This is a little offbeat, but it explains some things about tools from a new perspective.
I have built and delivered close to two hundred woodworking devices since 2001. When you clearly describe to others about making things in volume, or using their tools, or making box joints effectively, like the guy making the low budget movie, you almost have to outdo the giants of the hobby media in order to help them.
Who really matters in the hobby, woodworking, and crafting industry? It is the hobbyist in motion, one discovering and advancing that keeps the industry afloat.
Woodworking; making things in volume and getting things bought and sold is vital to our culture. Production woodworking leads to advanced work with tools and machines. We can’t stop advancing because the famous (not saying this in a negative sense) too often unknowingly become a barrier to progress from outside. For example; how many times are we going to see the same network mega-stars consistently, everywhere at every turn? People who make things still matter right? The economy might need to be more serious about our inventors, innovators mechanics, and crafters?
Sure we have American Inventor, Martha Stewart, and a few shows on cable TV about furniture making or working in a shop. But few of these shows know about, or mention the practicality of making things in volume.
So…getting to the point: “It saves more time to make a batch than it does to make everything from scratch.” Would we make just one Lexus, one MAC truck, or only one Rolex?
My story here is about how people need to use their tools with practical means, because some very skilled people really want to know, and can develope into something big.
Some can do the work of two or more people, called a surplus, and using jigs and gauges and combined with certain machines, the possibilities are infinite. If more people knew just about using jigs for production woodworking alone, they could could do more with common woodworking tools, even learning how to make things in high volume. The ultimate devise is where a table saw is fitted with a crosscut box, which is then the starting point for which jigs can do precision high volume machining of wooden parts.
Knowing about jigs is a good way for beginners to increase their interest in woodworking. With the help of certain jigs and fixtures, a table saw can produce consistent, uniform, interchangeable parts. This is the mostly forgotten basics of mass production. Done properly, building jigs is what leads to high volume work. They are devices used to manufacture interchangeable parts using even common machines many people own. Just by starting out with a “solid gauge” box joint jig, things which use to be tough become more natural to accomplish.
Right now artists and craftsman around the world attempt to produce a work of art, dreaming to produce and then successfully sell a winning product. Maybe even a product that might be in demand one day. What they need to do is what most manufacturers do. They need to duplicate a winning piece, and mass produce it! More people need to learn the importance of wood jigs, especially in the industrial arts Here is part of the problem.
Many, many people rush into a hobby, or into woodworking by purchasing numerous expensive machines. They thrive for awhile dreaming of some time in the future where they will produce something, be self sufficient, become self reliant upon their craft. Many have tried this, and then found out that hand made artwork without a duplication method often requires so much hand work that for the average person, it is not very profitable.
Woodworkers can then expand their hobby and their productivity if they “Unlearn” many misconceptions of what tools do. If we focus more on….. “high volume” than just “making things the best”, then we can break
out of the mold. We can then focus on progress. Just because things are mass produced, doesn’t mean it is low quality. Learn to build jigs, because they are permanant, used over and over, and they are quickly set aside and a new one accuratly ready for the next batch or process. In other words, they goof proof things.
Even some experts in woodworking or who own fine machines lose interest. Many get discouraged or maybe they have been use to making things by hand, or using only outdated techniques. Few people for example know that most table saws with a cast iron table can become a precision machine. Most table saws have two accurately
milled miter slots. These slots hold a cut through the blade uniform and straight. What some new table saw owners don’t realize is that these two slots enable a saw to become a precision tool. This means that an
ordinary table saw, with a few simple additions can become a high volume machine, making uniform batches of wooden parts for assembly.
This means that with the help of certain jigs and fixtures a saw can produce consistent, uniform, interchangeable parts. This is the mostly forgotten basics of mass production. Done properly, with teamwork and certain other expertise this is what leads to an economy of scale, a high volume economy. An economy of tradable goods begins with the unique but basic knowledge of how to manufacture interchangeable parts using precision tools.
All being said, people can gain enormous skill from using a box joint jig, especially one with solid little pin gauges. Why know how to make box joints correctly?
In the manufacturing industry many shop hands spend their whole careers perfecting only a few operations with machines. Many perform operations using the same, time honored tools, many of them producing precision, quality parts. In other words, in manufacturing, most machine operators
do not require many of the vast planning, “pre-production” skills. (This is the principle behind the division of labor). The ones who do the brainy work, the planning, “pre-production” skills are the engineers and shop leaders. They are often the ones who create the original plans, the jigs, the fixtures and the designs. These are the ones who understand, often after decades of effort, the true productive value of gauging, locating, and innovative ability. Those who graduate to the level of Jig maker or fixture
makers, automation technicians, and engineer know the “real” value of machines, not the undeveloped, basic, perceptive value.
Right now, an innovator, a creator who looks at an idle machine doesn’t see an iron edifice with switches, gears and motors, but something with vast capability. What a box joint jig does (one with solid, interchangeable gauges) is to change many of it’s user’s from an observer of machines to someone who finally sees it. They employ a sequence of steps to effectively produce box joints. Someone who learns how to use just simple, but accurate gauges can discover the true productive potential of a table saw. Then, not only do owners make nice box joints,
but they can go on to apply the principles to make many machines become more productive and yielding. Many jigs, especially a box joint for instance is a stepping stone towards woodworking mastery. Just using a few tools like a micrometer, or calipers allows many new capabilities.
The beginner, or “Novice” gains great insight into woodworking when they understand jigs…. Once you master certain woodworking techniques, like using a (solid gauging) box joint jig, things which use to be tough become much more natural to accomplish.
When you learn to use jigs, especially a box joint jig, you can do all sorts of projects such as making boxes, humidors, component parts, PC stands, mobile phone stands, or mobile phone accessories, storage for computer items, wooden trays and stands. You can build mini toys, storage items, furniture, chests, letter trays, pen boxes, candy dishes, stationary holders, CD holders, cassette holders, video holders, filing stands, coasters, magazine holders, and many, many more.
There really is a “secret technique” to it. When woodworkers use a table saw to make box joints for example, it is a genuine benefit in the shop. And when they discover jigs and measuring, it is a benefit to the economy, and to business in general.
12/2007 Woodjig.com- Doing what matters… since 2001.
Tags: art, crafting., economics, hobbies, tools, woodworking
