc etc. :wink:

But if that is the cost of training with you and other specialists personally around and giving direct guidance, for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 12 weeks, it's just over £5,700 and you're *still* a whole 2nd hand car cheaper than the course the OP mentioned... assuming you buy the same car as me!

I sometimes wonder if this "I can teach myself" stems from the current lack of appreciation or understanding in the crafts and the modern day thinking of if it can be done or simulated on a computer it can be made.

Errrmm.... I think there's a bit of that. I do find the quantity of people who think this way is not only increasing, but they're also older than I would have expected.
But I believe that woodworking has so long been regarded as a DIY activity, that people think it's all as easy as going up B&Q and getting some power tools and kit... for the absolute basics, maybe it is, but most people seem to find their way here because they've now gone beyond that stage and discovered that there's more to it, but perhaps don't have dad and grandad around to pass on what they learned, or were never sufficiently interested until later on in life.

I have yet to see any youtube clips where the person doing the video does not have a near fully equipped workshop.

That's what Paul Sellers is seeking to emulate in his newer videos, at least breaking it down to something more like what his average viewer in their home garage has in terms of space and tools. He had a blog post where he described his workshop in his own home and it was pretty small by comparison.

I have not watched a DC DVD and I am sure they have their place, but I genuinely feel that the only option for me would be self taught, I tend to ask a lot of silly questions but always get some good answers that I sift through and work my way around the problem.

Even if you don't use most of what they show in these videos, it's interesting, entertaining and occasionally yields an absolutely brilliant idea that you can use or even adapt for your own ends. Many such things are free as well, so no harm in checking them out - You never know what inspiration you may find. I like to browse antique furniture shops and Etsy pages for the same reason.

 

[Tasky]

Some folks might find it too slow, but I suspect these folks aren't making, nor want to make stuff in that style.

I just watched a few of his YouTube videos... jeez, I didn't realise you meant slow like that!! :shock:

Does he have... a health condition, or is.... he trying..... to emulate.... Captain.... Kirk? :lol:

Seriously, though - I don't mind the slow, plodding narrative and plummy, rich speaking manner. Reminds me of an older friend of mine, actually... But the excessive wheeziness is rather loud and distracting. It's like Paul Sellers after speed-planing 3" off some Australian Buloke... except the chap has done nothing more than plane one shaving off a bit of maple!

Maybe if he didn't have the mic quite so close...

 

[PAC1]

Does he have... a health condition, or is.... he trying..... to emulate.... Captain.... Kirk? :lol...

Well actually yes he does. Last time I saw him he was hooked up to an oxygen tank.

 

[Tasky]

Well actually yes he does. Last time I saw him he was hooked up to an oxygen tank.

Well he has my sympathies for that, but from a purely objective perspective his instruction would be better served if his mic wasn't picking up on that aspect so much.