| How many of us enjoyed those years long since | | | | The first thing that had to be learned about shop |
| passed when we were in school taking shop? | | | | saws was which blade to use for which project. A |
| Walking into the room on that first day while the | | | | crosscut saw is used primarily for those projects |
| teacher explained that the first half of the year | | | | that require the cut be made at a right angle in |
| would be wood shop. In that room was where so | | | | the same direction of the wood grain. While a |
| much was going to be learned. Students were | | | | ripsaw makes cuts that are parallel to the grain of |
| first introduced to a variety of tools and | | | | the wood. Depending on the project either of |
| woodworking methods. Initially they had an | | | | these shop saws will do the job. But, if it is a |
| introduction to the shop saws. | | | | sheet of plywood that needs to be cut the |
| Many of the tools took skills that no one had yet, | | | | correct saw for that can only be a circular saw. |
| but that the teacher promised would be | | | | With the large number of small teeth that the |
| forthcoming. Learning to use the shop saws was | | | | blades for these shop saws have they work best |
| on the list of things that needed to be mastered. | | | | for cutting this heavy wood without excessive |
| The shop saws that all the kids wanted to try | | | | splintering. Other useful shop saws include the |
| were the table saws. Their eyes gleamed as they | | | | jigsaw; it is for cutting jagged or unusual shapes. |
| walked passed it waiting for the teacher to say | | | | This hand held saw also has a larger version, called |
| that they have had enough time in class that they | | | | a reciprocating saw and a powered version |
| could be trusted to handle such a potentially | | | | known as a scroll saw. |
| dangerous tool. There are so many smaller shop | | | | At the end of the woodworking course the |
| saws, beginning with the simple hand saw and | | | | students had learned a lot. Each one of them had |
| working their way up to the powered shop saws | | | | worked on several projects. They had learned to |
| like band saws and cross cuts shop saws. | | | | use a number of hand and power tools. They had |
| The teachers were always cautious of which tools | | | | built enough confidence in themselves to use a |
| and which shops saws they would allow the | | | | variety of shop saws and not be afraid, though |
| students to use. At first it is only the simplest | | | | been cautious, when using the power saws. |
| hand tools. But as the classes progressed and the | | | | Perhaps at the very least they will be able to help |
| students learned some skills they became ready | | | | around the house or have found an interest in |
| to progress to the power tools. | | | | carpentry that may spur a new career decision. |