Fresh meat!

[KevM]

Hi all,

A quick hello - I finally joined the forum after a year or so of dipping in for the occasional lurk. I'm in the process of re-learning long-forgotten skills from school days and learn some that were never learned in the first place (how the master ever had the nerve to turn his back on a room full of hormone addled adolescents all tooled up with sharp-ish objects is beyond me!). I'm working primarily with hand tools (initially based more on the size of my garage/workshop/bikeshed/laundry room than ideological purity), but supported by a few power tools.

Cheers!

 

[AndyT]

Welcome along. I agree with your comment about school. I can remember thinking at school 'why are the wood and metal work teachers so boringly strict?' Now looking back, I'm amazed they weren't stricter.

Don't miss the sticky on good things to read online.

 

[Froggy]

Good luck Kev I'm sure you'll have fun and you've picked a good forum as I'm sure you know from you 'lurking'.

 

[nicguthrie]

Welcome to the forum, fellow Lurker-turned contributor!

I'm often in your position, unable to actually do the practical side, and somewhat of a well read beginner myself, so if you'd like any recommendations on books or good things to watch online etc. about wood work / turning / tools and such, just drop me a PM and I'll see what we can find for your tastes.

There's a helluvva lot of great info on the forum it's self, and links that come from it, as Andy says don't miss the stickys.

I loved woodwork and metal work at school, and hadn't touched a chisel or plane since then until about two years ago, it's a great thing to get back into. I was shocked when showing my nephew how to work the lathe the other week, apparently nowadays in schools they're so paranoid about the kids actually handling anything sharp, the school wood lathes are fitted with metal working style fixed cutters that you move by turning wheels... He was shocked that you could actualy hold a handtool to the spinning wood and get a good finish... We definitely got the better days of the education system.

Nic.

 

[riclepp]

Welcome to the madhouse that is the WSUK Kev, loads of really helpful people. No question is to small to ask and there are plenty of skill on the forums.

 

[KevM]

Thanks all for your kind words of welcome

 

[Tony Spear]

Welcome along. I agree with your comment about school. I can remember thinking at school 'why are the wood and metal work teachers so boringly strict?'

One of my favourites dates back to my apprenticeship.

We all had to do a fair bit of our first 12 months actually in the Apprentice School.

One day there was a relatively newby tapping away with a hammer, holding it "girly style" (i.e. close to the head, with most of the handle poking out the back) when along comes the Chief Engineer (himself a time-served Apprentice), he watches this lad for a few minutes, then grabs the hammer and a hacksaw, saws the handle down to about 5 or 6 inches then hands it back saying "Will this suit you better son?" (hammer)

 

[KevM]

I started my stretch working for the MoD and the culture in the apprentice school was pretty unforgiving - plenty of the slower lads spent a fair amount of time queuing by the stores counter, signed chit in hand, waiting for jars of K9P, left handed screwdrivers, adjustable hammers, sky hooks, etc, etc. It was with mixed feelings that I only spent a couple of months of 'acquaint' time in there. Happy days, jumpers for goalposts...

 

[mailee]

Welcome Kev. Your introduction reminded me of the school woodwork class when one day one of the pupils walked up to the teachers desk with blood dripping from his hand after slipping with a chisel. As the teacher inspected the wound which was a good deep one another pupil who was close by commented 'huh, it's only a scratch' :shock: Wouldn't fancy being a wood work teacher in a school myself. :roll:

 

[KevM]

We had a similar case, rather than get first aid kit the teacher used it as a 'teaching opportunity'. "Why did this boy cut himself?", "it was an accident sir?", "no, it's because he wasn't paying attention - now pay attention and get back to your benches!" - I'm getting all misty eyed just thinking about it.