woodwork
working in brockwood
In Woodwork, we’re building canoes. Through this collaborative project, I am learning how to use basic tools like the wireless drill, hand saws, block and rabbit planes, chisels, sanders,etc., as well as taking care of them, sharpening and readjusting the tools. I am also familiarizing myself with taking accurate measurements, steam bending of planks and ribs, placing and nailing the ribs, and using the band saw and drill press.
We have also renovated the school gym, by building a level floor, creating a framework of steel and wooden beams, building a sliding door, and redoing the walls with a wooden frame structure and plywood. That has taught me specificity with measurements, drawings and tools, as well as using the laser level, calculating how much to raise each batten as a level base for the floor.
Continuing with the Gym project we have built a ladder out of ash.
We calculated the correct size, made comparisons to other ladders and thought about customizations appropriate for its purpose in our use, resulting it to be 600mm wide and have a distance between the rungs of 300mm with 12 rungs in total. We then tested out how thick and wide the timbers of the side rails needed to be, to withstand the span of 3600mm, inspected the grain closely to check for any weak spots as results of curving or knots, and cut the timber for the rungs.
The rungs were made from timbers 720mm long and squared to 35mm. We used a spar gauge to mark ratios of 7 to 10 to 7, which is derived from the pythagorean theorem, to make it into an octagon before turning it into a 16 sided timber and then rounded. I worked with a blockplane, making sure to always work with the grain to not have it picked up by the blade and go all wonky.
To be able to execute this process well, it is important to have sharpened tools. I regularly take apart the blockplane, sharpen the blade and reassemble it.
I am used to working both in a team as well as on my own. I am learning how to plan and execute tasks, solve problems, and I am starting to understand architectural drawings and plans.
In the beginning, I was very shy and preferred to work in a team, to get other people’s opinions and share the responsibility;, but by now I feel confident and am also comfortable with fitting a plank on my own and making the decisions regarding the process.
We have also renovated the school gym, by building a level floor, creating a framework of steel and wooden beams, building a sliding door, and redoing the walls with a wooden frame structure and plywood. That has taught me specificity with measurements, drawings and tools, as well as using the laser level, calculating how much to raise each batten as a level base for the floor.
Continuing with the Gym project we have built a ladder out of ash.
We calculated the correct size, made comparisons to other ladders and thought about customizations appropriate for its purpose in our use, resulting it to be 600mm wide and have a distance between the rungs of 300mm with 12 rungs in total. We then tested out how thick and wide the timbers of the side rails needed to be, to withstand the span of 3600mm, inspected the grain closely to check for any weak spots as results of curving or knots, and cut the timber for the rungs.
The rungs were made from timbers 720mm long and squared to 35mm. We used a spar gauge to mark ratios of 7 to 10 to 7, which is derived from the pythagorean theorem, to make it into an octagon before turning it into a 16 sided timber and then rounded. I worked with a blockplane, making sure to always work with the grain to not have it picked up by the blade and go all wonky.
To be able to execute this process well, it is important to have sharpened tools. I regularly take apart the blockplane, sharpen the blade and reassemble it.
I am used to working both in a team as well as on my own. I am learning how to plan and execute tasks, solve problems, and I am starting to understand architectural drawings and plans.
In the beginning, I was very shy and preferred to work in a team, to get other people’s opinions and share the responsibility;, but by now I feel confident and am also comfortable with fitting a plank on my own and making the decisions regarding the process.
Gallery
