Main Introduction

Having just driven back from Cornwall the previous day after a week’s holiday. I was convinced by Carole not to come along until very early the following morning. This was probably as well, as the M2 was closed at Junction 5. This diverted me along the A2 a while, but didn’t really cause too many problems. Can’t say I enjoyed getting up at Six A.M. though!

Fortunately I wasn’t the only woodworker there; there were several projects that needed seeing to, such as the framing for the high level windows. Trevor and Ian took care of that between them. I was left with the joyous prospect of door manufacture.

I was not left to undertake this job alone however, as Julian turned up and provided much needed help.

Doors: The last of the back interior doors needed constructing. This involved chiselling out three rebates into which fully sat, each of the cross-braces. With Julian’s capable assistance, this was completed that same (early_ afternoon. Then it had to be glued, drilled and screwed, and left to dry overnight.

Doors: While we waited for the previous day’s door to fully harden, Julian and I glued and inserted dowels into its mate. I then flush-cut the dowels and proceeded to spend an inordinate amount of time flattening the thing. What I didn’t want was a “rustic” look so adored by the uninitiated. From previous experience, I fully expected the wood to shrink, but this could be dealt with, in several months time.

And so with rod fully measured and fitted to my own back, I spent the majority of the rest of my time, using an electric plane and then a sander to level each of the sides, front and back, to a personally acceptable standard. Most of the wonkiness was caused by the wood “cupping” (warping) in alternating directions, so I was taking off the middle and the edges of each alternative plank until it was flat.

Monday and Tuesday were to an extent the same really. There was an element of rain avoidance and sarking board cutting for Roger and Chris, the “roof monkeys”, who managed to fit the shingles to the first half of the roof. Celebrations were forthcoming.

Oh yes, and another load of shingles were expected, so a number of us cleared the detritus from two of the longhall bays. Hurrah! A whole bay was cleared and could be enjoyed without suffering unnecessary encumbrances. So much neater!

It was a shame that I wouldn’t be there to see my babies (the doors) be put in place, but at least I know how much work was put into them.

The following day would hopefully be a lot less work, as I had budding carvers to train up. Let’s hope then get all enthused and take some of the creative weight from my aching shoulders.

Sometime late July, a thought came to me - Omigod – whatamigonnado? At some point during August I’m going to have to teach carving! How do you teach something when you’ve never been taught it yourself? Hmmm.

At the end of the last weekend, I measured several structures that needed decorating in the hope that the students could carve the panels themselves.

However, after a period of reflection, I remembered a previous work week where I oversaw some carving training. I had them all working on one long piece. Unfortunately they just got in each other’s way, and while some wood hitting got done, it was far from ideal, and from my point of view nothing was really achieved.

This time, I’d set their sites closer. I decided I’d get each of them to do a roundel

Theirs would be around 20cm in diameter, it would be small enough that it could be possibly done in a day – or at least a good part of it could be completed, and the student, hopefully satisfied with their work could take it home and complete it at their leisure.

So my job during the next few weeks would be to conjure up a few designs, if they able to do so themselves and present them with a project. I hoped that during the process of it’s completion I’d be able to go over a number of different techniques that I use, and would serve them in good stead in the future.

Of course, over the next few weeks I would complete only a fraction of those designs I needed, and had to whiz off another eight the evening before the lesson was due to take place, as that evening just after I announced the presence of a attendee list on the whiteboard, there were ten names.

The following morning another two had added their names to the list, so I had to rush down my breakfast and knock off another two.

Fortunately for me, few had their own tools, so there wasn’t any problem with people getting in each others way, it was just matter of talking turns.

In all, it seemed to go well, with most people happy to go away with a “project” (which was a bit of Wychurst oak, with a design sketched upon it. It remains to be seen whether anyone will return with it complete, and ready to install in the interior of the hall. My hopes remain high.

Apologies must go to Holly (Spooks daughter) who managed to stab herself in the leg with (it seems) the corner of a chisel. She certainly took it with good grace. It was a good job the chisels were sharp, as she hadn’t felt a thing.

So, with my job there done, I took some photos to add to my vast archive (going back to March 2003!) said my farewells and drove home before I fell asleep at the wheel.