Inspiration

http://www.coroflot.com/lisasandall/Chin-up-Storage-Unit/1

Hand Production Techniques - Lesson Four

In this lesson I learnt about all the different types of Mortice and Tenon joints, and I have listed a few below:

After learning about these types of joints, we then began to cut our own Haunched Mortice and Tenon joint. This is the joint I have found the hardest so far. I cut both the Mortice and Tenon which I believed to be a good joint, and chisel the excess away with a Mortice chisel, leaving about two mm one way, and then rotating the chisel and going back the other way. However once put together, the wood was not at a 90 degree angle, so I tried to correct this angle resulting in the joint becoming very loose, and defiantly needs working on!

However I did get my Lie-Nielsen saw today, and it made sawing much easier compared to the previous saws, and therefore have purchased a larger, cross cut saw.

Hand Production Techniques - Lesson Three

In this lesson I made the Bridle Joint. This joint involved similar tools as the previous lesson, however there was also the Mortice Gauge. This was used to mark out thirds and mark out two lines equally on a piece of wood. I also learnt a new technique of sawing, which is shown in the image below:

Cutting this way allows you to cut much straighter, and with much more control of the saw and the cut.

I also learnt about how to set up and use a hand router. This is hand router or "Router plane", has a small cutting blade at a 90 degree angle, and allows you to smooth off joints and make sharp edges. This was much more accurate and quicker then using a chisel like I did previously, and was so useful I went and purchased my own second hand one.

Overall the joint went really well, however I quickly learnt to hold the Mortice Gauge tighter, as it kept jumping and following the grain. Also I had to pair down along the cutting line as it was to tight, so next time I will cut closer to the line.

Hand Production Techniques - Lesson Two

So today was the first day in the workshop, and it was the halving joint we found out that we was going to be making as our first joint. We were going to be using spare pieces of wood to practise carrying out a variety of joints, and this was the first one.

The basic shape of the Halving Joint is shown in a diagram below:

This idea is to cut out sections on each side of the wood, and then they slot into place. To begin with, I learnt about the tools which wood be required:

. Marking gauge: Has one pin and is used to mark out a single line
. Marking Knife: Used instead out a pencil to add marking and cutting lines to a piece of wood
. Tenon Saw (Cross Cut): Used to cut against the grain
. Chisels: To remove waste and to flatten bottom of joints

Step 1:

Mark out the two joints on the face sides of each piece of wood. Mark out the waste.

Step 2:

Cut down the WASTE SIDE of each line, and one in the middle to make it easier to remove the waste later.

Do this on both pieces.

Step 3:

Using a chisel remove waste, and flatten off the bottom of both sides.

Step 4:

Pair down the sides until you have a perfect fit using a block of wood as a guide, and fit the joint together.

Overall the joint went reasonably well, however there were a few things which I felt need to be improved upon for the future. One problem I found was that my marking knife was not sharp enough, which meant it was hard to see my cut lines. Also I was not holding my finger out towards the blade, resulting in lack of control in the direction of cutting, and some of my cuts were at a slight angle. Finally I used the wrong face on one piece, which didn't matter for this, however would have meant that some aesthetic values and accuracy of the joints good become lost in a final piece of work.

Hand Production Techniques - Lesson One

Well this was the first lesson of "Hand Production Techniques", or making, and I was really excited to start making. Sadly we didn't get into the workshop today, however learn't some valuable information to prepare us for tomorrow (when we will be in there).

Process Plan:

We first learnt about the process plan, which is a table where you list all the operations, their estimated time and then finally their actual time, like below:

This kind of preparation is incredibly useful, as it allows you to see exactly what steps need to be taken, and what time needs to be allocated to each one. Also if anything takes longer then expected, you will know and can factor it in on further operations. Crucially you can also work out WHAT ELSE YOU CAN BE DOING!

I also learnt how to basically plane a surface, which is shown in the diagram below:

This diagram shows the direction (arrows) which you should plane. You should plane from corner to corner, then straight up, moving the pressure from the toe of the plane (front) at the beginning, to the sole of the plane (middle) and finally the heel (at the back) when you are at the far edge of the wood.

Finally I learnt how to sharpen tools. This is done so you can make more precise cuts and joints, it takes less physical effort and also saves a lot more time then trying to do it with a blunt tool. This includes learning about the grinding angels and honing angles of both chisels and plane blades.

Will blog again tomorrow about what happens during the lesson and hopefully add some photos.