First woodworking projects

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:10 pm

Based on the Mickyd's woodworking thread what would most of you recommend for a first woodworking project?
I always recommend getting a few hand tools and learning the basics. That first project is to cut a board about 1" (¾") x 4" x about 12" and squaring all corners and squaring all edges to the face. Then make a bird house or two. Like that is going to happen on a forum about a power tool...

Second choice... I would advise building a basic workbench (no small pieces) or a pair of sawhorses and a wood top to work on. Then make a simple set of shelves like book shelves but for the shop. Like these but put a back in it.
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infshe/infshe2.html
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What would you recommend?

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:29 pm

robinson46176 wrote:Based on the Mickyd's woodworking thread what would most of you recommend for a first woodworking project?
I always recommend getting a few hand tools and learning the basics. That first project is to cut a board about 1" (&#190]http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infshe/infshe2.html[/URL]
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What would you recommend?

I recall, in Jr. High wood shop, making a desk pen holder, a set of book ends and a 3D chess board. In Sr. High wood shop; turned bowls, made a knick-knack shelf and a jewelry box. Nothing spectacular, but required learning certain techniques to do each. I think, that for a person new to woodworking, ShopSmith has thoughtfully created their Self Study Course. By following the lessons, you can learn every basic operation for both your tools and your projects. You will be able to build book shelves, picture frames, planter boxes, your own jigs, moldings, tables, bowls, spindles and much more.

I wood recommend that if you are new to woodworking, you use this course to build your first projects. Do this and you will feel comfortable doing all of your projects.

For many of us, the Self Study Course came with our Mark V's. If you do knot have one, click here for more information. Even though it says that there are 10 lessons, mine is about 200 pages large and definitely teaches more then 10 things.

shipwright · Post by **shipwright** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:58 pm

a1gutterman wrote:I recall, in Jr. High wood shop, making a desk pen holder, a set of book ends and a 3D chess board. In Sr. High wood shop]here[/URL] for more information. Even though it says that there are 10 lessons, mine is about 200 pages large and definitely teaches more then 10 things.

RIGHT ON TIM
I've looked through it and I think a beginner could do no better. It's almost as if SS printed it for just that reason.

Paul M

wlhayesmfs · Post by **wlhayesmfs** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:07 pm

I remember my first wood shop project and it was a small wheelbarrow and I still have it. I am 62 at this time. It was made with all hand tools, had to square it with a handplane (Farmer sound familiar?) and nothing could be done on a power tool until we perfected the hand tools. Not very pretty for someone 13 but it looks great to me and got me started in wood.

8iowa · Post by **8iowa** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 10:05 pm

Francis:

Ah........the memories from long ago. In my Jr. High woodworking class we had to square a board with a hand plane. Later, I made a gun rack for my 410 shotgun, and a coffee table. I still have these items, including the shotgun.

kalynzoo · Post by **kalynzoo** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:07 pm

I still have the shoe shine box I made for my father in Jr. high.

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:39 pm

Wooses I say, wooses.

Go for the gusto!!!!

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:51 am

I only had one year of "shop" class in high school and that was divided between wood shop AND metal shop. Most of the time we just sat in the classroom listening to music, but I did manage to put together a couple of projects.

I made a little stand for my sister's stereo. It had drawers on the sides, and a cassette tape storage area. It was crap and looked like it. It completely fell apart after a few years.

I also built a desk pen and notepad holder for my dad. I even used the bandsaw and cut out letters for his name. It was pretty bad too, but it has at least held up and is still on my dad's computer desk.

And I didn't do much "woodworking" since then until the last year.

I have looked through the Shopsmith Self Study Course and think it is an excellent guide for a new woodworker. I plan on taking my son (he just turned 10) through the course this summer once my Mark V and the bandsaw is fully functional.

honeywell · Post by **honeywell** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:10 pm

heathicus wrote: I plan on taking my son (he just turned 10) through the course this summer once my Mark V and the bandsaw is fully functional.

Good for you. My 11 yr has expressed an interest in the lathe. I want to get him into pen turning. He had woodshop (tech ed) in 6th grade. He made a giant clothes pin and a mousetrap car. I wish I can get my 13 yr old into woodworking.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:57 pm

[quote="honeywell"]Good for you. My 11 yr has expressed an interest in the lathe. I want to get him into pen turning. He had woodshop (tech ed) in 6th grade. He made a giant clothes pin and a mousetrap car. I wish I can get my 13 yr old into woodworking.]

Three of my four children have been into woodworking at one point in life or another. My nine year old granddaughter and two grand sons have a ball every time they set foot in Grandpa's shop. My first project was a pair of bowls I turned in Junior High School (for you youngsters that's middle school). I gave those bowls to my Mother and inherited them when she passed on. We still use them. Jim