Woodworkers wanted!!!
April 15, 2009 by admin
Filed under Router Tips
Well spring is here and Dad and I have been talking about the concept of being able to teach the basic principles of building Jigs and Fixtures for the router on the Internet. We feel this is the venue and I am using this post to feel you out.
First I am looking for woodworkers that are actively working with their hobby. This means you build projects regularly. To tell me that you are on a fix income and cant pay for good information, wood, or tools means you are truly not committed to your woodworking hobby as of yet. This is not for you.
So what are we talking about….
First of all what the class is not…
1) Me giving you plans of Jigs and Fixtures for specific projects,
2) Me designing fixtures and you building that fixture,
3) For those that can’t afford to build projects, either small or other…
4) About you asking me how to build a jig to do a specific operation.
Now what the E-classes are about:
1) Jigs and fixture building principles that we use,
2) Expanding the thought processes used to design quality jigs and fixtures,
3) Understanding the principles of guide work,
4) Understanding the basic processes of pattern making.
I am looking for people interested in growing their understanding of the router and how it works. You should already know how to build drawers, doors, cabinets…etc. You should have an interest in including your router into the construction process of all your projects. Most importantly, you should be actively pursuing knowledge that will be used help you become better at your hobby.
Our TV show the Router Workshop is based upon these principles used to produce over 500 different jigs and fixtures. These principles are directly used to expand the productivity of the Router.
For those of you that have seen or are currently watching the series you will know that we use jigs and fixtures extensively on the show. If you fall into this category and are serious about learning the principles of jig and fixture construction then sign up to the 2009 Jigs and Fixture E-class.
Please be advised:
You will not be charged to sign up to this class at this time. There are no obligation until I have the minimum set number signed up and committed to participate. The class is scheduled to commence on June 1, 2009.
Once this class is a go we will be sending out PayPal email invoices for the cost of the class. You pay the invoice, we activate your account and your in the class. We have identified the cost for this first class to be $100.00 per participant.
We are looking forward to working with you in the E-Class.
Bob and Rick
I use to watch your programs regularly each and every week untill channel eight discontinued televising your programs. WHY? They were a tremendous help to me especially after I bought your basic router table and dovetail jigs alonmg with the measuring bars and clamps. I would watch your program today if I could get it. I do have cabel vision.
What makes you think you think that people “on a fix income and cant pay for good information, wood, or tools means you are truly not committed to your woodworking hobby as of yet”? I think that is very insensitive and you apparently don’t know what it is like to be in their position.
jbraud
I had a few questions about your proposed e-class
How long will this class run?
Will it be held on certain days and times?
Will it be an interactive class, such as a WebEx or other training interactive collabration system?
Jbraud:
Some background: As for the fixed income dig…Today someone had balls to ask me to give him my membership products to him because he was on a Fixed Income…Thus, I was fixated on the term in my email and post. Having a fixed income is not an excuse not to get involved…and your right it is not to say they can’t participate. Sorry about the comment.
It has been frustrating because I have been finding more people using this as an excuse not to do woodworking and asking for free information than I care to remember.
I have worked with even blind people on fixed income with no complaints just enthusiasm and energy to build projects and learn about woodworking. Someone down with a handicap like blindness and still wanting to learn something new like woodworking, great attitude…
Bob:
I am still working on the general objectives and outline but before we go into those details I need to see that there is an interest. So if your interested in getting more details as this idea evolves please register…We will discuss the mechanics and detail to those that register.
the idea of classes of this type are of interest to me but I need to know more
I for one, am more worried if you could give me $100. of info in a clear way. And I pay what I sign up for and I ‘m a retired fix-income guy. regards gwg
I was a very faithful fan watching your TV show, now for a long time I can’t find it anymore, so what’s going on. I do have stallite dish and nothing in the guide that shows the time and the day of your program, use to be saturday morning. Can you help me.
Bob and Rick – hate to say it guys but I am also on a fixed income – I have the router and some of the bits that I need. I have watched your shows many times and was amazed at what you could do with a router. I saw you using jigs but didnt have a clue how to make some of them. I am interested to see where your this program is headed, dont know if I can afford the money, but I like to try challenges. I will wait to see what you have as a program before I commit.
I love your shows and have purchased them all! I would love to get more instruction from you two, Let me know when to sign up and where. I love all the products I have bought from Oak Park as well-always great service and friendly help. I look forward to the E-Class. THANKS GUYS! By the way I have taught at a small college (Business) for the past 26 years and now teach 5 online courses per term and love the Internet as a teaching tool. I also KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO PUT A GOOD COURSE ONLINE-so THANKS! I think you guys are on the cutting edge (no pun intended) of teaching & learning WW. I hope you can make this concept go-I never got a chance to attend one of your live seminars and I’m hoping this is the next best thing! GOOD LUCK! And I’ve got my routers out of the box and I;m ready to learn!
I think that having this would be outstanding! How many times do we watch you and your dad do something, and wish we could too… if only we had the jig you got. I too taped (yes, tape) a lot of shows and like to watch them over and over. They are not only good for us hobbiests, but educational and entertaining. Long story but YES Jigs and “how-to’s” forever!!
I am waiting for the classes to start,the router is the most used tool in my shop other than my table saw.I have jigs for both marked and put up in their places.Jigs are the work horse for any wood worker.
Thank You
John
Well it looks like all is coming to an end. I did get your emails for years and I am
very happy and thankful to you for all I have learnd from you. Time has moved on
and I have turned 76 in January.
I live in Sydney Australia and our Australian$ 1.- is $0. 50 american.
I wish you all well keep up the good work.
With kind regards
Hans Salden
Rick, I understand that there are many people who want something for nothing. Your message comes across as “Be ready to spend lots of money or forget it.” I do not think that is the message you mean to send. I read this as ” We want to teach you how to advance your skills, but we can not do this for free.” The $100 cost for the class is in line with most woodworking classes. Perhaps a list of materials needed for the class would help people decide? I am guessing you would want people to have the tools to build jigs and fixtures; meaning a good saw, band or jig saw, router, sanding devices to aid in shaping and the materials to construct the jigs. I know various hold down clamps will be needed, and these can be acquired from many sources. The Router Workshop jigs are most often phenolic and HDPE; while these would be the most durable I am guessing tempered hardboard and white pine could be used to lower the cost? I am sure Baltic birch plywood will be needed as well as some hardwood doweling?
It strikes me that people on fixed incomes would have no problems acquiring these items given some advanced warning, they just need to be able to budget them. Did I miss anything important?
Before I would be willing to commit, I would need more information about the content and extent of the class. With regard to your comment “Fixed Income”, unless you are self employed (like you) everyone is on a “Fixed Income”. I’m employed, but I can’t go to my employer and say give me more money.
I too used to enjoy your program on PBS, but it was canceled about a year ago.
EVEN THOUGH WE ARE RECOGNIZED AS “THE SHINNING STAR OF THE CARIBBEAN” (PUERTO RICO) THERE IS NO LOCAL WAYS HERE TO INCREASE YOUR KNOWLEDGE RELATED TO WOODWORKING. I HAVE TO BUY DVD’S FROM YOU , TANTUM , FINE WOODWORKING, NY YANKEE, ETC. ANY OTHER REFERENCE WILL BE APPRECIATED
I’m not on a fixed income yet, but maybe at any time I will be. I can understand no free rides. I’m a crude oil buyer here in Texas, and I wont pay sweet oil prices for sour oil.I really dont have time to do much wood working, and I’m not very good at it. I do enjoy it though, but not enough to pay a c note for what little information I do use.I really enjoy seeing other peoples projects and the different skill levels the wood workers have. Just a suggestion why not charge more as the skill levels increase and you might not scare people off or discourage people from advancing.Just a thought and thanks for being a wood worker. glen m.
This sounds like a great idea, Rick.
I wish I could participate.
It is not the money, its the time. I don’t get to spend as much time in the shed as I would like.
Every show I see from the router workshop, I find new ideas and tricks of the “trade”
James
Sydney, Au
I can understand James. This E-class is going demand some time and energy on the participants part. Plus of course cost of material to make the J&F built on the class concepts.
Just a quick note to update we have the first class filled actually over filled so we are thinking of running two classes with smaller numbers in each class.
As I read the post’s so many expressed my thoughts and position. I’m sure on your scale of contacts you would have no trouble filling a class, but many many of us cant devote the time and expense to do it on your time frame, I am retired but do some part time work at our church in maintenance and as such cant always dictate my time to be able to do a class at a particulate time. Like others I have enjoyed your TV shows over the years and wish I could still receive them(not on my channels anymore)
Best regards
Keith Olsen
Great sounding project guys. However, being “time-challenged” how about just posting your program on the web and let the participants access it at their convenience-by subscription, of course. FWW, for example, gets a lot of viewing at some odd hours at my 3 computer locations, and I like being able to view it at whatever time I can spare – wherever I am.
Like many others who work daily to ensure that other’s SSI checks don’t bounce, I treasure what little time I do get in my shop and want it to be as productive as possible regardless of when that time occurs.
Thanks for your efforts…
Ken Mosley
To Ken and Keith:
Your right the best way for this to work for me is to make the lessons with Incremental Content distribution. Then sell the class and put it on auto pilot…but I fell that in the beginning I need to help the process by personally being involved with the classes. So with that there will be specific time constraints for the personal element of the class.
As for the lessons and assignments these will be accessible 24 hours 7 days a week. No time constraints…
Hope this has helped,
Rick
Are these episodes going to be printer friendly and/or downloadable to be placed in a file that can be accessed later?
Robert,
These episodes are kept on our server and with your paid account you are able to watch them on demand once a episode has been released to your account.
Thanks for the question, Robert.
Rick
Will there be another jig class sign-up in the future?
Howard
Howard
It is our intentions to offer a series of E-Classes on Jigs and Fixtures based upon the out come of this special course. The short answer is yes there will be On Demand E-classes about the ins and outs of building J&F. Thanks for your inquiry, Rick