About the wood

[drewa]

http://www.thehardwoodstore.com/catalog.pdf

S2SOAKWHQTRSWN4 OAKWHITE 1 QTR SAWN $4.92 $4.59

Be kind,

Drew

[Nick]

"I don't care how long you've been an instructor, using expensive and rare wood is no way to learn new techniques in joinery."

I know; it’s a wonder I haven’t been arrested. So far, I have managed to pull off this charade only by carefully choosing only those students who are capable of learning. It’s not all that easy and I’ve had some close calls, believe you me.

[ATTACH]1981[/ATTACH]

Here’s a student project from the 2008 Academy, made from premium cherry at about $4.50 a board foot. The clock in front was Kenneth Pierce’s first attempt at fine cabinetry, while the one in back was made by Phil Stock, one of our Academy instructors. Or maybe it’s Phil’s in front and Ken’s in the back. Whatever, there is obviously a wide disparity in craftsmanship and it was lucky for me that Ken couldn’t see it.

[ATTACH]1982[/ATTACH]

I really threw caution to the wind during the second week when I let another first-timer, Jim Powell, build this tool chest from black walnut ($4.75/bf) and curly quartersawn white oak ($6.50/bf). I don’t know what I was thinking. Fortunately for me Jim was so inexperienced that he couldn’t see what a sad waste of wood this was.

[ATTACH]1983[/ATTACH]

My closest call was a few years ago. Working with a group of gullible eighth-graders, I misled them into thinking they could build a precise replica of the Wright brother’s 1902 glider from ash ($2.75/bf) and aircraft-quality sitka spruce ($18/bf). If that wasn’t dumb enough, the shop teacher – Marcus Pettitjean – and I took the young would-be airplane builders to Kitty Hawk and taught them to actually fly their mistakes. That’s a 14-year-old girl in the cockpit!

Things really started to heat up when we got back from North Carolina. The Ohio State Legislature sent each of the kids an official commendation. Marcus was given the Scott Crossfield Award for teachers from the National Aviation Hall of Fame. I was just about to sneak out the back door when the Affiliated Societies – a consortium of professional science and technology organizations – gave me their yearly award for innovation in technology education. Fortunately, no one really cared and I was able to brass it out without ever having to face the music for all the wood I had squandered.

Well, I am tired of squeaking by in the teaching business by the skin of my teeth. Thanks to your concern, I have seen the error of my ways and will endeavor to do better in the future.

With all good wishes,

[albie]

Nick,
You need to really careful now. You tongue may be permanently stuck in your cheek, then how are you gonna hold it when you saw?

AL B

[friscomike]

Sounds like somebody needs a couple of Sawdust Therapy sessions... mike

[jg300da]

Too funny Nick....I must admit you have quite the wit. I was wondering, with such a lengthy resume, why is it you are here online begging Shopsmith customers for ways to save your job?
Surely with your level of expertise and daunting skills you'd have thought of a dozen ways to right that sinking ship. By the way, i've seen some of your sawdust sessions and I don't think I've heard a lucid sentence yet (gotta love that fractured syntax). One would think your public speaking skills would be better, what with all the awards you've received.

As for the project pics, I would hardly call two boxes atop each other with store bought moulding attached "fine cabinetry". I'm not at all surprised that you would.
The second pic of the small set of drawers is interesting. But those drawer sides look like poplar to me. Run out of hardwood? Oh and I can't make out the dovetails in the drawer construction, or are they for more advanced students? Love those box joints too, really living on the edge there, huh Nick?. Leaving the plane in front was a nice touch..almost as if someone had used it.
As for the airplane, well, what can one say? No wonder everyone genuflects here each time you post. You are a true master, an artisan. Shopsmith is lucky to have you.

With all good wishes.

[a1gutterman]

grayhane,
jg300da makes a good point about trying the project however, as pointed out, the joinery is more than simple. If I were taking this on I would make some practice joints using pine or suitable scraps until I had the confidence to move to more expensive wood. Ultimately, there is no greater feeling than having two pieces of wood that you machined fit together like they belonged that way and that is most often achieved with practice.
Dick

I like this approach and use it frequently myself. It takes nothing away from what anyone here has said, it is educational, saves resources and allows for the finished product to be as it should be.

[a1gutterman]

...As for the project pics, I would hardly call two boxes atop each other with store bought moulding attached "fine cabinetry"...

Are you sure about this? I thought that the purpose of the Academy was to teach a student how to use the Mark V to make all of the pieces.

[jg300da]

I have no idea what the academy's idea of "fine cabinetry" is, nor do I know the skill level of each of the attendees. The point is that Nick made sarcastic remarks about the opinion I was voicing to another member, a member who privately thanked me for the advice. Further Nick is constantly speaking in a condescending tone to many members who have the audacity to voice an opinion contrary to his own. He is not all seeing and all knowing as some here would believe. As an employee of the company that WE as owners are keeping solvent, he needs to check his attitude at the door, and to stop embarrassing the company he represents.
There's my post. No sarcasm, just my opinion straight up. Let's see if Nick is capable of the same.

[dusty]

I'm sorry but I don't think that it is the "Company" that should be embarrassed by this thread and the many unneeded comments that are being made here.

It is this forum that should be embarrassed and I as a member certainly am.

We are all entitled to our opinions but some of them should be kept to ourselves. Bashing others is totally uncalled for and I don't care what the reason might be.

If you don't like something that is said here - PM the individual if you must. Don't involve "the forum", please.

[RobertTaylor]

while i must admit that the bottom drawer side looks like poplar. it is often hard to tell the difference between poplar and maple without having it in your hands. if you do a little research you will find out that poplar is indeed a "hardwood". mother always said "if you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all " bashing nick and/or shopsmith on their site will not get get you the fame and glory that you are striving for.