One of the things we talked about last night at our meeting was project classes. An obvious idea is making things for Christmas gifts. How about making small to medium size boxes with finger-joint corners, using nice hardwoods. Here are a few ideas:
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A little off of your topic here but it’s a lead in.
There was a Rumor, gossip or hearsay about adding a CNC router to the wood shop. If there is some truth here I have several Christmas/Holiday patterns that I would donate.
Yes. The rumor is true. Yesterday the initial payment was made to buy the CNC machine. It will have a 5’x10’ table. Delivery is expected near the end of December, however. So, we won’t have it set up for use until January.
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OK.
Well I have some Valentine patterns too.
And I’m generally available if you want assistance with the CNC. I’ve hand my own for many years now.
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Good to know. Thanks.
BTW I am VERY familiar with the machine DMS bought. I used to work at Multicam. The machine is a Multicam 1000 series router (1-204-R-C). I did some of the engineering for the design of these machines and developed training materials as well.
A few highlights of it:
60"x120" bed, 6" Z, 4.5" clearance
rack and pinion with linear bearings on x&y, ball screw on Z
t-plate bed with vacuum hold down with 8.5 hp blower
ER25 4 HP spindle
The controller is made by Extratech and is the same controller used in Epilog lasers. It has an ethernet interface (not parallel - UGH) It has nice features to set surface Z and max Z(so you don’t route the table). If you break a bit mid-job you can change it and use the resume feature to continue where the bit broke in the job.
These machines are also easy to use and very dependable. Multicam uses their own machines to build other machines. When I was there they had a 20 year old machine they still used for drilling holes for electrical panels. All the sheet metal for their machines is cut on a Multicam plasma.
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I will be doing several classes in the next few weeks on Saturdays on corner joinery that could be used for small project boxes, along with building several corresponding table saw sleds.
Alex has also picked up a lock miter router bit at my request that I will also be giving a class on about its use and setup.
Paul W.
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Paul, That sounds perfect. Will you be using the Incra router table to create some of these? In particular, finger joints (as well as the lock miter joint).
The class I’m teaching is box joints, not finger joints, and will be taught on the table saw.
Cmorgan,
Will you be putting your box classes on the calendar? If not, where will you post them so we know when they are? I am definitely interested in making some small boxes for pens for gifts.
I would be interested in a class on making the pens! Maybe on the lathes?
Pens are fun to make, and relatively easy. However, it does take some specialized tools and techniques. I would recommend going to either Rockler or Woodcraft to get a starter kit and some blanks (unless, Alex wants to buy it for the shop). You have to have a special arbor to mount the pen blanks on while you turn them round. You also need a way to drill the holes (special drill bit) and a press to insert the brass tubes in the holes and press on the top and tip. All of this can be had for under $100. Maybe much less.
The only special tools you really need are the mandrel with bushings to turn the pen blanks on and a letter gauge drill index. Like any craft there are more tools that make tasks easier. I use my Drill press with a wooden dowel in it to press the brass inserts into the blank and to assemble the pen.
Making a pen is easy, Mastering it not so much. I have a DVD on making pens that I could donate to the space, just tell me where to leave it. And I would be willing to give a class/demo on pen making.
Mike if you are truly willing to teach a class give me a list of items needed to to teach the class, I will see what I can do. Links to amazon or Woodcraft are prefered, sorry but no Lie Nielsen at this stage.
Also, if you are interested in teaching the class please look at the honorarium rules listed below. You can get $50 as well as a committee of your choice getting $50 ( I suggest workshop 
) . You can also forfeit your $50 and workshop would then get $100
https://dallasmakerspace.org/wiki/Rules_and_Policies#Honorarium
feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
Mike,
I think we are saying the same thing – mandrel, special drill bit, a way to press fit things, wood blanks, and pen kit mechanical pieces.
Chris
Looks like there is some interest in Pen Making so I’ll run a class or workshop on the fundamentals, about an hour long.
How many are interested in attending and what are you hoping to get out of it?
At a minimum, I’d like to be able to complete a kit, be it wood or plastic.
Ideally, I’d like to take scrap wood and turn it into gifts.
Wish list would be to machine/lathe something really nice out of wood, metal or plastics, use the laser or something else to engrave it, and dabble into clear coats and multi color finished product.
I would definitely be interested in a pen turning class. I would like to take some specialty woods and make the pens, I would like to take the workings out of some cheaper fountain pens that I own and put them into nice (read fancy) wood bodies. If there is a “starter” set of items needed in order to take the class, I would suggest links to the items (amazon, woodcraft, etc) and a complete listing of what is necessary.
I was also looking to make some small 2"x2"x6" wooden boxes with slide open tops to give pens in as Christmas gifts, I think both of these classes would be perfect together.
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The Pen Making class has been set up. It has a limit of 5 people, but I took one spot so 4 more people can sign up.
Do we know what kit will be used during the class?