Hello all; I am a new member and I would like to take a moment to introduce myself.
I have been a wood worker for more than a decade, using both power and hand tools (Norm Abrams and Roy Underhill style) and from those references you can likely guess my age. I am looking to expand my skill set in the metal working and jewelry shops.
Once I get well acquainted with the spaces, I would love to teach wood working classes, using both power and hand tools. I will do my best to post the times I plan on using the wood shop. If you need help with a project I would be my pleasure to volunteer my skill.
To everyone reading this, have a most pleasant day and I wish you great creativity and success in your efforts.
Chad
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Awesome Chad! I love both those guys… but I was more of a spectator 
It will be cool for you to teach some classes! When you get ready, talk to me or look for a “How to Teach a Class” class.
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Thank you for the welcome. I want to get a feel for what classes would be valuable. I have been a chemistry professor for 15 years, so I feel comfortable in the classroom and lab (in this case wood shop). Personally, I have experience using both power and hand tools, but I definitely prefer hand tools. I was thinking of posting a forum “poll” to see what everyone would be interested in, e.g. techniques class, project class, furniture or small object etc.
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I have a small group of people trying to build electric guitar bodies. It would be super useful to have a class where we learned how to use a router with a router template. (I can make the templates for electric guitar bodies, but have never really used a router… and I have a few others who might feel better with that first.) If you need someone to help make router templates for a class like that, I can fix you up.
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That is an interesting idea, I will take a look at the router tables here. To template wood that thick you would want to cut the bulk of the waste away first. I don’t remember seeing any long templating bits in the drawer. How thick are the bodies? Additionally, the shaping could be done with hand rasps and files.
Chad
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Bodies for electric guitars are mostly 1.75 in. (Some are as small as 1.5 in…)
We might have to buy some special router bits for guitars…not sure since I haven’t much experience. Stew Mac has some router bits for guitars that might be good to look at.
For guitars, generally part of the material is removed by bandsaw before the routing.
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That makes sense, I can look at the router bits later. However, so long as they are not larger than 2" we should not need any specialty bits. It will just need to be a two step process, we can use a template bit to establish the shape, then flip the work over and do the other side with a flush trim bit. This process can be done with a router table, or a hand held router.
Maybe we should get together and make a prototype, then I can look at putting a class together. What times work for you all? If necessary I will bring some of my personal tools and bits, so we can get a feel for the process before investing in some shop ones. I will also bring some shaping hand tools. To me, making your own guitar feels very personal, so shaping the body by hand would be extremely satisfying.
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Very cool. Our guitar group meets on Tuesdays at 7pm which would be the best time. If that doesn’t work for you, then we can work out a good time. I am retired, so we could do it during the day…or most nights that are not Mondays or Wednesdays.
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On Fri, Mar 7, 2025 at 5:37 AM Chad Killblane via MakeICT Forum <noreply@talk.makeict.org> wrote:
| ckillblane
March 7 |
That makes sense, I can look at the router bits later. However, so long as they are not larger than 2" we should not need any specialty bits. It will just need to be a two step process, we can use a template bit to establish the shape, then flip the work over and do the other side with a flush trim bit. This process can be done with a router table, or a hand held router.
Maybe we should get together and make a prototype, then I can look at putting a class together. What times work for you all? If necessary I will bring some of my personal tools and bits, so we can get a feel for the process before investing in some shop ones. I will also bring some shaping hand tools. To me, making your own guitar feels very personal, so shaping the body by hand would be extremely satisfying.
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I can do a Wednesday or Friday afternoon.
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How about next Wednesday afternoon? Pick a time and I will add it to my calendar
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On Fri, Mar 7, 2025 at 8:13 AM Chad Killblane via MakeICT Forum <noreply@talk.makeict.org> wrote:
| ckillblane
March 7 |
I can do a Wednesday or Friday afternoon.
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How does 13:00 sound to you?
Chad
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On Fri, Mar 7, 2025 at 9:32 AM LaDeana Dockery via MakeICT Forum <noreply@talk.makeict.org> wrote:
| ladeana Classroom Management
March 7 |
How about next Wednesday afternoon? Pick a time and I will add it to my calendar
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I stopped by the shop on Saturday and there is a straight cut bit that will work, but it’s very dull. Additionally, a compression bit would be a better choice. I didn’t see one of those. I assume there is scrap wood available for practice. If not I might have some I can donate. I will be there tomorrow at 13:00 have a pleasant day.
Chad
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On Fri, Mar 7, 2025 at 12:53 PM LaDeana Dockery via MakeICT Forum <noreply@talk.makeict.org> wrote:
| ladeana Classroom Management
March 7 |
That works for me.
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We will make things work.
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On Tue, Mar 11, 2025 at 11:25 AM Chad Killblane via MakeICT Forum <noreply@talk.makeict.org> wrote:
| ckillblane
March 11 |
I stopped by the shop on Saturday and there is a straight cut bit that will work, but it’s very dull. Additionally, a compression bit would be a better choice. I didn’t see one of those. I assume there is scrap wood available for practice. If not I might have some I can donate. I will be there tomorrow at 13:00 have a pleasant day.
Chad
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I’ve been thinking about a router class, and I have been talking to some of my undergraduate students who have expressed interest as well. It occurred to me, we don’t have to have to be ready for the guitars, just to teach the class. Using a template is the same regardless of what you are making. So, I think I will develop a box making class.
I will need to do some prototyping and build some templates. I have no experience with CAD software or laser cutting, but I am interested in learning those skills. Do you want to work together on this project?
Chad
P.S. I will also develop a separate hand tool / custom shaping class. I need to get together with someone who knows machining, if we are going to make some of the tools we need. Do you have any recommendations or introductions?
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On Tue, Mar 11, 2025 at 5:11 PM LaDeana Dockery via MakeICT Forum <noreply@talk.makeict.org> wrote:
| ladeana Classroom Management
March 11 |
We will make things work.
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Yes. I would love to help you build some template and learn some CAD. Box making is an excellent idea. You will probably want to get with the CAD group that meets on Thursday nights. Jimmy Tenant from that group might be able to help you make some machined things or direct you to who could.
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On Fri, Mar 14, 2025 at 5:12 AM Chad Killblane via MakeICT Forum <noreply@talk.makeict.org> wrote:
| ckillblane
March 14 |
I’ve been thinking about a router class, and I have been talking to some of my undergraduate students who have expressed interest as well. It occurred to me, we don’t have to have to be ready for the guitars, just to teach the class. Using a template is the same regardless of what you are making. So, I think I will develop a box making class.
I will need to do some prototyping and build some templates. I have no experience with CAD software or laser cutting, but I am interested in learning those skills. Do you want to work together on this project?
Chad
P.S. I will also develop a separate hand tool / custom shaping class. I need to get together with someone who knows machining, if we are going to make some of the tools we need. Do you have any recommendations or introductions?
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Unfortunately, I teach a class on Thursday night. However, I can get in contact with Jimmy and look into CAD on my own. Do you have his contact information, and what CAD software do we use?
Chad
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On Fri, Mar 14, 2025 at 5:32 AM LaDeana Dockery via MakeICT Forum <noreply@talk.makeict.org> wrote:
| ladeana Classroom Management
March 14 |
Yes. I would love to help you build some template and learn some CAD. Box making is an excellent idea. You will probably want to get with the CAD group that meets on Thursday nights. Jimmy Tenant from that group might be able to help you make some machined things or direct you to who could.
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I can help you with the CAD part, just not the machining part. We can get together some afternoon, if that is convienient.
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For machining things we tend to use fusion 360 (or sometimes Blender). For just things we want to laser cut, there are lots of options…we can discuss.
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