CODE | LAS1098 | ||||||||||||||||
TITLE | Introduction to Traditional Joinery with Hand Tools | ||||||||||||||||
UM LEVEL | I - Introductory Level | ||||||||||||||||
MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
DEPARTMENT | Centre for the Liberal Arts and Sciences | ||||||||||||||||
DESCRIPTION | Everyone engaging in the art of woodworking wields a unique set of tools—tools that embody centuries of tradition and skill. In this study unit, "Introduction to Traditional Joinery with Hand Tools," students will explore the foundational techniques and tools essential to traditional woodworking. These skills are not only about crafting with wood; they're about understanding and preserving the historical methods that define craftsmanship. As a craftsperson in this field, you'll learn to select, restore, and utilise hand tools that are as functional today as they were hundreds of years ago. You'll delve into making your tools, understanding the structural integrity of different joints, and finally constructing a functional workbench that serves as both a project and a tool for future creations. Each session is designed to build upon the last, culminating in a comprehensive skill set that allows you to create with precision and artistry. At first glance, traditional joinery may seem daunting due to its precision and manual nature. However, mastering these age-old techniques is incredibly rewarding. This Unit will not only teach you the technical skills needed for traditional joinery but will also immerse you in the historical context that enriches the craft. By the end of this Unit, you will have developed the ability to work wood, and an appreciation for the craftsmanship that can only come from direct, hands-on experience in traditional methods. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the Unit the student will be able to: - Identify and Describe Key Hand Tools: Recognise various traditional hand tools used in joinery, and describe their specific functions and applications. - Understand Tool Maintenance and Restoration: Explain the processes involved in maintaining, sharpening, and restoring hand tools to keep them in optimal working condition. - Analyse Historical Contexts: Gain an understanding of the historical development of joinery techniques and how they have influenced modern practices in woodworking. - Assess Timber and Materials: Demonstrate knowledge of different types of wood and other materials used in traditional joinery, including their properties and suitability for various types of joints and constructions. - Describe Joinery Techniques: Define the principles behind key joinery techniques such as mortice and tenon joints, dovetail joints, and others, including when and why each technique is used. - Interpret Project Plans and Drawings: Develop the ability to read and interpret detailed project plans and technical drawings related to woodworking projects. - Analyse Construction Methods: Explain the step-by-step construction methods involved in creating complex structures such as a torsion box workbench, from dimensioning the materials to the final assembly. 2. Skills: By the end of the Unit the student will be able to: - Operate Hand Tools Proficiently: Skilfully use a variety of hand tools for cutting, carving, joining, and finishing wood products with precision and safety. - Perform Tool Maintenance: Perform routine maintenance and troubleshooting on traditional woodworking tools, ensuring they remain in good working condition. - Execute Traditional Joinery Techniques: Accurately and efficiently construct traditional joints, such as dovetails and mortice and tenon joints, demonstrating an understanding of their appropriate applications. - Develop Woodworking Projects: Plan and execute woodworking projects from start to finish, including material selection, tool preparation, and final assembly. - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Analyse project requirements and potential challenges, developing creative solutions to overcome obstacles in woodworking projects. - Attention to Detail: Apply meticulous attention to detail to ensure high-quality craftsmanship and adherence to traditional woodworking standards and aesthetics. - Project Management: Manage time and resources effectively to complete projects within deadlines and specifications, including the ability to plan project phases and allocate resources efficiently. - Communicate Effectively: Communicate ideas, designs, and technical information clearly and effectively, both verbally and through written and technical documentation such as project plans and drawings. - Adaptability: Adapt to various woodworking scenarios, adjusting techniques and approaches as required by different materials, designs, or unexpected situations. - Teamwork and Collaboration: Work effectively in teams, sharing responsibilities and collaborating on large projects, demonstrating interpersonal skills and the ability to contribute to group objectives. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Course Materials (all provided for free): The Stanley Guides to Setting Up and Sharpening Joinery Tools. (Copyright Free. Provided as Free Booklet). The Essentials of Joinery Techniques over the last 150 Years by Prof Russell Smith. (Provided as Free Booklet) Supplementary Materials: How To Make Woodwork Tools by Charles Hayward. (PDF freely available online from: https://www.toolemerapress.com/2021/08/pdf-how-to-make-woodwork-tools-by-charles-hayward.html) Tools for Woodwork by Hayward. Various free videos are available on You Tube by Paul Sellers (https://www.youtube.com/@Paul.Sellers) covering key joints and hand tool maintenance. Tools for Woodwork by Charles Hayward. English Period Furniture by Charles Hayward. The Anarchist’s Tool Chest by Schwarz. (PDF freely available online from: https://www.scribd.com/document/659180118/The-Anarchist-s-Tool-Chest) |
||||||||||||||||
STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practicum | ||||||||||||||||
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||||||||||||
LECTURER/S | Russell Smith |
||||||||||||||||
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |