Private Woodworking Lessons Perth

[toddwilner]

Hi Everyone,

i have have come to the realisation regardless of how many forums, magazines or videos I read/watch I need some lessons.


i have a built my workshop so want to learn on my tools - mainly correct set up. Does anyone know of tutors that can come to you home in Perth to conduct private lessons?

cheers

Todd

[issatree]

Hi Todd,
Join one of the 3 Mens Sheds in the Perth Area.

[BobL]

Hi Todd,
Join one of the 3 Mens Sheds in the Perth Area.

Three! err . . . there are ~30 mens sheds in Perth.
see https://www.wamsa.org.au/WAMSA-Sheds.pdf

Back to the OP.
Requiring someone to come into your work environment is a rather BIG ask.
Most blokes like to do things in their shed and their environment but asking someone to come into your environment can be a right PITA.
That's why I much prefer working in my own shed rather than anywhere else.
I know what (tools, machines materials, consumables) I have and that largely controls how and what I do what I do.
When I go to other people sheds I have no idea what they have on hand and constantly asking if they have this and that and then having to go get it is very irritating
I am not familiar with their machinery or how they would like it used and this can lead to "issues"

[toddwilner]

Thanks for the posts.

Just to clarify I am really looking for someone that is used to teaching/tutoring and am expecting to pay for lessons.

With regards to not having everything required on site, I would make sure I had everything required prior to any lesson - which would be planned by the teacher/tutor.

cheers

Todd

[Willy Nelson]

Thanks for the posts.

Just to clarify I am really looking for someone that is used to teaching/tutoring and am expecting to pay for lessons.

With regards to not having everything required on site, I would make sure I had everything required prior to any lesson - which would be planned by the teacher/tutor.

cheers

Todd

Todd,
May I suggest you join a Mens shed, or the undertake courses at such places as The Forest Heritage Centre, or Fremantle wood school or Fine Wood Working Association.
I suggest that you join for a year or so, they will certainly assist, if nothing else, you will learn where to go, what is good and what is not
Cheers
Willy
Jarrahland

[derekcohen]

Hi Todd

I sympathise with your predicament. It takes time and dedication to learn these skills, especially using handtools.

The problem as I see it is that pros would find individual instruction will pay less than running groups, and good amateurs would rather be in their workshops on weekends. Time is a precious commodity.

I am not going to offer to come over and teach you - I'm a shrink and my fees would be exorbitant :) Ask Bob - he's retired. OK, I am kidding. :)

The first step needs to be more information from you: what type of woodworking are you interested in - hand or power? What tools do you want to master? What do you want to build? Your opening post was just just too vague.

I also support Willy's suggestion of joining a club such as Fine Wood Association. They meet tomorrow night: Monday17th August at 7:00 p.m. at the Perth Wood School in Belmont - where, incidentally, I shall be presenting a talk/demo on using handplanes.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[BobL]

. . . .I am not going to offer to come over and teach you - I'm a shrink and my fees would be exorbitant :) Ask Bob - he's retired. OK, I am kidding. :)

Cheers Derek, I spent a significant part of my working life teaching and now that I have retired, paid teaching is not really on my agenda. I still sort of do some voluntary teaching - well it's more like supervision, of activities at the Manning mens shed, and at weekly session of RSL Care mens shed.

You nailed it when you said time is precious - I'd much rather do my own futzing/fixing/fabricating around at home than teaching. I'm no longer even that well setup for woodworking at home as the originally proposed 1/3rd metal working area of the shed now dominates my shed. These days the woodwork bench seems to spend far more time covered with a soldering station, CRO, electrical meters, motors, wires and assorted components.

Back to the OP.
Unless you have a lot of money to spare it's probably better to learn general principles of wood working than for someone to specifically show you how to use a specific tool or machine in your workshop as just learning how to use your tools to do specific projects will have limited application with new tools or projects.

Watching how pros work on you-tube is useful but these can also be limited because you only see what they want you to see - you will rarely see "the stuff up", and then "the recovery" or the side activity of sharpening or setting up the machinery to do the task etc. That's why watching a pro in their shop for a couple of hours can be valuable.

Better still would be offering to help some do a project which puts you alongside and participating. I thought I knew a fair bit about stuff until I went to the mens shed and worked with some of the really old timers and I picked up a lot of small useful things.

I notice you joined the forums in May but have only 8 postings. Maybe instead of reading, asking some specific questions - no matter how basic, would help with some of the things you wanted to learn.

[toddwilner]

Hi Todd

I sympathise with your predicament. It takes time and dedication to learn these skills, especially using handtools.

The problem as I see it is that pros would find individual instruction will pay less than running groups, and good amateurs would rather be in their workshops on weekends. Time is a precious commodity.

I am not going to offer to come over and teach you - I'm a shrink and my fees would be exorbitant :) Ask Bob - he's retired. OK, I am kidding. :)

The first step needs to be more information from you: what type of woodworking are you interested in - hand or power? What tools do you want to master? What do you want to build? Your opening post was just just too vague.

I also support Willy's suggestion of joining a club such as Fine Wood Association. They meet tomorrow night: Monday17th August at 7:00 p.m. at the Perth Wood School in Belmont - where, incidentally, I shall be presenting a talk/demo on using handplanes.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Thanks Derek. What I am really looking for is help setting up a couple of my machines so they are perfectly square and running correctly. In particular my thicknesser/planer - I used to have a full head of hair but after pulling it out - less so.

[BobL]

Thanks Derek. What I am really looking for is help setting up a couple of my machines so they are perfectly square and running correctly. In particular my thicknesser/planer - I used to have a full head of hair but after pulling it out - less so.

So what are the specific problems/issues at the moment.
Maybe post these in this forum http://www.woodworkforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=154

[Christos]

.... What I am really looking for is help setting up a couple of my machines so they are perfectly square and running correctly.......

I can relate to your frustration in setting up a machine or tool. For new machines that normally come with instruction manuals it is a little easier but for second hand machines it can be a little bit of trial.

I certainly don't like lifting these pieces on my own and I have called a friend over to assist. Even then we mounted a bandsaw on the base backwards where I could not open the door to the cabinet stand :doh:. As he was short of time it took over 6 months before we fixed it. :U Just goes to show you that I didn't really need the lower cabinet to store anything in it.

As suggested I would post a question in the Jointer, Moulders, Thickness sub-forum and see where that goes.

No such thing as a dumb question.