I’m an absolute beginner. I want to slowly replace and add new trim/crown moulding inside my home. Every time I visit the tool store, I admire the compound sliding miter saws but never buy one because of safety concerns. Should I take a course before buying and operating this machine? I really think some type of training is necessary. I have tried to locate a school here in Massachusetts but nobody seems to offer one on finish carpentry. What’s your opinion? Do you know of any schools that offer one off classes? Thank you
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Well welcome, Knee. Honesty is great. I get from your post that you're not looking to BE a finish carp but just rather keep yourself from undue frustration on some DIY projects. SCMS are a great tool, but if you haven't used them, then maybe the safety concern is a legitimate thing. We do tend towards not regarding safety as much when our comfort level increases.
Best thing I can tell you is take on projects you think you can tackle and work up from there. There's a hoop of good books available, Katz's Finish Carpentry is a great for what I think you're looking for, but the best books don't give you what hands on does. They can get you over gee-whizzes and oopses along the way. They can also give you some insights into just how simple or difficult a given task is.
For classes, around here, the community college atmosphere tends to be geared towards not just those seeking trade education but the average population as well. I can go out there and take a class for no other reason than wanting to, no strings attached. Learned how to TIG weld that way. Just sounded interesting one day. And tech colleges are usually significantly less per credit than universities. A 3 hour class here is only like $75, real economical for folks just wanting to broaden their horizons.
I can't be specific to Mass. Closest I ever got was DC, and that was just business.
" I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers." Kahlil Gibran
I don't know if you have them up north, but around there is store called Woodcraft http://WWW.woodcraft.com that offers beginner classes, not sure I have seen one solely on a miter saw but it wouldn't hurt to call and ask.
In my opinion as long as you use your head a miter saw isn't to dangerous, you know where the blade is, you know where your fingers are, keep the two separate and you should be fine. As long as the wood is flat to the table and the saw is secure its not going to kick back at you.
Careful cutting little pieces off they tend to catch the blade and fly.
If your going to start doing a little trim work in your house start in areas where its not too visible. and door casing is probably the easiest trim to hang, in my opinion anyway. Actually straight runs of base with no inside corners is probably the easiest. Are you going to paint or stain? If its paint grade remember caulk :)
One last thought on crown, your going to want to either borrow, buy or rent a nail gun, hand nailing is not fun.
If all else fails read a book on it.
Just my 2 cents Best of luck to you.
Thanks. I just checked with Woodcraft, but they don't offer classes for the miter saw. Maybe I'll find a carpenter who needs a helper who charges $0 per hour : ) Maybe there is a business opportunity to start a woodworking school for weekend warriors? I really appreciate the art of carpentry and want to learn more.
Woodcrafts prices are a bit high for tools, but if you call them and tell them you would like to use one for a little bit before you bought one they might let you, or just call and ask if one of the employees there would be able to give you a few pointers during an afternoon. The guys at the one I used to go to in st louis were always willing to help. And the worst they can say is no.
Just thought of something else, my old highschool used to open the shop up on nights and weekends sometimes for little charge to the community. Wood shops in schools are becoming harder and harder to find, but if a local school has a program like that you might be able to get a few pointers there, just make sure the teacher has all his fingers...or you might get bad advice :)
View ImageGo Jayhawks
Edited 3/5/2003 1:38:17 PM ET by CAG
Look for TV shows such as "The New Yankee Workshop" or "In the Workshop" and watch a few episodes (it's probably better to tape them and to skip over the boring parts with the VCR remote) and you'll see a number of basic machines demonstrated and in reasonable safety.
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
Here in the Boston Area is a school called North Bennet Street School. They have workshops and a curriculum for craftsman.
http://www.nbss.org
I've never taken any of there classes, but one of these days, I may. Another good source for getting comfortable with wood, woodworking, tools, and using them is taking classes on boat building. Amesbury has Lowell's Boat Shop and they run all sorts of classes. A google search should show the website.
Best of luck. The way I learn (I'm not a pro, yet... still doing this for the fun on my own house) was by reading, watching and then trying. Read the books on technique but more importantly, read the instructions on your tools. Most are loaded with information on how to use them, safely. Watch others if you have the opportunity, even if it's just Norm on New Yankee Workshop. See how he places his hands, how he holds the wood, how he uses the tools. Then just try it. don't be intimidated. Be respectful of the damage a tool can do to the flesh, but don't be intimidated.
Also, as a homeowner who doesn't do this stuff for a living, there is something to be said for the old ways of hand tools. When you are doing trim, you don't NEED the SCMS (sliding compound....). You can use a regular miter box and coping saw with a good backsaw. when time isn't money, the hand tools are easier to store, have a cheaper price tag, and get your hands into the action. As for the nail gun, it will probably reduce aggrivation substancially, just due to its speed.
again, best of luck!
RAsp
Yes, North Bennett St. School is awesome. I called them, but all of their one-off courses focus on furniture making. No plans for a trim carpentry class. They offer a nine month program, but that's overkill for me. Maybe when I retire in 30 years : )
A furniture class might help you get more comfortable with the power tools. Be it a band saw or slider they both need respect.
Know where the blade is, know where your fingers are. Know where your fingers will be. Don't force the the cut.
Maybe you could rent a saw for an afterenoon and just cut up some scrap or make picture frames, anything to help you get used to using the saw.
That's my $0.02 worth.
Bill
Have you tried the Voc High schools.
Mass can mean a lot of things. If you're in the Boston area there must be a voc HS around you. If in western or central mass, don't know.
the main thing to remember about saws, keep your fingers and such away from the blade, especially when its got power applied.
bobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's BT Forum cheat sheet
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don't own it or ever seen it bit......bobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's BT Forum cheat sheet
Yes, I looked into a few voc schools but couldn't find anything on trim carpentry. My timing mus have been off b/c they have to offer this type of course.
Check the area high schools for evening woodworking courses. They are cheap, or free, and often individualized. Most Tech Ed teachers spend a lot of their time concerned with safety and will be happy to show you the proper techniques.
The night schools might be a thing of the past, but it's worth a couple phone calls.