High School Shop Class Workbench Builds...with pics

hot rod reverend · Feb 10, 2011

I am the administrator at a small academy here in Winchester, Viriginia. One of the classes I teach in the secondary department is Christian Life Management....quite a bit of hands on type work, where students are exposed to anything remotely tool related. We are almost done with our workbench builds (you may recognize some of the frame/structural builds I "stole" from this site and members' posts! :lol:

) After the workbench builds, we will start various projects to build backdrops, props, and other items for our drama department's spring production. Take a look. The four fellas in the first photo are proud of their work.

One of the things I did do was make sure that everyone understood the seriousness of the projects and getting those workbenches stout. I split up the 16 students into teams of 4, put them all in our large bus garage, and gave each team plans and tools to get the job done. Instructions on power equipment, measuring, proper tool use, and SAFETY are given each day. However, one of the requirements for any group to be "finished" with their build was for all 4 of them to stand on top of their workbench to show the strength and integrity of their work. They are LOVIN' it!

3 more benches are almost completed...

rickairmedic · Feb 10, 2011

Reverend Very Kewl indeed . One of the sad things taken out of most public schools today is the shop classes that gave kids a chance to experiance trades they may not have otherwise had the chance to experiance. I am quite impressed to see you showing these young men how to properly use tools to make something usefull with their hands . I dont know how many times I have heard /read that a shop class was where someone decided what their calling in life was . I look forward to more of your students projects .

Oh yeah hows that drop top ford comming

.

Rick

ambenz · Feb 10, 2011

Interesting job you have!
How do you refrain from jumping in and doing the projects yourself?!?!
I would be saying," NO, not that way, here's how I would do it!"
Also, how do you deal with "epic failures?"

NUTTSGT · Feb 10, 2011

It's great to see kids learning to work with their hands and actually build something.

Call me the Breeze · Feb 10, 2011

Awesome work with kids Rev.!

fringeofinsanity · Feb 10, 2011

Now that's awesome. So good to see young folks getting a chance to learn how to make something and get a taste of what could be a profession they love. I know of two teenagers that would be looking for the left handed screwdriver. Of course, that too says something of their father I guess. They've come to me to learn, which I make no claims to be a patient teacher, but this endeavor has taught me how to find some I guess.

e-tek · Feb 10, 2011

What's up with a man of the cloth in possession of "stolen" bench plans?? :lol_hitti

4StarCstms · Feb 10, 2011

rickairmedic said:
Reverend Very Kewl indeed . One of the sad things taken out of most public schools today is the shop classes that gave kids a chance to experiance trades they may not have otherwise had the chance to experiance. I am quite impressed to see you showing these young men how to properly use tools to make something usefull with their hands . I dont know how many times I have heard /read that a shop class was where someone decided what their calling in life was . I look forward to more of your students projects .

Oh yeah hows that drop top ford comming .

Rick

You know, I graduated in '98 (not really that long ago) and I had shop all FOUR years of HS and 8th grade too. My Jr and Sr year we had 'special' classes for those special students ... JR year the shop teacher (had the same teacher all but one year) was building a house, so we built ALL the cabinets for his new house. Sr year he convinced the school to let him do a 'building maintenance' class ... So we got to do some REALLY cool stuff fixing up the school property. We did stuff like build a new weight room, built new dug outs on the baseball diamonds, etc etc -

Being the typical high school student ... I REALLY resented the whole fixing the school thing ... however Now that I'm older and a home owner, those classes gave me the skills to repair my property as well as that of others, Plus cool skills for making furniture and other items ... I truly feel sorry for today's youth that is missing this opportunity.

To the OP... Keep it up!! :thumbup:

mdbeck1 · Feb 10, 2011

Welcome to the forum.

jvitez · Feb 11, 2011

'What's up with a man of the cloth in possession of "stolen" bench plans??'

Answer: Original sin. Mea Culpa.

:bounce:

wrnch · Feb 11, 2011

e-tek said:
What's up with a man of the cloth in possession of "stolen" bench plans??

I think the only thing that would make up for steeling the plans, is to post up the work instructions he provided to the students. Return what was stolen, as it were.

Plus it would allow me to "borrow" those plans.

hot rod reverend · Feb 11, 2011

Holy Cow! Where do I begin with all these questions? Thought we might get a few views, but nothing like this kind of response!

As far as how I deal with mistakes...that's a good one, because mistakes abound with some students. Before we began the shop classes, I took some time in the classroom to give a "quiz". I showed photos of about 35-40 tools through a powerpoint video that I had put together, numbered each frame, and then had them write down the name of the pictured tool and/or its use. Now, mind you, these are kids whose fathers ALL work blue collar jobs, there may be one or two white collar, but that's it. Our academy is fairly cheap when you consider tuition rates so we most of our student body comes from hard working homes and families who want this type of education for their children.

Anywho, when we graded the quizzes, the HIGHEST grade was one student who almost got 50% correct!!! Kids need to know what a coping saw is, what a bow saw is used for, different types of hammers, etc, etc. The results shocked me, but we got to work. As you might imagine, the students look forward to this class. I get questions like, "Can we have this 2 hours a day?" and so on.

As far as "stolen" workbench plans...I confessed my sin to God - they are all under the full atonement of Christ's work soooooooo...if you want to be "tempted" for the same sin, use the search box and type in "workbench" Quite a few excellent builds on this site!! You fellas know your stuff. The completed bench in the photo was given a shop light, a power strip, and a peg board backsplash.

When we first began, the kids laughed when I said, measure twice, cut once. They are not laughing now. "Sorry, Pastor Jessup, we should have cut this flush to the 2x4 - what can we do to fix this?" The good thing is, we use 2x4's only (simplifies things for a large group) for frame construction, and we already had quite a bit of plywood lying around and some 1x's a plenty from work done years ago.

I will keep you posted on further progress as come along. One of the workbenches is going to be a storage shelf because of height issues! :lol_hitti

dirttracker18 · Feb 11, 2011

Nice work Rev! Good to see someone taking on the challenge of revitalizing the skilled trades in youth.

We have had some turnover in our tech staff and a resurgance has begun here as well. The projects coming out or our shops are getting bigger and better every year. Our auto class now builds ice racers and our auto teacher has started St. Patrick Motorsports Club for those more into cars then athlectics. It is a huge hit!

Hate to hyjack your thread but I don't mind bragging about our team of teachers.

Here's the Motorsports club in all their glory.

sellersrodshop · Feb 11, 2011

hot rod reverend said:
Anywho, when we graded the quizzes, the HIGHEST grade was one student who almost got 50% correct!!! Kids need to know what a coping saw is, what a bow saw is used for, different types of hammers, etc, etc. The results shocked me, but we got to work.

thats because playstation & x-box don't have any games with these items in them. i'm afraid that video games, text messaging & having 4000 channels of cable t.v. is going to leave this & future generations inept. i constanly see kids who cant hammer a nail into a board but can text 100 words per min & flawlessly work all 14 buttons on a game controller.

thats a great service you are doing for those kids & like others have said, they won't realize it now, but those are things they will remember how to do in the future. in 10 yrs, they won't remember the name of the teacher who taught them algebra, but the guy who taught them "shop" will be remembered for life. :thumbup:

W650Mike · Feb 11, 2011

This is one of the coolest threads yet! A functional item built by hand; I hope those kids are proud and had fun.

Working with all of their fingers and not just their texting thumbs – you done good Rev.

Here’s an idea from my 9th grade metal shop class. We had to draft our plan, lay it out, then cut and assemble.

cowboy73 · Feb 11, 2011

It's great to see people teaching the younger generation some useful skills. I try an teach my kids when I can, but they don't really have the interest. I think some basics in tool use should be mandatory for all kids. Life skills, kinda like balancing a checkbook, basic math, and writing a letter. Reverend, may God bless you and your students!

Oggy · Feb 11, 2011

sellersrodshop said:
thats because playstation & x-box don't have any games with these items in them. i'm afraid that video games, text messaging & having 4000 channels of cable t.v. is going to leave this & future generations inept. i constanly see kids who cant hammer a nail into a board but can text 100 words per min & flawlessly work all 14 buttons on a game controller.

thats a great service you are doing for those kids & like others have said, they won't realize it now, but those are things they will remember how to do in the future. in 10 yrs, they won't remember the name of the teacher who taught them algebra, but the guy who taught them "shop" will be remembered for life.

The sad thing is some of the kids who can play the best, would be awesome at working with hand tools, All the hand-eye coordination they could probably work a coping saw like crazy on a piece of crown molding. I had shop one year, 8th grade, and I do still remember Mr. Tooth. I wish I could have taken more of it, but I had other classes that took precedence and didn't allow me to have shop class.

Ocho · Feb 11, 2011

Hot Rod Rev,

I was in a "vocational" class in high school. It was one of those go to school in the morning/go to work in the afternoon things. The guy who was our sponsor used our "class hour" to teach us real work life skills - reading blueprints, budgeting and balancing a checkbook, surveying, Roberts Rules (which I have used WAY more than I would have ever imagined) and working in groups or committees. We had a "project" every year we built to sell/donate using all of the above skills.

Mr. Sturch isn't around anymore...but that guy - aside from my Dad - made the biggest impact in my life. Maybe you don't realize it now. Maybe it won't be for all these young men. But one day, some forty something dude will look back on his time with you and be grateful. Before that happens, I want to say...Thank you.

Boiler · Feb 12, 2011

I think I had "shop" a few days a week for a quarter. Was a waste of time, didn't learn much. I wish I would have had more. I'm learning whatever I need online or from friends at work.

Though its 18 years later, and I probably use algebra as much as anything I learned in high school, except maybe typing.

I actually enjoy a good "train A leaves the station at 12pm, train B ...." question every once in a while for fun!

blazsawgras · Feb 12, 2011

good to see them building workbenches most teenagers now are playing video games. i am getting my teenage nephew working in the shop with me some he is starting to like it.

OccupantRJ · Feb 12, 2011

Some of the high schools and community colleges in my area are building homes on the school site, which are auctioned off each year, then another started next year. I drew the prints for the first one ever built at my school when I was a junior in high school 42 years ago. It's been going on that long. It's a good program for the kids. Keep up the good work, Rev!

hot rod reverend · Feb 12, 2011

Thanks for all of those kind responses, but as an educator, isn't this really my job? What good is Algebra/Geometry if you never see how it applies? The pages in the textbooks have to come alive...when they do, the students gain a desire to learn. For instance, suddenly the idea of a 90 degree angle and perpendicular angles and "congruence" all come into play when you build something as simple as a workbench.

You know what's really good? Watching a boy WRITE DOWN AN EQUATION on a piece of plywood or 2x4 to make sure the measurements are the same, etc.

I will be out of town all next week, attending a conference, but the boys will be busy at work with a sub. Hopefully I can keep you all posted on how things progress. Once the workbenches are finished, we will be using quite a bit of "weathered" wood (this is from an old cabin built before 1900) to make the props for our play. The play has a time setting of the colonial period and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

MBfreak · Feb 12, 2011

Hi Guys
Great thread. Hope the youngsters take the skills and do something wit them.
Also, a good book on the subject is " Shop Class as Soul Craft" by Matthew B Crawford.
I am 65 and work with electrical calculations all day. Coming home I love to go to the garae and do stuff with my hands AND head. This is a reality check, keeps me alert and is great fun. Everything from repairing an old car to painting window frames count!
Looking around for an evening class for welding, hope to improve my skills .

Best regards

Ola

InPrimer · Feb 12, 2011

Hey Rev, wish there were more people like you. Thanks for passing on your skills to the next generation

no2tracks · Feb 12, 2011

I work in a shop and constantly see non shop employees come in that don't know how to use tools properly, or use the incorrect tool. Our ex shop manager probably ruined more tools and parts than anyone. It sad to see so many middle and high school shop classes getting the axe because of money. I learned a lot from my school shop classes and enjoyed them too. Good on ya for a job well done :thumbup:

Lots of good ideas in this thread too.

ChristopherLutz · Feb 13, 2011

Rev -

Thanks for posting. Inspired a number of memories and opinions - firstly, in my 16 years of education (I've got an undergrad in Econ) - there were/are maybe 3 teachers that really stood out and made an impression....that's not a good ratio, but these 3 are still with me today...and I'm a good 20+ years out of school.

I wrote that in response to your thoughts about "this is my job". There are many ways to do a job - you've got the opportunity to make an impact for life and it sure seems like you're the kind of guy to do it.

2nd thought: for the last 10 years, I've watched a whole bunch of "white collar" jobs move to countries where the labor rates are much, much cheaper. I'm not convinced traditional college is the answer for many of this countries youth (I'm not talking aptitude....more about where the opportunities will be)

3rd: I worked with a number of folks from Europe several years ago....they have an aptitude test given after 8th / before high school. Breaks kids into groups that are college bound vs. vocational. My public school had nothing of the like....I ended up taking shop classes as electives, because I was interested - but...that was just falling into something.

Thanks for sharing Rev - you can see how much this group admires people who take time to help others.

hot rod reverend · Feb 25, 2011

Time for an update. I had been out of town as previously posted, and we also experienced a few more snow days with no school. The pics show some of the progress. We are just about finished with the two large work/storage benches (lighted and with pegboard as well), and I have yet to take a picture of the workbench that has casters. (mobile workstation, with lower shelf - special story on this one...this team of 4 boys really had some issues getting the measurements right) "measure once, cut 7 times!" :lol_hitti

I had to go back several times and say, "Tear it apart, that will NOT work" :eyecrazy:

Last week, another staff member and I disassembled quite a bit of an old log cabin (from the early 1800's). You couldn't believe the wonderful rough cut wood, hardwood, heavy oak flooring, etc. Beautiful stuff! The students are going to begin removing the old square head nails, cleaning up the boards with Murphy Oil Soap, and helping take an inventory of what we have on hand for prop building, background structures, etc (the spring play is set during the Revolutionary War days). I will have to get some photos of an old washstand that we salvaged in the "ruins". It is all there, and not too badly damaged, but it was in pieces. I would imagine that it is a turn of the century unit. We collected all of the pieces and will have one of the teams work on R and R for that antique - should be a great project.

High School Shop Class Workbench Builds...with pics

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