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The Accidental Woodworking Club

Steve Maskery

Steve Maskery

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87290 Laplagne, France
I try to be a Nice Guy. It's been my downfall all my life. It gets me into trouble.
:)
A few months ago, someone posted on a local Facebook site that she wanted to learn some woodwork. So I invited her to come and visit my workshop. But life went TU for her and she never came.
Then a couple of weeks ago, another lady said she wanted to learn some woodwork. So I invited her over.
Next thing I know, they have contacted each other...
So we decided that they would both come over yesterday. Well that didn't happen because I was supposed to be taking SWMBO to St Malo for a ferry (which was cancelled, but no matter).
Then I get a message to say that one of them has some Dutch friends (there are a lot of Dutch over here, as well as us Brits) andthe guy wants to find some woodworking buddies.
So, it would appear that on Monday 2nd Feb, four total strangers are coming over to my place for woodworking conviality. Yikes!
I'm looking for inspiring ideas that are suitable for total newbies (Me : "What tools do you have?" - Fiona: "An electric saw and a set of chisels"). Ground zero.
I'm very happy if I can help others along the path that I have so very much enjoyed for all my life. But I don't want to become a de facto woodworking teacher. Been there done that.
So we'll see what happens. So far, I have suggested that suitable projects may be:
A Square of Thales
A bird box
And if they get ambitious, a pencil gauge.
Any other ideas for complete beginners?
S
 
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How to use a saw, chisels, plane without harming themselves?
If they find that too boring, they'll probably not come again and you'll be left with just those that are really interested.
Duncan
 
Well, with kids, my first woodworking project is making a shield and a sword.

Adults - they are less adventurous. A breadboard is ideal.
 
Square of Thales is a bit dull unless you've got a use for one. It's certainly interesting if you've got experience under your belt beforehand, but I imagine for the average hobbyist it's a bit 'out there'.

Roy Sutton used to produce footstools with complete beginners in machine work, quite clever really as a basic project as there isn't much material or technicality involved and you learn how to flat and edge timber on the surface planer and thickness them to dimension, then use the morticer to make the mortices in the legs, crosscut saw and bandsaw for the tenons on the rails, and then perhaps a router or spindle moulder to put a neat moulding around the top of the footstool and along the legs. By the end of a few of hours, they have a useable item for around the house which they made with their own hands.
 
I agree with the above that a bread/cheese board would be a good starting project.

Assuming you want to start on hand tools (I would), you could choose a design which either uses minimal tools or one which introduces a few different tools.

You could start with blanks that are machined close to final size but which still require hand sawing and planing to accurate dimensions and flatness (perhaps don't leave too much thickness to take off to save time).

Scallops on the underside could be done with a spokeshave.

A curved outline shape could use a coping saw and a spokeshave.

Or a rectangular shape with bevels could all be done with a plane (same applies to any straight sided shape - the Edward Barnsley octagonal breadboard is all made with a plane).
 
Sounds like a good trade off to me, half hour of shed fixin, before an hour's worth of woodworkin stuff? ;)
 
Something simple that can be made quite quickly is one of those “welly puller offers” … just look at the ridiculous cost of this one …

www.yesterhome.com

Oak Boot Jack

A unique take on the simple but effective boot-room classic. Doff your wellington boots with ease. The turned feet will stand surely on uneven quarry tiles or flagstones, providing a stable platform on which to de-boot. Handmade in the UK Made from solid oak Dimensions: Length 35 cm | Width...
www.yesterhome.com www.yesterhome.com
 
For the ambitious, I think the panel gauge is an excellent choice, to come away with a tool at the end,
would add more value to me.

What about some trestles like Ben's, with some long planks straightened up,
it would make for a decent fairly portable workbench.
Once again, for those with that mindset.
like Screenshot-2026-1-25 Shop Tour Andrew Hunter - YouTube.png
 
Steve…logistics. If they’re all making or doing the same thing at the same time, do you have enough tools?
 
Excellent idea Steve, but on a more mundane note, have you got adequate insurance cover for this sort of malarky in your workshop?? If you haven't and something untoward happens, you could be inhabiting a world of financial pain. I've wondered about doing this sort of thing here until SWIMBO points out that I don't have third party cover, so it's a non-starter - Rob
 
Seriously...

... First off, check the loo(s) are clean, etc., and signposted, before anyone arrives. Perhaps have some rules of the day/afternoon, such as phones on silent, and/or turned off.

Then, discuss with them what kind of woodworking they aspire to. Hopefully, given there are social connections already, there might be some consistency, although that's unlikely.

You'll probably get the, "Oh I only want to make..." thing, which is infuriating: you know they need to know basic stuff - safety, sharpening, types of wood, basic terminology, what some tools are called and used for, and so on. But, because they don't know what they need to know, they don't want to know.

I get this all the time with audio stuff, "I just want to make a nice PA sound, why should I be interested in decibels, cabling, acoustics and stuff?" The latest is, "Although I don't know how to do this, my time is too precious to learn what you tell me I need to know."

Honestly, that one is defeating me presently.

I used to get similar pushback when I was training engineers in the computer industry. At least that was a commercial/professional environment: they'd been sent on the course, but I still only had an hour or so at the start to win them over, or they'd check out mentally for the rest of the day.

Discussing their aspirations at the beginning really helps: naturally you have an agenda (learn safety and basic skills), but if they feel they know where you might ultimately be taking them, you should get more engagement for the basics. They might not initially realise, but that will probably set them up better than a chopsaw-cut, floorboard bird box (eight-year-olds tend to be driven differently!).
 
Eric the Viking said:
I get this all the time with audio stuff, "I just want to make a nice PA sound, why should I be interested in decibels, cabling, acoustics and stuff?" The latest is, "Although I don't know how to do this, my time is too precious to learn what you tell me I need to know."
Click to expand...
Got the T shirt on that, with setting up band rigs. :D
 
As a project for year 7 students (complete beginners) an 'L' shaped bookend or pair of bookends always went down well. It or they can then be personalised by sticking something to the horizontal section. Lots of basic skills and if you're adventurous, even a shovetail joint! - Rob
 
I'm going out on a limb here, but I think advanced woodworkers tend to have a different perspective than absolute beginners when it comes to what is important to learn. When I was a beginner, I couldn't have cared less about the techniques of effective sharpening or shop projects that enabled more shop projects. I wanted to make things that were immediately functional and useful. If I decided the bird box, hedgehog house, or bookends were a good start, then I would be interested in more detailed projects and learning more shop skills. Some of the suggestions appear to be more of the start of an apprenticeship program instead of helping neighbors test the waters.
 
Basics:-

Fixings:-
when, how, type, why.

Nails;
Screws;
Glue;

Holding:-

Clamping, Supporting, Holding Methods

Then when you decide on a simple project they would all like to tackle ask them which of the above they would choose.

Assume newcomer only has the equivalent of a workmate or old kitchen table to work from.

Any of them got basic workbench and vice (woodworking or metal) (Make a set of wooden soft jaws for the latter)

If they get the bug guide them to producing their own set of aids or improving work bench etc. for next project.
 
Woodbloke said:
Excellent idea Steve, but on a more mundane note, have you got adequate insurance cover for this sort of malarky in your workshop?? If you haven't and something untoward happens, you could be inhabiting a world of financial pain. I've wondered about doing this sort of thing here until SWIMBO points out that I don't have third party cover, so it's a non-starter - Rob
Click to expand...

I had to back away from "showing a friends youngster how to start woodturning" when a parent challenged me whilst giving a safety brief about rotating objects and dangers.

"SURELY YOU HAVE INSURANCE IF (****) HAS AN ACCIDENT ANYWAY, NO NEED TO FRIGHTEN (****) BEFORE YOU START"


I decided there and then to politely suggest that they find a local college evening class for said individual.
 
As Mike mentioned - bird box is a great idea. When my wife was doing her RHS horticultural qualifications, they all had to make a bird box. Needless to say this all got delegated to men who had workshops. They are easy to make, involve a bit of sawing, drilling and nailing. You just needs a few cheap planks and something to make the lid hinge with.
 
Good ideas.
I decided what we would make when 8yr old GS visited. My wood, my equipment.
Another thing I showed GS is grain direction for sanding or planing. Growth rings and what they can do to screws in soft pine. @$#$%^^
Also sandpaper grits.
All pics copied from internet, pasted into Word and printed, he received the hard copy.
 
The first cup of tea and cake will be, I expect, introductions and finding out quite how much they know. Will there be language barriers to overcome?
Before I ever picked up a tool of my own I had already learnt not to screw into end grain, the difference between a rip (panel) saw and tenon (crosscut saw). I knew the relative difference between “with the grain” and “against the grain” .
neither father nor grandfather had any sort of woodworking machines, just electric hand drills. I think introducing bandsaws, table saws and routers to total novices might scare them a little.
Do you have a stack of old woodworking magazines you could give them? My early projects were inspired by magazines articles. I chose the projects that required minimal tools, or I bought the tools to make the project. Blanket box (panels cut to size by the DIY shed) brass screw and cup washers into posts in each internal corner, primitive but still in use today, Towel rail using stair spindles, simple side tables using through dowels located with dowels points.
Might they be interested in making toys? Do they have and artistic talents? Using a coping saw to make simple puzzles can be very satisfying.
 
Depends what they mean by 'woodwork' really - DIY, furniture, toys and heirloom boxes are all 'woodwork' to someone. I used to help out at a local Scout Troop, we went with a scroll saw and took some patterns stuck to suitable timber already, and making an egg rack - essentially a plank of wood for some forstner bit holes and stick on some feet as the most basic design, but you can get fancier obviously. Keep the first meeting friendly and exploratory with them taking something home, could even be as simple as a pair of matching drinks coasters if you want something really simple. At the first meeting identify what their expectations are, it could just be a bit of company and a natter, and what you limitations are in terms of wanting/having time to teach them. Oh, and make sure they bring the baked goodies!
 
How about making a small jack plane? There's an "easy" option by making the body in two halves which makes cutting the mouth/opening a relatively easy sawing and chiselling exercise for them. Plenty of preparation and marking out as well. It could even be made from redwood with the radial section on the sole. Wouldn't have to have a handle either... maybe make it like the old so called technical jacks with a cut down section to hold. Then teach them sharpening, pop the sharp blade in and off they go! They could use their own blade of course.
 
I like starting with a small project: breadboard or step stool would be perfect. I'd start with stock preparation: how to make a board flat and square and be able to show that it is flat and square. A breadboard has the advantage that there is no joinery and very few tools required. Once you get to joinery (m&t or other) things get complicated fast.
 
I'm inclined to agree with the flat and square, face side face edge to start with.

It surprised me after I retired and built my worksop and started watching YT stuff that face side and face edge as the starting point was still the same as I learnt it at school over 60 years ago. Even making musical instruments as I do, I start off with a side and an edge flat and square to each other.
 
Malc2098 said:
I'm inclined to agree with the flat and square, face side face edge to start with.

It surprised me after I retired and built my worksop and started watching YT stuff that face side and face edge as the starting point was still the same as I learnt it at school over 60 years ago. Even making musical instruments as I do, I start off with a side and an edge flat and square to each other.
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Agreed Malc; basic woodworky stuff which I still do and one of the first things that the year 7 students were taught as well as how to put a plane down on the bench and the basic elf n'safety workshop rules...'specially not to stab each other with marking knives:ROFLMAO: - Rob
 
GaryR said:
I like starting with a small project: breadboard or step stool would be perfect. I'd start with stock preparation: how to make a board flat and square and be able to show that it is flat and square. A breadboard has the advantage that there is no joinery and very few tools required. Once you get to joinery (m&t or other) things get complicated fast.
Click to expand...
Yes a simple project to start, nothing more complicated than a lap joint, these need basic marking out, knife wall and a tenon saw, then the fun part chopping down from the end which will show them the way grain works. Maybe use them for a tool caddy? Pin and glue base?
 
Cabinetman said:
Yes a simple project to start, nothing more complicated than a lap joint, these need basic marking out, knife wall and a tenon saw, then the fun part chopping down from the end which will show them the way grain works. Maybe use them for a tool caddy? Pin and glue base?
Click to expand...
Come on Ian, you know what you really want to say.....tea pot stand!! :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:- Rob
 
Thank you all, gentlemen. Sorry I've not been back on this thread, I've been driving for over 9 hours today. Foul weather. Currently sitting in a fish restaurant in St Malo. The streets are narrower than my car...
The hotel is nice enough, but there is a funfair less than 50m from my room window 🙁
Anyway, thank you for all the input, much appreciated.
S
PS, a dog has just wandered out of the kitchen!
 
The ladies might be intrigued by the prospect of cutting trinkets and jewellery on a scroll saw….. and that’s as far as I’m going with that!
 
Steve Maskery said:
Thank you all, gentlemen. Sorry I've not been back on this thread, I've been driving for over 9 hours today. Foul weather. Currently sitting in a fish restaurant in St Malo. The streets are narrower than my car...
The hotel is nice enough, but there is a funfair less than 50m from my room window 🙁
Anyway, thank you for all the input, much appreciated.
S
PS, a dog has just wandered out of the kitchen!
Click to expand...
You must be tired from the stressful drive Steve. And to think you have to make a return trip. A few dogs hairs in your soup?
 
Woodbloke said:
Agreed Malc; basic woodworky stuff which I still do and one of the first things that the year 7 students were taught as well as how to put a plane down on the bench and the basic elf n'safety workshop rules...'specially not to stab each other with marking knives:ROFLMAO: - Rob
Click to expand...
We used to have to duck frequently in the woodwork class in 1963.
 
First thing you need to decide on Steve; how LONG is the 1st visit with the four is going to last for? What's the arranged arrival time - and departure? After initial introductions and "chatter" over coffee (tea?) and some nibbles - are they coming before lunch (are you providing/they bri ging/out to somewhere local?) - what time will be left after finding what/which tools they know how to use?

I'd suggest for day 1:
Tour of your workshop, descriptions of the tools and what to use for *as well as how to safely*... different timbers, grain direction, how to use a handsaw, mark up and *practice cut* to get square... chisels (types/uses) and mallet and marking knifes... fitting in lunch? - - - their questions/your answers/ *future plans for other visits*

I doubt you'll have much time to actually make anything *this 1st visit*.

When I did Falconry couses (1, 2 & 4 day) I'd an itinerary to try to keep to... didn't always pan out sticking to it... especially if I had the 4 maximum 'students' participate. Just try to enjoy your time with them...
 
They are due to arrive about 2pm. I'll be surprised if they are here past 5. This is a workshop visit, a hello, not a club as such. Hence the "Accidental" part of the title...

I really don't want to start a club, but I do want to be helpful to others, as others have been helpful to me. I learned my woodwork by osmosis from my dad*, who was a cabinet-maker, and my granddad, who was a pattern-maker. And then from mags such as The Woodworker and Fine Woodworking.

And when I was yearning to become the World's Greatest Magician I can remember, with thanks, Stan & Margaret, Joe, Bill, Mr Morton and umpteen others from 50 years ago.
It's about time there was some payback, don't you think?
S

* My dad did not want us to become woodworkers. He threatened to chop off our fingers if we did! He wanted us to do "better". Hmm. Have I? I'm not at all sure that I have. But when he was in hospital at the end, I had just finished my first set of dining chairs in Cherry, and I took one in to show him. I can't remember exactly what he said, but it was along the lines of "Good Job". He was proud of me.
And now I have to go.
 
There were a couple of things I felt I was good at while at school... art and woodwork. I couldn't see much of a future in Art so decided, as I enjoyed making things with wood, something in woodworking was the direction to go. Lined up an apprenticeship with a cabinet maker... Near the end of the 5th year of school time (back in 1965~66) the school had a "Carreers Advisor" visit... my father came along when it was my appointed time to *be advised*. He told my father I'd get a bet job if I stayed in school for 'O' levels...

After leaving school my first job was with a jewellers, followed by a job with the local council Markets department, then a company making 'mimic' panels... then a builders merchants, then plumbers merchants then with an Ironmongery... got made redundant a couple of times along the way. Other occupations came along until my retirement as a Cream Process Operator... My main regret has been letting my father follow that "Carreers Advisor's" advice...
 
I can just about remember the things we made in school woodwork class.

A totem pole like decoration; basically a bit of softwood approx 35x35x300mm with random housing type cut outs across it or at 45 degrees. Mounted on a square of wood with a dowel as a stand. To learn: sawing to a line, chiselling out waste to a depth, drilling straight, charred wood finish.

A tray. Plywood rectangle, to lengthwise strips of softwood to stop stuff sliding off, two handles - just cut from a square section bit of wood with a rebate for fingers. To learn: use of rebate plane.

A bottle carrier. Like a small tool tote. To learn: Half lap joints. Plough plane to make grooves for bottom.

This was the point at which those not wanting to do the O-level got out ...

A small stool. To learn - consistent dimensioning with a hand plane. M&T joints. Button fixing of top, the really important bit - the essence of woodwork as opposed to other materials is making something stable out of a material that is always on the move, but in a predictable way.

Then I think it was a more complex box with dovetails, then a chess table (I was getting ambitious here ...)

Periodically we were interrupted for demos of things like sharpening planes, a #80 type scraper, etc etc.
 
Id place a bet that they will come with their own ideas..
My ladies shedders do that. I don't worry about materials or ideas they come full of enthusiasm and energy!

Often they send men's shed stuff back to the finishing school!

A stool or tote is a good first project.

Also an apprentice toolbox is a good bigger project?
 
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