After a few creativity-building lectures and exercises last week, we started on some basic skill-building in the woodshop. We did this same Shop Certification Project last year (detailed step-by-step account of the whole project here). The one-day project teaches safety, accuracy, layout, and basic woodshop protocol though the fabrication of a simple wooden object. The 2-piece object requires the use of a chop saw, table saw, drill press, band saw, sander, and router.

Each student is given a rectangular piece of wood that they must cut to specified dimensions using the chop and table saw. Using a ruler and triangle, they must then locate and drill a hole in the piece, then use the bandsaw to cut an arc at a particular curve and dimension. Students had to work off of (and learn to read) a shop drawing, and help each other through the individual steps (with strict instructor supervision and safety equipment, of course).

The simple task develops both the layout and production skills necessary for our next project: mini-cornhole boards. Because both precision of dimensions and production can be new to students, the certification project is crucial in building confidence and collective safety within the woodshop space, which we’ll be spending a lot of time in. The videos included here show the use of the drill press and bandsaw, and photos of each step of the process.