To teach the students to be competent in the use of a variety of tools and equipment, I try to do a project for all the machines and some of the power tools. Students enjoy cutting designs out of wood or ply. The aim is to fit a mirror on the back. This year (2016) we will look at possibly fitting a clock to it.

Feathers and flowers

Learning to solder does not need to be boring... creative YES. With copper foil and lead solder the students can create anything suited to these mediums (oh yes time too). This framing of a feather  demonstrates what can be done to make a hanging piece of art. Suitable items are pressed flowers or anything flat. Earlier in the blog is a fine example of a leaf skeleton in glass.

A simple but lovely bowl

Turned in 'Kauri pine' with a Danish oil finish.

Stunningly beautiful

Again one needs reminding that this is only the second time that these students have created work on the lathe. This bowl was made by one of the year 10 girls, It is mahogany with a danish oil finish... and the gold leaf in the center.

SIMPLY ELEGANT
It does not take much to get a good looking bowl. This one was 'keep it simple' as the grain was very interesting and with all its own lines the bowl did not need any more.The finish on this bowl is a soft sheen so that the grain remains prominant.

Mango bowl     ...in the making.....Above

see the beauty of the finished item

Another lovely bowl turned out of mango tree. The idea was to capture the changing grain that is found where the tree splits into two branches. At any time, the tree has to add supportive material to its structure the grain change. The aim of this bowl was to show the outsides as they were but to turn out the bowl from the inside and show the beautiful grain. The timber was green for turning and needed plenty of care to prevent it from cracking. The final result was a pretty awesome bowl. (The base of the bowl is also shown.)

Great work on the bandsaw

This student only arrived midyear to the course and so had to catch up on plenty of work. This still did not deter him from taking on an interesting design for his bandsaw box. The wood is Camphor Laurel.

GAS WELDING

The students complete work on the Oxy-acetylene in year 9 where they are taught to do braising. In year 10; however, they step up to gas welding. After their initial training, they assemble a basic table. The top is usually wood; however, students may finish it off to their own liking.

BANDSAW BOXES
Beautiful work done on the bandsaw using Camphor Laurel. The base in these designs is covered with 3mm leather.

This bowl was turned out of some bloodwood from the students farm. This is a hardwood that has a beautiful grain.

Beautiful bowls

As my students only turn a small bowl in year 9 it is interesting to get them to challenge themselves to design a larger bowl or find some wood that would be beautiful in its own right the next year. So for many their bowl would be the second time that they have a chance to explore the grain of the wood as they cut its fibres to create.... One student arrived with a hollow root of a tree, cut on a riverbank in the bush. Turning this was going to be interesting, as it would require skill and patience. So here is what he came up with.