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The workshop is housed in a converted school bus shown below. It contains 10 workbenches, each adjustable in height, and each with the necessary tools to build the projects shown in the Photo Gallery page. All of the Tools are hand tools, there are no power tools available in the workshop. Middle school aged groups may use selected power tools. Most projects are completed in one day using nails and woodscrews. Some projects need gluing and due to the timeliness of project completion, the instructor may use a hot glue gun.
Woodworking Vise, or as we know it, the
"woodworkers best helper"
(the vice is a simple tool that provides a significant increase in
safety!)
20 inch hand saw
Coping saw for free form cutting
Small 6 inch Hack saw for cutting dowels,
small pieces of wood etc.
Miter Box and C=clamp to hold wood while sawing
Rotary hand drill and center punch
Small 7 oz. Hammer and Nails
Nail sets
Sandpaper
Files and Rasps
Screwdriver and screws for projects with spinning wheels, etc.
Brush and dust pan to clean up with.
The use of a saw by a child may concern
some of you, and should. The
following very safe procedure has been used by the developer of this program for over
35 years.
The student first clamps the material to be cut in a miter box with
a c-clamp. When the student is ready, the instructor is called over for
inspection of the setup and if it is ok, the student can
withdraw the saw from the holster under the bench. The student
partially withdraws the saw with one hand and then places the other
hand
on the top of the blade. It is withdrawn and then
placed into the appropriate slot in the miter box, with both hands still
on the saw. The hand on the top of the blade is then placed on the
saw handle. Both hands remain on the saw handle while sawing.
Removal of the saw from the miter box and placing back into the
holster is just the reverse.
Where appropriate, the kids are taught to vise when using the hand drill and hammer or even when filing and sanding.
There is a large selection of pre-made project models of varying complexity. The student selects one of the projects models, but the instructor may limit the complexity for each student depending on their readiness. With the model at the bench, the student may copy it, or use it as a beginning, then customize it with his or her own ideas.
There are no projects that would be considered weapons, such as knives, guns, etc.
Most of the wood is soft pine. It has been prepared into pre-cut
widths and thicknesses. After a woodworker builds a couple of
models, he or she can begin to make changes to the overal design.
Pine and Fir dowels are also available.
Items such as paper, stickers, etc. are available for dressing up
the project.