Good hand tool tests for an apprentice.

[Lemwise]

So we have a new apprentice at work but sadly the school she goes to doesn't spend a whole lot of time teaching her the hand tool basics. We've already thought of some things to teach her how to use hand tools such as planing a long and wide board of pine and make it completely flat and straight. Another thing we're going to teach her is making a mortice and tenon joint by hand with tight tolerances. Dovetails and mitres will of course also be a part of the course. If anyone has some nice out of the box suggestions I'd love to hear them.

 

[Holmz]

Stock prep: flat, square, straight

Joining: Dovetail, tenon

Smoothing/finishing: plane, scraper

 

[bobfog]

How much of her work will actually involve the tests you're proposing on a day-to-day basis?

Unless that's going to be her bread and butter, I'd get her learning the things that are going to be of most use, like using machine and power tools first and do the hand tool stuff as ongoing skill development.

I think it's an outdated cliche that you have to learn to use hand tools before power tools, if they're not going to actually be relevant to the work their going to be doing.

 

[Holmz]

On the other hand when the Kapex breaks, one does not have to go home if they know how to use a hand saw.
And if the vacuum stops, one could get by with a plane.

 

[flair woodworks]

Have her reproduce the Gotshall block.

 

[tiralie]

Chinese puzzle project is great for teaching accurate marking and precise chisel work. Great preparation for cutting dovetails. Gottshall block is also a good hand tool exercise.
Tim

 

[Lemwise]

How much of her work will actually involve the tests you're proposing on a day-to-day basis?

She won't be using her hand tool skills on a day to day basis but she will need them as a shipwright. We also feel it's important she learns this stuff because it helps you understand how wood behaves when you work it, how to set up a hand plane and which plane and blade to use for a certain kind of work. Something like planing a long and wide board flat and straight also helps to develop an good eye as you often have to sight down the board as you plane it. Another thing it does is develop your ability to detect how flat it is by hand. Dovetails, mitres and mortice and tenons is a good way to teach patience and precision. And as Holmz pointed out, she will need these skills for when she doesn't have access to power tools. Basic hand tool skills are the still the starting point for a good shipwright.

Of course we will also teach her how to use power tools and machines. She's an apprentice and doesn't yet have to produce like my colleagues and I do so we can take it slow and teach her the proper ways of doing things.

Edit: Never heard of the Gotshall block but I like it. Chinese puzzles is also a good one.

 

[Paul G]

A precise cube would be a great challenge.

 

[Lemwise]

Another good suggestion

 

[HarveyWildes]

Tuning hand tools and sharpening.

 

[rizzoa13]

I second the sharpening and tuning. Give her a mind for caring for her equipment and it'll translate into pride of ownership for her tools/work down the road.

 

[Lemwise]

Tuning and sharpening goes without saying. It's part of the skill set of every good shipwright.

 

[bertv]

You know that in Japan apprentices had to sweep the floor, fix tea, run errands, etc. for TWO years before they were allowed to touch any tools? Learning by watching! (And corporal punishment, too — apprentices were beaten a lot by their masters.)

 

[Lemwise]

But we're not in Japan. She's with us to learn the trade of a shipwright, not to sweep floors or run errands.

 

[Holmz]

You know that in Japan apprentices had to sweep the floor, fix tea, run errands, etc. for TWO years before they were allowed to touch any tools? Learning by watching! (And corporal punishment, too — apprentices were beaten a lot by their masters.)

There is also a japanese saying of, "one should beat theif kids daily, you may not know why but they will".
This is also somewhat out of vogue these days if the goal is to develop skills rather than discipline.

 

[sigmatango]

I'd say the first step is learning to maintain and sharpen tools.
Following that, the proper uses of chisels and saws, and then hinge gains.
A lot of hinge gains... 

 

[Paul G]

Lemwise, I'd be curious to know what path you choose for this.

 

[teocaf]

I'm seeing this as more of a listening test for the teachers.  I can just imagine a bunch of crusty old guys elbowing each other trying to impress the young lady with their knowledge under the guise of teaching. 
I would suggest restraint; make it known at the outset that you're available for help anytime and then step back and answer her questions as they come up in a succinct focused approach.  I'm sure she has her own agenda of what she wants to learn, and it would be counterproductive to overwhelm her with numerous assignments and exercises just because you think she ought to know them.

 

[derekcohen]

So we have a new apprentice at work but sadly the school she goes to doesn't spend a whole lot of time teaching her the hand tool basics. We've already thought of some things to teach her how to use hand tools such as planing a long and wide board of pine and make it completely flat and straight. Another thing we're going to teach her is making a mortice and tenon joint by hand with tight tolerances. Dovetails and mitres will of course also be a part of the course. If anyone has some nice out of the box suggestions I'd love to hear them.

Good craftsmen and craftswomen should be comfortable with both power and hand tools. There is a place for both. So this educational direction of yours is one I support. Suggestions?

Marking with knife and gauges
Grinding a hollow and sharpening chisels and plane blades
Four squaring a board
Pare with chisels
Chopping and drilling/chiselling a mortice
Sawing a tenon
Fitting the mortice and tenon
Sawing and chiselling housings/dados
Upkeep of saws
Rebating with a plane, saw and chisel
Use of a router plane

That should keep all busy for a while!

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Lemwise]

I'm seeing this as more of a listening test for the teachers.  I can just imagine a bunch of crusty old guys elbowing each other trying to impress the young lady with their knowledge under the guise of teaching. 
I would suggest restraint; make it known at the outset that you're available for help anytime and then step back and answer her questions as they come up in a succinct focused approach.  I'm sure she has her own agenda of what she wants to learn, and it would be counterproductive to overwhelm her with numerous assignments and exercises just because you think she ought to know them.

First of all, we're not a bunch of crusty old guys and the last thing that's on our minds is to impress some wet behind the ears 19 year old girl. We know what our skills are and we don't have to impress anyone. If anything, she has to impress us.

Secondly, we know what she has to learn and the skills she must have if she wants to be a good shipwright. My employer told her right from the start she's welcome to do her apprenticeship with us but it's our way or the highway. She might not like every assignment she's given but she has to trust that we know what we're doing and that we're working towards a larger goal. When we're done with her she will be the best shipwright she can be. I will even say that when we're done with her she will run circles around all of you.