Replies

1. 
   RalphBarker | Feb 12, 2011 10:29am | #1

   I applaud your efforts, Chris. My suggestion would be to hit the phone books and call shops in your area. Explain your objectives to the shop owner/manager, and see what you find. Your local library may have phone books from surrounding communities, as well.

   As to tool types, I think the best way to appreciate the added efficiency of power tools is to learn how to use hand tools properly. You then have the option of choosing between the satisfaction of using hand tools and the efficiency of power tools. Plus, with hand tools, you can keep on working when the power grid goes down.  ;-)

1. 
   woodhouse94 | Feb 12, 2011 01:58pm | #2

   Well, i think i will start calling soon. At school we learn power tools more than anything so i will be set with that, its just my teacher never really showed us the tricks to useing hand tools properly. He also showed is the quick way to sharpen our tools and never went into detail. Also i know he knows how to use hand tools well because he always tell us storys about when he worked he used hand tools alot. The main tools i would like to use exsclusivly are Planes, hand saws, chisels, bit and brace, and for turning a treadle lath. I have learned alot about planes from FWW from articles and such but no one really talks about hand saws such as panel saws, but thanks for your help.

1. 
   RalphBarker | Feb 12, 2011 02:58pm | #3

   books and articles

   There are numerous books and old articles in the FWW archives that will help get you started with hand tools. One great reference is "Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking: A Step-By-Step Guide to Essential Woodworking Techniques" (Bk. 1 & 2) [Paperback] from Amazon, along with Book 3 on furniture making:

   http://www.amazon.com/Tage-Teaches-Woodworking-Step-Step/dp/1561580686/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297540343&sr=1-1

   http://www.amazon.com/Tage-Frid-Teaches-Woodworking-Book/dp/091880440X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297540343&sr=1-3

2. 
   mvflaim | Feb 12, 2011 09:07pm | #4

   A good book on hand tools

   A good book on using hand tools is Hand Tool Essentials by Popular Woodworking books. Also any of Roy Underhill's Woodwright's Shop books are good.

2. 
   BruceS | Feb 12, 2011 09:56pm | #5

   Try, No Do

   Get in contact with Colonial Williamsburg and see if there any internship jobs at  the woodworking shop.  There may be some summer jobs open for seasonal "apprentice"   And that would be a great hands on job and learning experience.

3. 
   woodhouse94 | Feb 12, 2011 11:32pm | #6

   i just..

    I just looked at the furniture institute of mass. It is very expensive and no rooms are provided so on top of 20,000  i would need to pay for a apartment. I also looked at the colonial Williamsburg website and there wasn't much about apprenticeships but i will call soon. I am kind of looking for a shop that i can learn from the journey men and work for a low rate and then work into becoming a full on journeyman. My hope is to some what follow in the foot steps of thomas. I will start calling around then it comes closed to the summer. Also i am most likely going to a local public college and get a degree in business so i wont fail when i acquire the skills to run my own company. 

    

1. 
   sapwood | Feb 13, 2011 12:33pm | #7

   Shops that only use hand tools are few and far between. I think your quest for traditional experience will be better served to look for a custom shop that uses a rich mixture of hand and machine processes. (There are many of these types of shops.) You will see new and valuable uses of machines and how hand techniques can augment those results. True, you will probably not be trained in the classical sense but you will be given training. Time then spent on your own can nudge you into higher levels of hand tool expertise.

4. 
   labolle | Feb 14, 2011 05:04am | #8

   This is EXACTLY what you are looking for.

   http://www.woodwrightschool.com/

   Roy Underhill used to be a master caprenter at Colonial Williamsburg and has had a show on PBS for 30 years now where he and his guests use only human powered tools and machines.  The past few years of those episodes from The Woodwright's Shop are availible to watch online.

   http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/2700/2701.html

   He has also written several books focusing on old world craftsmanship and traditional hand tool use:

   http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=The+Woodwright's+shop&x=0&y=0

   Enjoy

5. 
   labolle | Feb 14, 2011 10:17am | #9

   The Joiner and the Cabinet Maker

   Where did you buy that book?  I can't find it on Amazon.  I'd love to read it.  Please send me a link!!!

   Roy Underhill did an episode of The Woodwright's Shop based upon that book and the tools that young Thomas from that book would have used .  

   http://video.unctv.org/video/1772022599

   From that link I sent you earlier to the Woodwright's School  send him an e-mail and I'm sure he will point you in the right direction.  

1. 
   mvflaim | Feb 15, 2011 09:07pm | #11

   here you go

   http://www.lostartpress.com/product/b3ffe6ca-66df-46b2-a535-5f58e4cbfb8a.aspx

6. 
   woodhouse94 | Feb 14, 2011 10:18pm | #10

   Funny thing

   I saw the book on the woodwrights shop.... i watch the shop every thursday. I love the woodwrights shop he is such a great carpenter, i think i watched every episode on the web site. Also i found out about the book on the show. Lie nielsen sells the book and dvd for like 29$ + s&h. I got mine from the lost artpress for a total of 38$ http://www.lostartpress.com/product/b3301887-95d9-4e9d-bced-37c9ef4ccb0e.aspx   i dont know which is cheeper i just saw it there first.  Also lee valley has the book to i would just google search the joiner and cabinet maker.