Course Syllabus

Course Title: Tricks of the Trade

Instructor’s Name: Robert Riversong

Email: Housewright@Ponds-Edge.net

Course Description

An exploration of the tricks, tips, and techniques that turn head-scratching into smiles and make any building job easy and satisfying - including how to figure angles and spacings when you don't have a calculator; how to improvise tools, equipment and jigs when you don't have the "real" thing; and how to do the work of two by yourself. For students with prior knowledge of design and construction. Intermediate to Professional.

Course Objectives

To share my 25 years of experience and leave you with new “tools” for your carpentry kit.

Suggested/Required Reading

Bring your own experience to share.

Tools/Materials to Bring

Basic tool belt with hand tools, scientific or builder's calculator, notepad and thinking cap.

Course Schedule

Saturday

morning 09:00 – 12:00

surveying, measuring, layout, leveling, secrets of the framing square

afternoon 13:00 – 17:00

pre-cutting, notching, gang cutting, truing, squaring, lining, raising, sheathing, hanging, trimming, siding, guttering,

Sunday

morning 09:00 – 12:00

circles, angles, squaring, flooring, scribing, trimming, tiling

afternoon 13:00 – 17:00

jigs, templates, clamps, joining, gluing, caulking & sealing, improvising (ladders, horses and scaffolding), securing, nailing, demolition, lashing, safety & efficiency