Project:Young Hackspace/YH-2

Woodworking and Printmaking

We're coordinating this with a group of home schooling parents. Joy's initial suggestion was: let the kids build little sculptures from scrap wood. I really like the simplicity of this, and it gives us ample opportunity to teach the basics: hammer & nails, how to use a saw, wood glue, glue guns, ...

Team:

• Billy Smith
• Sam Kelly

Links:

• Planning the next Young Hackspace: wood working. Got suggestions?
• Flickr photo set

Brief

We're offering two workshops in parallel: a woodworking workshop, and a printmaking workshop.

The goal of the woodworking workshop is to build wood sculptures out of found materials, and to learn various tools and techniques in the process. We will start with an introduction of the most useful basic tools (hammer, screwdriver, sandpaper, rasp, saw, chisel, ...), explain what can go wrong when using those tools, and what to pay attention to when using them; and then give you the tools to work freely on your own design. While we're starting with a very basic premise we're hoping that the open-endedness of this task will surface some very creative designs...

We ask that you bring any materials you would like to use for your sculpture: found wood, old plastic containers, textiles, string, ... While we do have wood and other materials at the Hackspace we'd rather have you learn about the logistics of finding, assessing and transporting your own raw materials as preparation for this event. (Get in touch if you're looking for ideas about where to find materials; or discuss with the other families.) And if you can: bring a few of your own tools! Hammer, screwdriver, scissors, hand drill, ...

For safety reasons this workshop is restricted to older children/teenagers. We want you to work freely, but we ask that all younger participants are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who can ensure their safety; while we're very happy to provide guidance we can't provide enough supervision to take care of every participant all the time.

The goal of the printmaking workshop is to make colour prints from found materials, and to learn various tools and techniques in the process. We will start with an introduction to the process: glue materials to a surface (string, leaves, sand, ...), paint it once it's dry, cover with paper or cloth and apply pressure; then we will let you prepare your own prints, and provide guidance and assistance. We can provide a bookbinding press if needed. While we're starting with a very basic premise we're hoping that the open-endedness of this task will surface some very creative designs...

We ask that you bring any materials you would like to use for your print: paint, textiles, paper, string, leaves, sand, wire mesh, pieces of plastic, ... While we do have access to quite a few of these materials at the Hackspace we'd rather have you learn about the logistics of finding, assessing and transporting your own raw materials as preparation for this event. (Get in touch if you're looking for ideas about where to find materials; or discuss with the other families.) And if you can: bring a few of your own tools! Scissors, brushes, ...

This workshop is suitable for all ages; if you're too young to make your own print then you can ask the other kids or parents to help you out.

Upfront Preparation

Pre-invitation:

• Get feedback/ideas from LHS members: things to make
• Find good sources of scrap wood

Pre-event:

• PVA
• glue sticks
• scissors (incl ones for young kids)
• boards for rolling ink/mounting collages
• two or three colours of block printing ink (relief printing ink is the same thing) - I have some I'd normally be happy to bring in, but it's got a long drying time and we'll need to be able to give them something they can safely take home with them.
• some brayers/rubber rollers
• a cheap set of carving chisels, given that Joy said the older children had had some experience. I noticed last time I was in Cass Art in Islington (which is within walking distance of the hackspace) that they had a decent-looking set for £5.50
• a couple of large sheets of paper we can cut down to make suitable sized pieces
• lots of newspaper

For participants:

• Bring scrap wood. (This will give the kids some experience in logistics: where to find materials, how to transport them, etc.)
• Bring your own tools if you have them (hammers, pliers, ... nothing big/electronic pls), make sure you label them so they don't let lost
  • If we find any unlabelled tools after the day we'll assume they belong to the Hackspace

Preparation for the day

• Stickers/labels for people's own tools (so they don't get lost)
• Collect tools the kids can use
  • Hammers & nails
  • Screws & screwdrivers
  • Glue guns & glue sticks
  • Saws (for older kids only)
• Prepare the Quiet Room, and the workshop area (work benches) for older kids
• And the usual checklist. Done:
  • Done: put up signs that young children will be around, sent a @londonhackspace tweet, posted to the LHS list (announcement and reminder)
  • Done: hoovered the entrance area and removed a fair amount of small things, prepared a desk for bags etc
  • Done: removed everything from the quiet room that we don't need, wiped the desks, hoovered the floor, all the corners, turned off all unused power outlets
  • Done: turn off the people counter
  • Done: checked the state of the first aid kit (it's fine)
  • Done: cleaned the workshop area around the work benches with a broom, moved things out of the way, hid sharper tools behind the fire door, ...
  • Done: prepared name tag stickers for the kids

Schedule

• 2pm: communal introduction, health & safety talk
• Then workshops commence
• Ends 4-5pm (let's see)