“I mean, I did woodwork in lower school. But this is different. It’s not too hard, though, and it’s really enjoyable.”
9th Grade Designers have begun their last unit of Integrated Arts, working with professional wood and metal worker, Wyatt, and the team at Visual Philosophy studios in San Jose, to build cedar plank chairs to enjoy next year on the Armory patio. Across this year, 9th graders have learned to use a wide variety of digital and physical fabrication tools, have studied design elements around downtown, have hand- and CAD-drafted and built prototypes; now they turn their attention to designing something for human needs that will last a long time.
Students each use a partner to check their calculations and measurements, to rehearse the safety steps and operations for each machine, and to move large planks around the workshop. “This one [sander] is my favorite. It kind of hypnotizes you.”
[The sander] is my favorite. It kind of hypnotizes you.
Students at the studio have learned to operate a few new machines: a router table, compound miter saw, and wood planer. “I guess the planer surprised me. I never thought about how you get wood not to be splintery on the outside. Like if you’re going to sit on it or touch it, it can’t have all these bits sticking out.”
As they check their measurements and matching pieces against each other, they notice how just little differences—cutting on the inner or outer side of your mark, e.g.—can add up. Their teacher previews that this will be the next challenge. In furniture building, anything greater than 1/16th inch difference in matching pieces will make the whole not fit together. Our kids are up for the challenge!