Introduction
This induction is required for any member to use the wood shop. Its scope is to introduce new users of the shop to:
- General safety notes, introduction to the shop, and the norms and processes that keep us operating
- Instruction and use of a selection of the most used hand tools (marking, measuring, saws, chisel, hand plane).
- Instruction and use of the most commonly used power tools (chop saw, pillar drill, and orbital sander) and extraction.
Tools will be introduced and explained with an emphasis on safety for the user, others in the shop, as well as the tool.
In order to get onto the waiting list, please take and pass this Quiz (with 100%): Basic Wood Shop Induction Quiz Feel free to take it as many times as necessary.
Induction Content
Part 1 - Introduction to the Wood Shop
Part one of the induction, covering the introduction to the shop, safety procedures, and workshop etiquette is recorded on the page linked below. All of this material is to be covered in the induction:
https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/7419
Part 2 - Hand Tools
The second part of the induction covering safe usage of hand tools references the following tool pages. Please read them:
General Hand Tools
Hand Planes
Hand Saws
Wood Chisels, Mallets, and Hammers
This page contains more information than is covered in the Basic Wood Shop induction. While all of the information recorded there is useful, this part of the basic induction will consist of:
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The location and use of marking tools (knife, marking gauge)
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The location and use of rulers and squares
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Verbal introduction to the types of saws we have and their use - western vs. Japanese (push vs pull stroke), as well as the set of saw teeth the relation to cross and rip cuts.
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Practical example of the use of the Japanese saw (as these are much easier to break), along with use of the square and marking knife. Inductor to watch for inductees pinching the blade, and offer instruction on how to cut a straight line on a piece of scrap.
Important note: the Japanese saws are not inherently better or worse than the European saws. The sole reason they have been included as a practical in the induction is because they are easier to break if treating them like a European saw, and have been broken in the past.
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Verbal introduction to the use of the chisels - where they are, proper use. Difference between hammers and mallets. The importance of sharpness, and the description of the sharpening technique used at SLMS for the Narex chisels.
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Practical example of chiseling out a small rebate from a piece of scrap using a marking gauge and square. Inductor to watch for safe usage of the chisel, inductees not slamming the chisels with the mallet.
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Verbal introduction tho the use of the hand plane, demonstration of removing and setting the blade, and demonstration of planing. Reiterating the space rule on sharpening. Inductor to give a practical example of taking a few passes with the hand plane.
Part 3 - Common Power Tools
Tools to be covered are:
- Handheld tool dust extraction. Demonstration of the operation of the Fesstool mobile extractor.
- Demonstration of the operation of the orbital disc sander. (current documentation on this and other tools here)
- Fixed tool dust extraction. Making sure the dust gates are appropriately opened/closed.
- Demonstration of the Axminster belt sander.
- After instruction, inductees will move and reset the vertical and horizontal blade angles of the Hitachi Mitre Saw, turn on extraction, and make a cut.
- Location of power drills, etiquette with batteries, where to find bits. Tool page here: Impact driver and drills
- After instruction on the use of the adjustable table, fence, and depth stop, inductees will set the depth stop and drill a hole to the predetermined depth with the Pillar Drill
- Verbal overview of the compressed air lines. Demonstration of how to safely disconnect the air hose.
Where do I go from here?
Getting inducted on other tools
Please see this post on changes to getting signed off on other tools: New induction format for tools in the woodshop after the basic induction Whereas the basic shop induction has very little pre-work, with the assessments for the larger tools there is the expectation that you can prove to the inductor that you can use the tools safely.
Your first stop is to read and fully understand the entire tool page and risk assessment for the tool you’d like to be added to the tool control list. This is important to do regardless of your level of experience. For members with prior experience on these tools, it is important to understand any unique features, rules, or processes we have at SLMS. For less experienced or new members, the tool pages and linked videos are an excellent place to begin understanding the safe usage of the tool.
Another way to learn is to spend time in the shop. Observe others using the tools and ask questions. Work on projects and develop a strong theory foundation using the tools covered under the basic induction. Reach out to the @woodtechs and @wood-inductors lists for assistance. @woodtechs and @wood-inductors have authority to allow you to use the tool under direct supervision if they are comfortable. Some tools have highly recommended prerequisites that will make use of the tool significantly easier, as well as give woodtechs and inductors confidence that you have developed a strong basis in theory and are more likely to be safe and treat the tool well:
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Planer-thicknesser. Hand plane. You have significantly more control with a sharp, waxed, well adjusted hand plane than with the planer. Using a hand plane makes it significantly easier to understand the “theory” behind flattening wood and can help avoid a number of otherwise avoidable process and safety mistakes.
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Table Saw. Band saw/Hand saw. Chop saw for cross cuts. The band saw is generally much safer to use than the table saw (it cuts down), and can do many similar cuts. Rip cuts can be made easily with a hand saw and quickly planed flat to a marked line.
Inductor notes:
Begin the induction by asking the inductees to introduce themselves and give their woodworking experience. Other than being a good way to start the session, you can also tailor the session to the experience level of the group:
- for inductees with little or no past woodworking experience, look for areas to correct on basic technique - often stance and control over the tool during the practical parts. Potentially offer additional instruction on theory and technique if time permits.
- for those with professional experience, the important things to convey tend to be things like specific SLMS workshop policies that may differ from other shops e.g. how do we sharpen, don’t drill into the workbenches, etc.
- for some inductees with extensive hobbyist or self-taught experience, there can sometimes be some learned safety habits that we would like to not carry over into practice at SLMS