New (old) Shop Smith owner

[idcook]

You have your orders sir. First things first.

Congratulations!!!!

[terrydowning]

Yup, that's a game changer all right.

[JPG]

Game changer? Wait another 12 years!:D

[teacherman]

Yup, that's a game changer all right.

I wish I could multi-quote. Another forum I used to be on allowed that, and it was on the same platform as this one. Game changer is putting it mildly! I never thought I'd have a kid of my own, so I am ecstatic to say the least.

Terry,
I looked at your before and after pics, and seeing what you have done with your machine inspires me. I don't know when I'll do it, or how much work it will need, but I love seeing old machinery restored. Thank you for posting them. I hope to be able to teach my son how to do woodworking on this machine in about fifteen years.

[rlkeeney]

Shopsmith Headstock Rebuilding Checklist.

This is a keeper. Thanks for posting this.

[terrydowning]

Thanks Teach,

Always nice to hear that.

Why wait 15 years? I started using my shopsmith at age 10 (Tall enough to reach and with Dad's supervision of course) By 15 I was flying solo and turning bowls and handles for shop projects.

I started working with tools and wood around age 5 with a pocket knife and smaller hand tools.
Compass saw
small back saw 10" I think?
8 oz hammer
butt chisels
block plane, etc.
and cutoffs from Dad's projects to build whatever we wanted.

Dad assisted with Pinewood derby car and rain gutter regatta construction efforts (mostly supervision) but also insisted we do most of the work using hand tools.

Teach them young and they will have the skills for life.

[teacherman]

Thanks Teach,

Always nice to hear that.

Why wait 15 years? I started using my shopsmith at age 10 (Tall enough to reach and with Dad's supervision of course) By 15 I was flying solo and turning bowls and handles for shop projects.

I started working with tools and wood around age 5 with a pocket knife and smaller hand tools.
Compass saw
small back saw 10" I think?
8 oz hammer
butt chisels
block plane, etc.
and cutoffs from Dad's projects to build whatever we wanted.

Dad assisted with Pinewood derby car and rain gutter regatta construction efforts (mostly supervision) but also insisted we do most of the work using hand tools.

Teach them young and they will have the skills for life.

I know he and I will be doing projects long before age 15, but I was thinking about power saws and such. I started a bit of lathe work in 7th grade shop, and sure had fun with it. I think 12 years old is a good time to start turning small things.

The high school where I work got rid of its wood shop.
There is an auction of some of the stuff next week, no spare money, definitely no room...

[terrydowning]

It's a common theme for middle and high schools to remove their industrial arts programs.

It doesn't jive well with:
"You have go to college to get a good job, so we're focusing on academics"
or
"A kid could get hurt and we could get sued"
Or, or, or, or

My district is fortunate in that they have kept the industrial arts program at one school out of the six in the district. The 3 newest schools never had classrooms or space allocated to industrial arts ever.

Students that want to enroll in Industrial Arts are allowed to transfer to that school since it's the only one offering that program.

They have:
Wood shop
General metal shop
Welding certification
General Auto repair
ASE Certifications for auto repair
Blue print reading
Drafting (both traditional and CAD)

They offer math courses targeted towards the industrial arts and sciences with lots of practical exercises and real world usage of Mathematics.

They also offer a targeted Language Arts program that teaches business communication and effective writing for things like quotes and presentations.

Their is talk of adding machining and manufacturing principles as well.

Students graduating from those courses especially the ones with certifications are ready to join the work force. It really is a great program for those students and parents that know college is not for their student and demonstarte a talent or desire for the industrial arts.

[charlese]

Three cheers for the school board in Newhall!:D

[teacherman]

It's a common theme for middle and high schools to remove their industrial arts programs.

It doesn't jive well with:
"You have go to college to get a good job, so we're focusing on academics"
or
"A kid could get hurt and we could get sued"
Or, or, or, or

My district is fortunate in that they have kept the industrial arts program at one school out of the six in the district. The 3 newest schools never had classrooms or space allocated to industrial arts ever.

Students that want to enroll in Industrial Arts are allowed to transfer to that school since it's the only one offering that program.

They have:
Wood shop
General metal shop
Welding certification
General Auto repair
ASE Certifications for auto repair
Blue print reading
Drafting (both traditional and CAD)

They offer math courses targeted towards the industrial arts and sciences with lots of practical exercises and real world usage of Mathematics.

They also offer a targeted Language Arts program that teaches business communication and effective writing for things like quotes and presentations.

Their is talk of adding machining and manufacturing principles as well.

Students graduating from those courses especially the ones with certifications are ready to join the work force. It really is a great program for those students and parents that know college is not for their student and demonstarte a talent or desire for the industrial arts.

Well, we do have a pilot robotics lab, and the shop is going to be some sort of technology lab, but there are no 3D printers there, and that is likely one of the biggest growth areas for the future.