This blog is dedicated to sharing the concept that our hands are essential to learning- that we engage the world and its wonders, sensing and creating primarily through the agency of our hands. We abandon our children to education in boredom and intellectual escapism by failing to engage their hands in learning and making.
Monday, July 28, 2008
I had my first day of box making class with ESSA today and I was too busy teaching and demonstrating to take any photos. Today I demonstrated making sleds, re-sawing lumber, cutting perfect miters, making top panels, bottoms cut to fit, cutting and fitting miter keys, and cutting the lid from the base, in addition to covering a wide range of concepts in box design. Tomorrow will be just as full and busy. The students started working on their first boxes, and seem very pleased. Those who have done woodworking before were surprised at how easy it was to cut perfect miters using my simple techniques. Those who have never done woodworking don't know how challenging cutting perfect box corners can be.
You made it too easy for them!
ReplyDeleteMario
Hmmm... care to share the "perfect mitre" secrets with your readers?
ReplyDeleteMario, it is easier to make boxes when the teacher is present. They will be challenged enough when they try it on their own. Today I introduce one of the woodworker's most important lessons. Forgiveness.
ReplyDeleteLarry, there are only two things that stand in the way of perfect miters... one that you expect and one that may come to some as a surprise. First your angle has to be right... very right. So you check closely. Then your parts on opposite sides have to be exactly the same length. If not, they mess up the fit of the angles. So we work to make sure the angle is perfect, and we use sleds and stop blocks to make sure the lengths of opposite sides are exact.
When experienced woodworkers who have been frustrated with this before, get a perfectly mitered box in their hands for the first time you can see them light up with a sense of satisfaction. The absolute newbies are not aware of the significance of heir accomplishment.