G’Day Mr Pete, I was fortunate enough to have metalwork, woodwork, and Technical Drawing in my High School years. They were my best and most enjoyable subjects and I learned many lifelong skills for which I am very grateful. In metalwork one year, we made a letterbox which I proudly mounted at the front of our home and it’s still there, perfectly serviceable 49 years later !!!!!!! This is in Australia and I fear that those subjects are no longer taught, workplace health and safety concerns I believe. Great shame! Thank You for your channel, Regards Dave Tointon
When you factor in how many staff are in the school district, the pay for the superintendent, and the opulence of the district offices, you will know whether a district is about education or ostentation. Houston ISD had a 5 story fountain in the lobby of their district offices. I'm sure it was donated and volunteer run.... I wish that districts would marry the 'manual arts' with math and science. I finally understood trig when I was advancing the compound to get a fraction of a thousandth. It just snapped together. Lathe work and milling are practical math lab. I keep playing around with opening up my modest shop thru a local self study group just for that reason. The unit circle was a cast iron barbie-doll, and was not that easy to understand for me. Not like using a sin on a know angle to advance a compound a known distance.
@@stxrynn arch-ive.org/archive/hisd-hattie-mae-white-building/ - fascinated by this comment I researched what the lobby could have been. I've seen that it was claimed to have poor acoustics, and this page has several pictures of the lobby after abandonment and before destruction. Unclear where the fountain was involved though.
@@SkylosSobaka I worked in TV in Houston back in the 90's. I'd seen some news footage, and couldn't believe it. It is entirely possible that I am totally wrong about it being HISD. With all the little cities completely surrounded by it, it may have been one of them. I should do better research, the old memory may be starting to Biden me.... ;)
Maybe it was the move towards inculcation of specific socialist values, and the adamant assertion that all children needed to go to college for further brainwashing? No room for vocational training in that scenario.
I took Industrial Arts in Junior High school in 1974-75. I enjoyed it immensely! They had different modules to expose the students to different trade crafts and manufacturing techniques. I have very fond memories of the metal shop teacher. We had a project to cast a lead hammer. I asked the teacher if I could bring in a pail of fired .22 cartridges and cast a brass hammer. He agreed and stayed late after school with me as we melted a pail of .22 casings and cast some hammer heads and other items. Can you imagine a teacher doing that now (or allowing spent .22 casings into the building)? What a great teacher!
@@TheFalconJetDriver Well, they wouldn't jail you for having lead, but you might have to sit through a two hour lecture on safety and toxic materials. Seriously, EVERYTHING here seems to have warning labels! (One of my day jobs was environmental compliance)
I just found the set of wooden salt & pepper shakers that we made as one of the projects. Yes, I kept them all these years! For this project we made manufacturing tooling and fixtures to make the shakers. We then set up a continuous flow production line with every member of the class at a work station and produced the salt & pepper shaker set. After we finished the run, everyone got to keep a set. This was a great lesson in how things are made, timing in a production line, teamwork, etc. As, I recall this project was around Mother's Day, so guess what all the proud Mom's got for presents!
I had shop in junior and senior high. Wood, metal, auto, graphic arts...generally good experiences. I never thought I'd end up being a shop teacher myself but never say never! I teach wood and metal in Sweden!
You don’t teach people who aren’t fully built yet. We know this is fact cause people BEGIN COMMUNICATING at age 30. Victims start talking to you 20 years after the crimes. 40 year olds will tell you what their school teachers were doing 25 years ago. You have to wait at least 20 years to find out what your students thought of your lessons. By that time it’s TOO LATE to realise you were wrong or try to do something about it. Of course that’s the effect cause that’s WHY humans WAIT 20 years to say something without fear of reprisals.
I was amazed and pleasantly delighted when I realized in grade seven I would have to take both wood and metal shop. I really couldn’t believe it at first. I certainly would like to hear you opine on the demise of shop classes in school. Thanks.
In my wood shop class in 1981/82 we learned about the tools, including the hand plane. We had a slanted shelf on the wall where about a dozen planes were stored. We each were taught how to take it apart, the names of the parts, how to re-assemble it, and use it. I don't remember them having numbers, but they may have. It's really too bad most school districts can't seem to find funding for shop classes.
Hi Mr. Pete - I'm with Jim C. ....please talk about shop class demise. Those are not particularly beautiful planes but I very much enjoyed the discussion.
@@mrpete222 Here in England, my school had 2 woodwork shops and 2 metalwork shops. Woodwork shop 1 is now just a social space and metal shop 1 was in a building now demolished. They went from 'wood' and 'metal' to 'materials science' and robotics. All the machinery was sold off. Then at the other end, some maths rooms became computer rooms - so needs change ! Both metalwork shops had aluminium casting facilities and blacksmith facilities as well as lathes of various sizes.
Thank you Mr. Pete!! Quite enjoyable indeed. I graduated 1987 and I had shop class in Jr. High and High School. While we learned many power tools to include the power planner we did learn hand tools. I do not remember learning the sharpening process though. My grandfather took care of teaching me to sharpen darn near everything and I now do it as a side line business. Sad that we dont teach our children these skills as part of schooling. God bless my friend, and thanks again!!
Tubalcain : Yes I agree with you about the demise of the high school shop class. But you are part of the " New High School Shop Class" that is Utube in general. Now days when someone wants to learn a new hands on skill be metals. wood or even Auto repair they turn to Utube for their 20 to 30 minute shop class! Just last week when a friend of mine that is a wood worker told me he had rebuilt the injector pump for a Ford back hoe tractor. I asked You don't have a clue about diesel injector pumps?! He said I didn't but I do now THANKS to Utube! As he said I have a Doctorate in Utube!! So Tubalcain you have become the "New High School Shop Class " with all of your fine videos! THANK YOU !! and keep them coming as learning how to work my metals shop that I am slowing building up!! THANKS Again Dan Hamilton
Oh our "Mr Pete", have you brought me back 60+ yrs of nostalgia; when I was in "shop" in HS. My wood shop was a joke. The teacher could not teach if his life depended upon it. So little was done in the shop, and the raucous every day of students going wild. Yes and SAD. But "Electric" and "automobile" shops were awesome. I truly loved them. There is more, but I have typed too long already. Sorry but know... It is a real joy to wake up to your latest video. We love you "Mr Pete". Our prayers are with you kind Sir.
I was raised in my Dad's shop, and I also LOVED shop class in school. I took every course that was offered. Nowadays, I can't find a young helper who knows which end of a screwdriver to hold.
You’re not going to get comments from people who think the opposite to you here. You’re trying to preach to the converted. Your financial class HAS mined out your community. The global economy destroyed yours and mine, community.
I taught my metalwork teacher how to cut threads on a lathe. Having done it a few times at home before ! (I made a sash cramp. Turned the clamping screw rod (to fit a random nut) then turned a brass nut for the cramp.)
I would work ahead in required classes so I could skip that and hang out in the shop classes I didn't have official time to take. Most shop teachers didn't mind as long as we didn't disrupt others.
The teacher was a scumbag and so I hated going to that class, for 3 years. I did all my woodwork at home and nothing in class. The metalwork teacher was VIOLENT and I dreaded going to that class and I couldn’t wait to get out of that class as fast as I could. I’ve done both metal and wood working all my life DISPITE my school teachers. Your life can be destroyed based on the quality of the teachers you run into.
Mr Pete, I wouldve loved to have a shop teacher like you. In my highschool the shopteacher had simply given up. His budget was cut to nothing, metalworking was abandoned by the school in favor of woodworking (because it was cheaper to do apperantly). So what happened was, he would just put on videos. I remember the first semester was spent just watching a documentary about pencil manufacturing. I then went on to trade school to become a truck mechanic, and when I asked about any shop class involving turning or fabricating parts, i was told it was no longer within the scope of a mechanic to do such things. Now that I'm working i am constantly confronted with the fact that that was a lie, I;m always fabricating something, wether its making brackets to fit extra large diesel tanks or simply turning down the shank on my 12mm drillbit to make it fit my 10mm chuck. Keep up the good work
It was 7th grade woodshop and metalshop that lit the fire in my belly to become a shop teacher. 99% of the time it was all good clean fun & learning... that was 1971. I still have the tinplate flour scoop and the willow jewelry box I made.... soon to be 50 years ago. The other 1% of the time? That was times like when Vinny Spahr threw the whole sal ammonia brick into the Johnson bench furnace that we used to heat our soldering irons..... I can still see that haze that hung in that room today.
For a Danish kid raised in the countryside with a few pieces of hand tools, the craft lessons from 1960 to 1965 were a clean slumber land. However, the planes were made of wood, as was most of the tools. I loved those hours. The teacher was very knowledgeable and rigorous, but when dealing with the tasks he was always helpful and kind. I learned useful things like I've benefited from the rest of my life. In the early 1980s I too learned a little copper craft with hammer, anvil and annealing of copper plates. I trained in electronics and ended up with a Bachelor of Electronics :-)
My dad was a finishing carpenter and I inherited his tools after he passed away. I use his Stanley plane more than most of the other tools for simple finishing jobs. And yes, the sound of plane shavings is very satisfying...especially when you see the look of freshly exposed wood. I took woodshop in 1966 as a HS sophomore and squaring was virtually impossible. Thanks for bringing these classic tools for all to see. John E.
Shop classes (late '60s and early '70s) were mandatory in my Jr Highschool (Long Island, NY). They were setup on a quarterly basis, one quarter for electronics, one for metal shop, one for carpentry and finally one for study hall. Highschool was similar but you got to pick a field. Metal/machine/auto shop was a four year program as were carpentry and aviation. Senior class automotive ran a couple cars at the drag strip. Senior carpentry/plumbing/electrical built a small house in the courtyard and sold it at the end of the year (after inspections) to buy materials for the next years classes. I took the aviation program (BOCES) where first year we learned accessories/powerplants and rebuilt a continental 4-cyl (as parts allowed), second year was structural/hangar where they welded up a Piper Cub and then covered it with fabric at the end they took one of the completed engines and mated it to the airframe got it inspected/signed off and certified for flight. Third year was flight science where you earned your private pilots license. We had a bell helicopter that was being restored (think M.A.S.H.) a turbojet on a stand and an old navy trainer aircraft in the hanger. Engines were donated as were parts, materials and staff were paid for by a cooperative system of many schools in the system. They also had HVAC program as well as a nursing one. BOCES is still in operation in Long Island but the programs have changed over time, check them out(B.O.C.E.S.- Board Of Cooperative Educational Services) Industrial arts are NOT dead. P.S. I LOVED the industrial art program in central Long Island and went on to a stint in the NAVY (PowerPlants) and a career in Lockheed Martin (Space Shuttle).
I came from a Catholic elementary school into a public Jr high school in the early 70s the one thing I was looking forward to was taking shop classes. I took both a wood shop class and metal ,sadly, the school system had begun to shutter all the metal shop class room stating that there was no interest from the students but, at 62, I still remember Mr. Curry the metal shop teacher and quite a lot of what he was instructing and his wisdom, The next year I started into high school and much to my chagrin, the Metal shop was already closed, Fast forward to my 50s and a retired gunsmith was teaching me tricks of his trade and re-sparked my interest in learning about machining. After the gunsmith passed I was fortunate to find your videos along with Keith Fenner and , Keith Rucker and several others that inspire me to keep learning and enjoying metal crafts. The bonus is in the neighborhood I am known as the guy who can fix about anything , smiling. So, with that said, please continue to share I am sure I am not alone when I say I am grateful and inspired to to " keep making chips" Thank you.
I always had fun in shop class. Sometimes I didn't take it seriously.. as the folly of youth I guess. Now I enjoy watching woodworking videos and relish my time in my shed trying to put in practice what I have seen. Amazing the difference 30 years makes in one's attitude.
I took shop classes as a junior and senior. Metal, wood, ceramic , printing, electric and 2 years of automotive. Loved each course and class. 50 plus years later still repairing cars and lawn equipment.
"Fond days". My father was a high school wood shop teacher from 1966 to 1988. A few years after retiring the industrial arts program was shut down. I enjoyed wood and metal shop in middle and high school. Still use all the learned skills to this day. Industrial arts was the best part of my education and those teachers are the ones I remember today.
I enjoyed Industrial Arts in junior high and senior high. We covered all aspects of the trade world. Woodworking, metal working, casting, printing, small engine repair, plus a few others. I still have the bookcase I made, the walnut bowl and the Warrington hammer. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun! All this stuff is almost sixty years old and still used today.I enjoyed and respected all my Industrial Arts teachers. Almost all of them are dead now so I want to thank you and your fellow shop teachers for teaching. I learned!
Enjoyed wood shop in school way more than metal shop. first year of both were hand tools only. working with hand tools on a piece of wood was so much more pleasurable than filing a piece of quarter inch stock into the shape of a bottle opener . Fortunately now enjoy metal working with machine assistance ! still enjoy wood working by hand.
Very interesting video. My junior high and high school had no shop classes at all. I always felt a bit cheated. My youngest daughter took wood shop and made a clock, gave it to me. I enjoy looking at it every day. My dad was my shop teacher. Taught me all I needed to know to do whatever had to be done. Sure do miss him.
If it wasn’t for shop classes like : wood shop , metal shop , automotive shop, small engines shop, up upholstery shop, welding shop .that I took in high school I would have dropped out . Best days of my life was attending shop classes . I use all I learned from those classes through out my sixty years of being on this earth . I feel sorry for the kids now that have nothing like what I did , it’s all gone now. Then again who could teach those classes now if they brought them back .Thanks for your time teaching mr Pete .
In Australia we have schools shutting down their ‘manual arts “ classrooms constantly. This is in fact despite the reality that old style trades people are the most sought after employees in the country and earning top money. Obviously doesn’t fit with the new world order types who determine school curriculums these days.
The push to send everyone off to university to get a Liberal Arts degree no matter their aptitudes and desires - and don't even think about employability! - was in full awing when I was in my teens 40+ years ago here in California. Fortunately for me, helping my dad with all the home repairs and remodeling gave me decent shop skills which proved quite useful when studying physical chemistry and engineering - skills which otherwise would have not been acquired so young, because the high school curriculum was set up to actively block college track students from taking any shop classes... That's right, STEM students can benefit from getting a few high school level shop classes under their belts... Public "Education" has become a racket on so many levels...
When you factor in how many staff are in the school district, the pay for the superintendent, and the opulence of the district offices, you will know whether a district is about education or ostentation. Houston ISD had a 5 story fountain in the lobby of their district offices. I'm sure it was donated and volunteer run.... I wish that districts would marry the 'manual arts' with math and science. I finally understood trig when I was advancing the compound to get a fraction of a thousandth. It just snapped together. Lathe work and milling are practical math lab. I keep playing around with opening up my modest shop thru a local self study group just for that reason. The unit circle was a cast iron barbie-doll, and was not that easy to understand for me. Not like using a sin on a know angle to advance a compound a known distance.
I'm sure Prezzo in Australia would be able to shed a bit of light on this subject as well, how about it Mark.. put your threepeneth worth in( it's gone up by 50% coz of inflation lol)
@@stxrynn Exactly! I use physics, chemistry, and algebra all the time at work and in my home shop. It's one of those concepts that they teach you in Ed' classes, but governments or school boards hate to actually put into practice.
Lyle, I graduated in 1975. I took Industrial Arts for four years. Best year's of my life! You remind me so much of my teacher, Mr. Ball. I loved that class. Thanks.
Lyle, I want you to know Iam now 60 and I still maintain relationships with the remaining shop teachers left form my jr high and senior high school days, T/Y for all of your vids they are a real breath of fresh air in these days of craziness!
Mr Pete . As I look back at my career , and I am now retired. I had learned way more in my shop classes . That I was able to use in my vocation and on the job every day.Than I did in any other class or classes. Sad to say ,when I went to high school in north west Indiana. We only had to take 1 year of math. I have taught myself more math than I had learned in H.S. I daily think of my shop classes and some of my teachers in them. Many times I had to get a pass written from my welding class teacher . I would weld right through half of my freshman English class. I knew an Auto Shop teacher still working well into his 70's. When I asked why he had not retired. He told me. When past students stop coming to see me. And tell me that do to his teaching. They now have a great career and can support their family. And thank you Mr Pete. For what you did and what you do today. Thanks from a home shop knuckle head.
i dont know if you will ever read this but your videos really motivate me, i ended up just watching videos about tools and things but for a long time i was never was really interested but i recently got my own tools and just started learning how to make things. thanks to you i got some basic tools and started a new hobby, i got into wood working, made some things im proud of and i have never been happier
I was one of the lucky people who had shop class for three years in grade school and all through high school. I was interested in wood working from the age of seven with my dad. I am now 69 years old and I have made a good living being a well rounded carpenter. I wish I could go back and thank all my shop teachers for showing me the way and for putting up with my antics. I know I can`t do that so even thought we never met let me thank you in their place. Mike from NJ
I live in central PA and we have a large Amish population in the region. Many Amishmen are involved in the trades, especially carpentry and other woodworking specialities. It is very interesting and enjoyable to see them arrive at work in the morning with neat clean clothes (no buttons though), no tattoos, then put their work aprons on and go to work. No cussin', no drinking, and keeping the workplace clean and orderly. Some are very strict about the use of power tools while others will have what they need. My son's house was built by Amish craftsmen, the finish craftsmanship is excellent but so are the bones, wood joints are all tight and only the nailheads visible. I recently was in a shop that specialized in windows and doors recently and it is a pleasure to see a read wood window rather than the vinyl crap that is used today, finished and cared for these will last a 100 years or more. The read point of what I'm talking about is that these folks attended an Amish school K thru 6 and then apprenticed into their trade. They make a good living and pose no burden on society and are never unemployed, if there is no work in the shop their uncle probably needs some help on his farm etc. I am a transplant to PA but appreciate what the Penns saw in these people and their decision to bring them here and give them special rights (no military conscription, no mandatory school attendance, etc.). The only warning that I offer is that when you shake hands with an Amishman you are putting your hand into a vice but there is honestly in that.
I have fond memories of my days in shop class Mr. Pete. We learned wood working skills, mechanical drafting, proper tool handling a use and so on... It seemed that the shop class period never was long enough, time would fly by because it was fun! Great video Mr. Pete. Thank you so much.
Mr. Pete I work with wood as well as metal and I still love using a hand plane. They still have their place and are very widely still used. If you have wide boards that won't fit on a jointer that you don't want to cut down and re-glue then you're going to need a plane. Those handles you have there are Rosewood. Rosewood is endangered and there are people across the pond that have their Ebay items confiscated because of the Rosewood handles. The planes you have still hold value. Plane collecting is still pretty popular. I hope you find a good home for them. Too many end up in a scrap bin.
I attended shop class in Junior High 1947-8 and enjoyed every minute of it. I still use some of the methods I was taught and now at 84 years old I have continued both wood working and metal working. The woodworking I do is with hand tools. My father taught me how to sharpen the hand saws, chisels and plane irons
I was raised in my fathers shop at home , when I got into shop classes in the 7th grade it was all second nature to me . I enjoyed every shop class I took and did very well at them . When I was in grade 12 my woodshop teacher William Brogan asked me if I would pick a crew to build a carport for the VP of our school . The only class I ever got 100% in . I ended up doing my Apprenticship as a Carpenter , I did a bit of teaching at George Brown College in Toronto . One of thing I most remember is Mr Brogan telling me that one of the hallmarks of a proper tradesman was the willingness to teach what you have learned " we do not own what we know , we are stewards of knowledge . Our place is to improve upon it and teach the next generation " . I have tried to keep to that all my life .
My "general shop" teacher back in Jr. high would get a dreamy look in his eyes as he described and demonstrated getting "that perfect shaving" from a piece of stock..I didn't understand the pleasure then but I sure do now. Thanks, Mr. Pete! :-)
They teach you stuff before you’re ready to understand it cause THEY need to consume your youth. They rank you according to you ability to comprehend stuff your brain isn’t built to comprehend. You just proved it, once again. They do destroy lots of your life before you realise it. The top dog system is everywhere and it’s a MASSIVE SOCIAL DESTRUCTION problem. The best minds get destroyed by The school system. It’s a well known terrible fact.
Took many shop classes. To this day, the plane I use most is a Stanley 5-1/4. Like Andy Rooney, in my mind all of my tools are razor sharp.... Thank you for the lifetime of knowledge you have passed on to us these past years.
I do hope that all the people in this thread commenting about the demise of shop classes, remember that feeling when they go to vote in their local elections. Vote in the direction of more money for education, get involved in your local school boards, be ok with your property taxes going up to support shop classes. Find a local maker space and volunteer or become faculty to teach and share what you know about making. Mr. Pete has taught me so much on this channel and I know many of his fans also have years of industrial arts experience to share. Don’t let that knowledge become lost. Young people do want to make and learn, they just need to know what the possibilities are, and the industrial generation has the keys to unlock those possibilities.
Mr Maestas at north junior high was my first educator on tin smithing and woodworking. Also built a hammer from a piece of bar stock and even hardened it. God bless his patience and effective discipline, and shop teachers everywhere!
My little school still had high school wood shop (CVAE?) in the late 90s while I was a student there, and my uncle was the teacher. Not only was I inspired by the sights, sounds, and smells of the shop and the chance to learn to make things by hand, but I also ended up "accidentally" getting my start making miniature swords out of nails in-between assignments, which grew into my obsession with metalwork. I hope some day I get the chance to share that feeling with others!
So sad we don't teach these classes in schools anymore. This video sparked a memory for me. My mild mannered Uncle previously had been the shop teacher at our school(before I got there), I was messing with a plane at our farm one day, he was there, and he got MAD because I didn't set it on its side when I put it down. To this day, I never set a plane down on the sole!!
Hi mr. Pete. Yes i had shop class. I graduated from h.s. in 1983. I took both metal shop & wood shop classes from grade 7 through grade 12. I Loved them all. Learned a Lifetimes worth of Ability & knowledge about hands on activities with wood & metals. I became a Journeyman Plumber in Detroit Local 98 & now work for the USPS as a Mechanic. Thanks to teachers like yourself i have been able to carve out a spot in society for me to exist. Thank You. 👍 😁
Mr Pete, I did woodwork back in the 1970s as most of us in the UK did at that time. Metalwork was also available. Apart from test pieces of all the common joints, we made a couple of types of table lamp and a tray, 12” x 24”, with little fold-out legs that would lock into place, making it ideal for breakfast in bed. I don’t know what happened to the table lamps but I still have the tray almost 50 years later! Also, I did Engineering and Technical Drawing, and at age 16/17 this class became optional, so, by then there was only me and the teacher remaining! He needed bearing support blocks for a chisel sharpening machine he wanted to make, so we drew what was required, made a pattern, and set about casting them. The metalwork shop had the whole works for this so it didn’t take too long to get a couple of usable ones. That experience was worth a hundred lessons in front of a blackboard! I own an old Stanley (Bailey) No 4 which has trued up many a door over the years. and a Stanley 220 for really small work.
Shop classes are still a very fond memory my father had no handyman skills so when high school shop classes came I really enjoyed the hands on. Our teacher was very fussy and expected the best from us. These skills came along with me on life’s path way as a great asset I have since passed working with hand tools to my kids and grand kids. Keep it up high school teacher it is greatly enjoyed and even built some of your steam engines. Thanks for sharing
Yes, I had a hard time squaring a board at 13 but always looked forward to my time in the shop. My favorite time of the school day unless it was lunch. Thanks to all the shop teachers out there like you that put up with "the kids"
I loved my shop classes in the 70's. One of the best teachers I ever had who really cared about his students and teaching. To this day we have remained friends and I still sometimes ask some questions or opinions on different matters wood working or machining. Really enjoy when you talk about your teaching day. Takes me back!
Metal & Wood shop in Jr High, and then Drafting class in High School were my best memories in school. Though I had some knowledge & experience before taking those classes (my dad had grownup on the farm & was an air plane mechanic in WWII , and after. He was one handy guy and could fix anything. I was lucky to watch & learn from him). I'm so sorry for the children that have had the Industrial Arts stolen away from them. I'm thankful, daily, for all that I learned from my shop teachers & my dad, those lesions greatly made me smarter, & gave me more pride/confidence to become an adult & the man I've become. Thank you too Mr. Pete!!!
I was near the end of good industrial art classes late 80's in my area (Alberta, Canada) and its a shame the classes dried up. We were a horrible bunch of junior high boys and tried our poor shop teachers patience to the max. Your UA-cam videos will be relevant and teaching for a long long time even after you pass on. Thank you.
My IA (Industrial Arts) education consisted of a General shop course in Grade 9 : Basic woodworking with hand and power tools, basic sheet metal work, shop safety. In high school I took three years of electronics ( + academics) with two excellent instructors and that great experience has informed my entire working life. I finally did get a chance to run a metal lathe and shaper in engineering school. Enjoyed the video, thanks.
I remember the time when I was introduced to the Stanley Bailey plane in junior high. Our teacher did not allow us to take the plane apart, and we were given strict instruction that when putting the plane on the work bench we always laid the plane on it's side so as not to mess up the knife edge on the blade. Any adjustments were made by Mr. Webb and only a select few were given the privilege of being shown how to actually sharpen one (usually after, or before school).
I enjoyed seeing your plane collection. I've been an amateur woodworker most of my life and I collect and continue to use hand planes. I have a number of Stanley and Bailey planes. I still have a Jr. Jackplane that my father gave me. It was my first plane. I agree that there's nothing quite as pleasurable as using a nice sharp hand plane. I took woodworking classes in school and enjoyed them. Most of the industrial arts teachers were grumpy, and I understood why.. We kids were a bunch of jerks to be honest about it. In my city most of the schools started eliminating shop classes a few decades ago as the industrial arts teachers were retiring. One of my best friends (now retired) was an auto shop teacher at a local high school and they were the only shop class that remained. He told me that one of the main reasons for that was because the class got involved in providing ASE training and certification. This provided a good deal of sponsorship in the way of funding and supplies. During the student's senior year they could get part time placement as mechanics at the local dealerships.
I took industrial arts at McKeesport high school in 1980-81. The teachers name was Floyd Mandela. The man changed the course of my life and gave me a love for decades worth of woodworking. If anyone knows Floyd tell him hi and thank you from rick j. He even helped me make my wife’s hope chest in the school shop about 8 years after I had graduated. Great teachers need more praises! Floyd was a GREAT TEACHER!
Shop classes for me started in 1969 in 7th grade (woodworking), 8th grade (sheet metal) and 9th grade (graphic arts). I loved shop classes, especially metal work. Still fondly recall my Teacher, Mr Means. As we were on a modular class scheduling system, spent all of my extra time in the metal shop or in the computer lab (I taught myself programming in 1969!) In 8th grade, everyone learned to solder sheet metal and spot weld. I still have my hip roof tool box (50 years old now!) Some learned to braze too. As I had extra time in shop, I learned to gas weld and run our little Atlas lathe. This turned out to help me later when I taught myself to TIG weld and worked while a college student as a machinist. By High School, I was headed to Engineering. Electrical or Mechanical, I was not sure. The only H.S. shop class I had time for was Electronics. I ended up going to the Univ of MN and studied Mechanical Engineering. Those shop classes were critical in my very successful career leading Engineering Design and Product Development Laboratories. Shop classes are now long gone in Urban School districts accross the US. HS guidance counselors are pushing all manner of mathematical savant's into STEM careers. Trouble is most make lousy engineers from a lack of basic background. I rarely hired urban engineers, was much more successful hiring farm kids or rural community kids. Retired now, I teach robotics, electronics, welding, auto mechanics and many related STEM activities to Boy Scouts and other youth groups. There is such a need for this education.
Teachers have a huge affect on kids life's that I'm sure they don't even realize. Both positive and negative. My industrial arts teacher (and basketball coach), Mr. Fultz, I respect and admire to this day. I have a nice shop now, that I could just as well name the Mr. Fultz shop, as he was the inspiration for my love of woodworking. Those days are great memories for me, and I'll always love and respect the man (teacher).
I find it very sad that the schools have done away with the shop classed. When I was in high school I took all the shops for the first two years and then majored in electrical. I actually became an electrician but I ended up starting my own business in excavating. To this day I use all that I have learned in my shop classes. I have my own machine shop that I use to fix my equipment, I have a sawmill and do lots of woodworking and I also fix all my own equipment mechanically so shop classes where very valuable to me. Now I find it almost impossible to hire someone because not very many people these days want to do anything with there hands so I’m not sure what the world is going to end up in a few more years when everyone wants to be a computer geek. It’s a sad time for shop teachers right now.
After apprenticing as a machinist ,and working in various phases through the years , approaching my retirement years I tried to find someone to train .Well , the work was " too hard , don't want to get dirty , that's too heavy , why do I have to come to work that early , etc. Finally gave up !
Most young people, not all, but most, are computer stupid. Meaning if it’s not computer related then they don’t have a clue, and a lot of it is just basic common sense stuff....lol.
When I was teenager it was all "get into computers, you'll make a lot of easy money!" and computer labs were all the rage in schools down to elementary levels. Much of that information taught in those classes became useless and outdated before graduation - though a small amount of it has remained useful (like understanding how to use boolean search operators.) Now there's a flooded job market in "tech" and a lot of my peers are struggling with the most basic degrees that have been rendered worthless thru oversupply. They would have been better off going into the stock market instead of college.
In high school, I took a combination of drafting and industrial arts my junior and senior years. I LOVED these classes. Most classes I took in high school, I was mediocre at. But, in these classes, I was the one that could excell, well above some others that thought they were so smart. I learned alot, and these classes have proven invaluable as a stepping stone to other trades I've done in life. What a shame that schools have downsized these programs. Thanks for the video.
I enjoyed every session of shop class ! I went on to become an engineer who worked on 5 continents, I lived on 3 of them in my 40 year career I was involved in building world scale processing plants , was involved in patient designs and complete many reworks and redesign of problem equipment . I retired as a CEO . Shop class was an excellent way form me to understand “ how things are made “ by the way I was educated in the 60’s in Canada where shop also included machine shop ;I still have the tack hammer I made, and welding both gas and electric arc. Thanks for you effort to educate!
G'day Mr Pete I'm 63yo when I was in hight school we learnt "Wood work" and that was all it was called. We used N04 Staley Smoothing Plane we were taught before we even touch them the parts and how to sharpen the blade first on a bench grinder and then we were showen how to use the Jig that the blade sate in and we sharpened on a wet stone but we used oil. They were all well looked after and I was very grateful that I learned it because I use what I learned today. The best Plane we were taught was the wooden ones because they don't bruise the wood. Now Im loving metal work. I can't get over the state of some of these planes Stanley we were told was the best plane you could buy. Kind regards and couldn't agree more with what you are saying about the school system it's happened down here John Kinnane Tasmania Australia
Wood and metal shop classes in junior high left an indelible impression on me. My day job is working with computers, but when I have free time I enjoy building things with my hands. I think there's a crossover between technology fields and wood/metalworking. When you're young, something that seems trivial to many, can further a child's problem solving, spacial conceptualization, and practical task execution abilities. Sharpening an iron isn't a big deal, but when you build something with that plane, it makes the mundane tasks worth it.
Loved shop class back in the late seventies! Had woodworking in junior high, and senior high was mechanical drawing and metal shop. Woodworking machines were all painted blue, and metal shop machines were all battleship gray.
I enjoyed this video. I remember shop class in junior high. I was fascinated by the metal lathes but my one year curriculum was making a ring from a large nut - basically filing. The teacher had the nuts bored on the lathes by older students so we never got to even watch the lathes work. The shop teachers were the athletic coaches in that school - I wonder how that worked in the budget discussions?
Cliff Miller there are more “teachers” hired because of what they can coach in this country then you would care to believe. I know, I worked with many of them. Sad but true.
@@mrpete222 Thank goodness our coaches weren't shop teachers. The only coach we had that was a good teacher was one of the two drivers Ed teachers. We did not have any bad shop teachers.
Hi Lyle, I'm in the UK. Just had my 64th !!, So I can remember being taught squaring up a sawn timber, with marking gauge and Stanley 5. I had a flair for it and have had a number of jobs working with wood. My final employment before retiring, is as a Workshop Technician ( workshop Yoda!!) in a West Yorkshire, High School. I've seen the watering down of Woodwork or Metalwork in Design Technology. Kids taking courses, with subject titles like Product Design or Engineering (not what you might hope!!). To comment on your post, hiding in my department was a hoard of Stanley and Record No 5 planes, nearly 20 planes. After inspection, fettling, correcting, and fitting a few new handles, and a few new plane irons, I had made 12 razor sharp fully functional No 5's from a pile of 20, wrecks. Finally my son's High School taught Resistant Materials, which he continued at Alevel, at 6 form college. This can be very close to the old days if the teachers passion, the school's ethos and workshop equipment, and students ability allows it.
I took a technical drawing class in my first semester, 7th grade , and a metal shop class my 2nd semester. I am 74 years old now and still use, with great pleasure and satisfaction, the lessons I learned in those classes.
In my high school freshman year they offered a class where you tried a different "art" each marking period: Art class, wood shop, drafting, and metal shop. Once sophomore year came around, I chose metal shop and spent the rest of high school focusing on that. Best classes ever. Mr. David Faulhaber was the teacher.
It's such a shame that the industrial arts has fallen into such a sad state. Shop/welding/industrial technology Were always my favorite classes. The tools were all always in aweful condition, every thing was bent and broken, but we made it work. My teacher Mr. Fisher was awesome, but due to destruction from students and no buget he wasn't able to keep up the equipment. I graduated in 2008 and I know I wouldn't be the man I am today without those experiences. A big thanks to you Mr. Pete. I really enjoy all of your videos and appreciate all the hard work that you put into it. I always learn something new, thank you 👍
good morning Mr. Pete, you brought back many fond memories of shop classes. I was always more at home in the shop that any other class. I know what you are saying about education changing over the years. I had discussion with my 4th grade teacher a few week ago about that and she just turned 90. She gets around better than some younger people and is still sharp as a tack. Thanks for a trip down memory lane, now time for more coffee.
I took electrical shop 10-12 grades in the late 60's . Mr Krupkat would tell us about the time he spent wiring the Empire State Building and it was so cold that workers would put 100 watt light bulbs in their coats to keep warm.O' the stories. Thanks to shop and shop teachers that knew their stuff, the guys that couldn't give a damn about academics had a place to shine. Thank you Mr. Pete and specifically Mr. Herbert Krupkat R.I.P.
In the 1930s, my father-in-law went through industrial arts training in high school where he hand crafted several planes including ones for making finish moldings. My sons have them now.
Mr. Pete I spent my entire working life using the skills I was taught my by shop teachers. Auto service center, building homes, restoring vintage aircraft and now machine shop work. I have never forgotten the names of my teachers in 1970 and I think you might be under estimating your contribution to the builders of America. On behalf of my teachers I thank you, where would I be today without people like you? Would like to hear your take on the demise of the industrial arts instead of worthless sports programs. Cheers from Arizona!
Mr Pete, I always find your topics most interesting. I was always very interested in what we called shop at our school. Because I was in the School Band all my elective classes were always taken up as musical related. Alas my education in construction has mostly been self taught or from books. My youngest son shares my interest in tools and has amassed a good many. Both electric and manually operated. I have had a few planes in my day and have given them to my son. He uses them which is very satisfying to me. There is a reason for everything. Many times no longer known or necessarily useful to most people. However I find this information most interesting. Thank You for this time we spend together. I too have completely stopped watching any news programs. Always the same and very depressing. UA-cam and old black and white 40s and 50s movies are the most interesting. The good guy always wears the white hat and the bad guy always gets it in the end. Thanks Mr Pete
Mr Pete great subject I had shop classes in junior and high school metal and wood and then in the early 70s we had building trades we learned how to build a house we actually built a small house from the foundation up then we did all the electrical and plumbing in the new addition of the high school those were some of the best days of my life truly a life experience Mr Glass was our instructor back then we brought our hunting knives to shop to sharpen them on the wet stones times sure different there were great
Liked shop a lot, woods, welding, machine shop, carpentry. Graduated in 86 probably right before the demise began. Several machines in machine shop had been donated by Fairbanks Morse Beloit Wi. Or the Navy. Enjoy your videos, thanks!
I used those tools in junior high and high school. Those are my favorite classes. I enjoyed working with all different types of tools in good old Cicero Illinois!
Keep producing great videos! I Graduated in 1977 and took all the shop classes that were offered in our school. Wood shop, Vo Ag (taught by a roll your own, smoke em if you got em WW2 vet) machine shop where I made several small cannons, even one for my Vo Ag teacher but wasn’t allowed to put the touch hole in any of them after the school found out. I still use the skills I learned in those classes and watching you has freshened up those I was rusty at. Thank you!
I once went and did some turning in lunch break. Agreed it with the teacher - but he thought I meant at the start of lunch break. So when I turned up after lunch he wasn't there. Power was on so I just got on with using the lathe. Not realising what a fuss I'd cause later on !
Lovely to see a pile of planes on the bench again. Its seems like only yesterday I would spend my summer break repairing the all the tools the kids hand part destroyed during the final term. All the vices in one shop used up, clamping wooden handles together. Bending that long screw straight again, grinding out the chips and scores. Sad to say it has all been swept away here in the UK too. Great days :)
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! Your right many reasons for shop classes being dropped, the worst is money and where they decide to spend it. Thanks again and keep um coming.
When I was in Junior High school 55 years ago, we were required our first year to take wood shop, metal shop, electric shop and industrial drawing. The following years we could take whatever one we wanted and I chose metal. To say I hated going to school was an understatement. The only thing I looked forward to was shop and my teacher Mr. Barkley was someone I idolized and stayed in contact with for many years after I left. I got a chuckle out of you telling of people walking in off the street to have things repaired. For several years after I graduated I would have Mr. Barkley weld things for me, until I was able to afford a welder of my own. Eliminating shop classes has been another step in the gradual decline of education in this country. Thanks for the memories and all of your great videos. I watch every one!
Mr Pete, Since you asked, I grew up in rural Mo. and took shop in HS, was in FFA. Wanting to get away from home, I went to NMSU in Kirksville as an accounting major. Quickly decided not for me and changed over to Industrial Occupations major. I took metal working, wood working, sheet metal, foundry, welding, leather craft, but mostly drafting classes. Quit college, got a job as shop carpenter, got married,went back to college, graduated 1980. After a few jobs started working for electrical contractor doing drafting and project management. Fell in love with the work. I was an electrical designer in two years, changed to Consulting Engineering company for a while. Went back to another contractor. While there, converted to AutoCad. Then went to largest contractor in St. Louis. I was approved and became a Professional Engineer 2007. Learned 3D AutoCad 2008. Was in charge of design department for a year. Retired Oct 2018. I enjoy turning wooden bowls and vases in my shop now. Respectfully, Kevin
Mr. Pete, last year at the Bar-Z Bash we talked about this and my wood shop teacher. I grew up in Eagle Rock, a suburb of Los Angeles and graduated from Eagle Rock High School. Our wood shop teacher was Mr. C J Hansen, he was more then a teacher, he was a mentor. One of the things that he did was to make you understand why you needed to learn math along with the other subject taught in school and he wouldn't let you make anything without a drawing with dimensions on it. One time I was trying to make a more complicated set-up on the saw and asked him for some help. When he came over, we talked about what I was trying to achieve and various ways of accomplishing it and the pros and cons of each way, in other words how to problem solve. I've been a cabinetmaker / millman for 47 years. Two of my much older brothers are also cabinetmakers ( Retired) along with hundreds of other boys because of C J Hansen. What schools are missing now days are teachers like you and C J.
Yes add a video on why Shop Classes were stopped. I took wood, machine, drafting, and automotive. As a handicapped person who could not pass a union physical exam, the shop classes gave me talents that I still use today. Instead of working in a shop I sold machine tools.
Took “Industrial Arts” in Junior High (grade 7-8). Received the Industrial Arts Award in Grade 8. I went on to Danforth Technical School in Toronto from there. Machine Shop, Electronics and Industrial Physics held my interest in High School. Mr. Kinney, my grade 7-8 Industrial Arts teacher set me on a course for which I have always been thankful.
I loved our industrial arts classes ! That's were I learned on lathes ( wood + metal ) proper operations. There was drafting , book binding , stamp making just to name some of the things taught in my junior high school and continued in high school were electrical and electronics was added. To add to my education of tools was my father a master carpenter and my maternal grandfather a machinist for Bendix Corp.
Thanks Mr. Pete for video. I did wood and metal shop in Australia in 2005. Metal shop was not so popular unfortunately. I still use those skill every day, I have a wood and metal shop now. Love your work keep teaching us.
Hi Mr Pete, Although living in NZ I was born raised in UK. Did the traditional woodwork and metalwork classes using planes and files. Loved it and the main reason I become an Engineer. 56 and still going
From Central IL thank you Mr. Pete! I have a couple older cheaper quality planes, one is a Dunlap which was from Sears. Someone once told me, “if that particular tool is the only one you have then it is the best one you’ve ever owned so treat it as such”. I have always tried to follow that advice until I could afford one of better quality. I never had any proper machining training nor have I ever done any machining but I have enjoyed your channel for several years now. God bless sir!
Jr High metal shop yielded lathe turned cannons and foundry sand casting aluminum shot , wood shop yielded 12ft sail boards and carriages for the cannons, science yielded the black powder to make it all work for the sea going pirates. :) (all of this in addition to what the Teachers were teaching us) Kids are both capable, inventive and resourceful at ages much earlier than adults realize. ... oh yea, the planes...yep we got a tickle with the term frog! To this day I get a kick out of that sssnnnniiiiicccckk sound of the sharp blade severing a thin wisp of willow oak. on my bench. Thanks Mr Pete.
My midlife crisis was spending one hundred to two hundred fifty per plane to get a set of Stanley Bedrock planes. I’d seen them in a case at one of the best antique malls in reasonable driving distance. Full set breakdown below. 4 and 5 are used the most out of any planes and can be used for any task.. 1 and 2 are for very small parts. 6 is a forplane all arounder or roughing plane used before(Forplane) using another plane. The mighty 7 jointer plane for edge joining. Then the battleship number 8 for jointing larger stock and flattening large area. The 5 1/2 is considered the preferred plane for final smoothing. The kind of smoothing that means you don’t have to sand the wood at all. Any marrow plane with the 1/4 added is usually a roughing/scrub plane.
I enjoyed my metal and wood shop classes. I was one of the lucky few who was allowed to run a lathe, because my grandfather was a designer/ draftsman in a small machine shop, and got me tool blanks for our shop teacher to grind for us to use. Had to guard those tools like they were gold, took them with us at the end of class, or they’d be ruined or stolen,
I'm 71. Got hooked on print shop in junior high. Ran the offset press every day after school and was good at it. Printed tons of jobs for the school. Got to highschool and the offset press set unused in the corner. It was all letter press. Gravitated to the Linotype machine. By the time I graduated, I was being paid by the school to set type for class schedules during summer vacation. It was a great experience and I used a lot of what I learned during the rest of my life.
G’Day Mr Pete, I was fortunate enough to have metalwork, woodwork, and Technical Drawing in my High School years. They were my best and most enjoyable subjects and I learned many lifelong skills for which I am very grateful. In metalwork one year, we made a letterbox which I proudly mounted at the front of our home and it’s still there, perfectly serviceable 49 years later !!!!!!! This is in Australia and I fear that those subjects are no longer taught, workplace health and safety concerns I believe. Great shame! Thank You for your channel, Regards
Dave Tointon
Yes, talk about the demise of shop class in public education.
JIM
When you factor in how many staff are in the school district, the pay
for the superintendent, and the opulence of the district offices, you
will know whether a district is about education or ostentation. Houston
ISD had a 5 story fountain in the lobby of their district offices. I'm
sure it was donated and volunteer run....
I wish that districts would marry the 'manual arts' with math and science. I finally understood trig when I was advancing the compound to get a fraction of a thousandth. It just snapped together. Lathe work and milling are practical math lab. I keep playing around with opening up my modest shop thru a local self study group just for that reason. The unit circle was a cast iron barbie-doll, and was not that easy to understand for me. Not like using a sin on a know angle to advance a compound a known distance.
stxrynn share your tools and your knowledge.
@@stxrynn arch-ive.org/archive/hisd-hattie-mae-white-building/ - fascinated by this comment I researched what the lobby could have been. I've seen that it was claimed to have poor acoustics, and this page has several pictures of the lobby after abandonment and before destruction. Unclear where the fountain was involved though.
@@SkylosSobaka I worked in TV in Houston back in the 90's. I'd seen some news footage, and couldn't believe it. It is entirely possible that I am totally wrong about it being HISD. With all the little cities completely surrounded by it, it may have been one of them. I should do better research, the old memory may be starting to Biden me.... ;)
Maybe it was the move towards inculcation of specific socialist values, and the adamant assertion that all children needed to go to college for further brainwashing?
No room for vocational training in that scenario.
I took Industrial Arts in Junior High school in 1974-75. I enjoyed it immensely! They had different modules to expose the students to different trade crafts and manufacturing techniques. I have very fond memories of the metal shop teacher. We had a project to cast a lead hammer. I asked the teacher if I could bring in a pail of fired .22 cartridges and cast a brass hammer. He agreed and stayed late after school with me as we melted a pail of .22 casings and cast some hammer heads and other items. Can you imagine a teacher doing that now (or allowing spent .22 casings into the building)? What a great teacher!
That would've been my favorite teacher ever!
Today if you tried that both of you would be in serious trouble in CA they would put you in jail for having lead. I am glad I do not live in CA. 🤣🛫
@@TheFalconJetDriver Well, they wouldn't jail you for having lead, but you might have to sit through a two hour lecture on safety and toxic materials. Seriously, EVERYTHING here seems to have warning labels! (One of my day jobs was environmental compliance)
I just found the set of wooden salt & pepper shakers that we made as one of the projects. Yes, I kept them all these years! For this project we made manufacturing tooling and fixtures to make the shakers. We then set up a continuous flow production line with every member of the class at a work station and produced the salt & pepper shaker set. After we finished the run, everyone got to keep a set. This was a great lesson in how things are made, timing in a production line, teamwork, etc. As, I recall this project was around Mother's Day, so guess what all the proud Mom's got for presents!
I had shop in junior and senior high. Wood, metal, auto, graphic arts...generally good experiences. I never thought I'd end up being a shop teacher myself but never say never! I teach wood and metal in Sweden!
Awesome
Home of the Sloyd knife!
You don’t teach people who aren’t fully built yet.
We know this is fact cause people BEGIN COMMUNICATING at age 30.
Victims start talking to you 20 years after the crimes.
40 year olds will tell you what their school teachers were doing 25 years ago.
You have to wait at least 20 years to find out what your students thought of your lessons.
By that time it’s TOO LATE to realise you were wrong or try to do something about it. Of course that’s the effect cause that’s WHY humans WAIT 20 years to say something without fear of reprisals.
I was amazed and pleasantly delighted when I realized in grade seven I would have to take both wood and metal shop. I really couldn’t believe it at first.
I certainly would like to hear you opine on the demise of shop classes in school.
Thanks.
In my wood shop class in 1981/82 we learned about the tools, including the hand plane. We had a slanted shelf on the wall where about a dozen planes were stored. We each were taught how to take it apart, the names of the parts, how to re-assemble it, and use it. I don't remember them having numbers, but they may have. It's really too bad most school districts can't seem to find funding for shop classes.
Hi Mr. Pete - I'm with Jim C. ....please talk about shop class demise. Those are not particularly beautiful planes but I very much enjoyed the discussion.
Thanks
You could make some users out of that pile. Number 5s are my favorite all arounder.
@@mrpete222 Here in England, my school had 2 woodwork shops and 2 metalwork shops. Woodwork shop 1 is now just a social space and metal shop 1 was in a building now demolished. They went from 'wood' and 'metal' to 'materials science' and robotics. All the machinery was sold off.
Then at the other end, some maths rooms became computer rooms - so needs change !
Both metalwork shops had aluminium casting facilities and blacksmith facilities as well as lathes of various sizes.
Thank you Mr. Pete!! Quite enjoyable indeed. I graduated 1987 and I had shop class in Jr. High and High School. While we learned many power tools to include the power planner we did learn hand tools. I do not remember learning the sharpening process though. My grandfather took care of teaching me to sharpen darn near everything and I now do it as a side line business. Sad that we dont teach our children these skills as part of schooling. God bless my friend, and thanks again!!
Tubalcain : Yes I agree with you about the demise of the high school shop class. But you are part of the " New High School Shop Class" that is Utube in general. Now days when someone wants to learn a new hands on skill be metals. wood or even Auto repair they turn to Utube for their 20 to 30 minute shop class! Just last week when a friend of mine that is a wood worker told me he had rebuilt the injector pump for a Ford back hoe tractor. I asked You don't have a clue about diesel injector pumps?! He said I didn't but I do now THANKS to Utube! As he said I have a Doctorate in Utube!! So Tubalcain you have become the "New High School Shop Class " with all of your fine videos! THANK YOU !! and keep them coming as learning how to work my metals shop that I am slowing building up!! THANKS Again Dan Hamilton
Oh our "Mr Pete", have you brought me back 60+ yrs of nostalgia; when I was in "shop" in HS. My wood shop was a joke. The teacher could not teach if his life depended upon it. So little was done in the shop, and the raucous every day of students going wild. Yes and SAD.
But "Electric" and "automobile" shops were awesome. I truly loved them. There is more, but I have typed too long already. Sorry but know...
It is a real joy to wake up to your latest video. We love you "Mr Pete". Our prayers are with you kind Sir.
I was raised in my Dad's shop, and I also LOVED shop class in school. I took every course that was offered. Nowadays, I can't find a young helper who knows which end of a screwdriver to hold.
Lee Roy Holloway and that is a complete travesty, a failure of education wherever in the world you live.
Agreed..if you can't plug it in it's no good. No basic knowledge or training.
Teach them. Show them the love for the shop that’s in your heart.
You’re not going to get comments from people who think the opposite to you here.
You’re trying to preach to the converted.
Your financial class HAS mined out your community.
The global economy destroyed yours and mine, community.
I taught my metalwork teacher how to cut threads on a lathe. Having done it a few times at home before !
(I made a sash cramp. Turned the clamping screw rod (to fit a random nut) then turned a brass nut for the cramp.)
The only class in school I ever looked forward to was shop...
Mine was lunch
I would work ahead in required classes so I could skip that and hang out in the shop classes I didn't have official time to take. Most shop teachers didn't mind as long as we didn't disrupt others.
The teacher was a scumbag and so I hated going to that class, for 3 years. I did all my woodwork at home and nothing in class.
The metalwork teacher was VIOLENT and I dreaded going to that class and I couldn’t wait to get out of that class as fast as I could.
I’ve done both metal and wood working all my life DISPITE my school teachers.
Your life can be destroyed based on the quality of the teachers you run into.
100%... and gym... and lunch... and study hall.
Mr Pete, I wouldve loved to have a shop teacher like you.
In my highschool the shopteacher had simply given up. His budget was cut to nothing, metalworking was abandoned by the school in favor of woodworking (because it was cheaper to do apperantly).
So what happened was, he would just put on videos. I remember the first semester was spent just watching a documentary about pencil manufacturing.
I then went on to trade school to become a truck mechanic, and when I asked about any shop class involving turning or fabricating parts, i was told it was no longer within the scope of a mechanic to do such things.
Now that I'm working i am constantly confronted with the fact that that was a lie, I;m always fabricating something, wether its making brackets to fit extra large diesel tanks or simply turning down the shank on my 12mm drillbit to make it fit my 10mm chuck.
Keep up the good work
Sorry about your bad experience in school. There is always a need to do a little fabrication
It was 7th grade woodshop and metalshop that lit the fire in my belly to become a shop teacher. 99% of the time it was all good clean fun & learning... that was 1971. I still have the tinplate flour scoop and the willow jewelry box I made.... soon to be 50 years ago. The other 1% of the time? That was times like when Vinny Spahr threw the whole sal ammonia brick into the Johnson bench furnace that we used to heat our soldering irons..... I can still see that haze that hung in that room today.
lol
Dave Potts excellent! (Especially if you’re old enough to know what sal ammonia and Johnson soldering furnaces were.)
For a Danish kid raised in the countryside with a few pieces of hand tools, the craft lessons from 1960 to 1965 were a clean slumber land. However, the planes were made of wood, as was most of the tools. I loved those hours. The teacher was very knowledgeable and rigorous, but when dealing with the tasks he was always helpful and kind.
I learned useful things like I've benefited from the rest of my life.
In the early 1980s I too learned a little copper craft with hammer, anvil and annealing of copper plates.
I trained in electronics and ended up with a Bachelor of Electronics :-)
My dad was a finishing carpenter and I inherited his tools after he passed away. I use his Stanley plane more than most of the other tools for simple finishing jobs. And yes, the sound of plane shavings is very satisfying...especially when you see the look of freshly exposed wood. I took woodshop in 1966 as a HS sophomore and squaring was virtually impossible. Thanks for bringing these classic tools for all to see. John E.
Shop classes (late '60s and early '70s) were mandatory in my Jr Highschool (Long Island, NY). They were setup on a quarterly basis, one quarter for electronics, one for metal shop, one for carpentry and finally one for study hall. Highschool was similar but you got to pick a field. Metal/machine/auto shop was a four year program as were carpentry and aviation. Senior class automotive ran a couple cars at the drag strip. Senior carpentry/plumbing/electrical built a small house in the courtyard and sold it at the end of the year (after inspections) to buy materials for the next years classes. I took the aviation program (BOCES) where first year we learned accessories/powerplants and rebuilt a continental 4-cyl (as parts allowed), second year was structural/hangar where they welded up a Piper Cub and then covered it with fabric at the end they took one of the completed engines and mated it to the airframe got it inspected/signed off and certified for flight. Third year was flight science where you earned your private pilots license. We had a bell helicopter that was being restored (think M.A.S.H.) a turbojet on a stand and an old navy trainer aircraft in the hanger. Engines were donated as were parts, materials and staff were paid for by a cooperative system of many schools in the system. They also had HVAC program as well as a nursing one. BOCES is still in operation in Long Island but the programs have changed over time, check them out(B.O.C.E.S.- Board Of Cooperative Educational Services) Industrial arts are NOT dead. P.S. I LOVED the industrial art program in central Long Island and went on to a stint in the NAVY (PowerPlants) and a career in Lockheed Martin (Space Shuttle).
I came from a Catholic elementary school into a public Jr high school in the early 70s the one thing I was looking forward to was taking shop classes. I took both a wood shop class and metal ,sadly, the school system had begun to shutter all the metal shop class room stating that there was no interest from the students but, at 62, I still remember Mr. Curry the metal shop teacher and quite a lot of what he was instructing and his wisdom, The next year I started into high school and much to my chagrin, the Metal shop was already closed, Fast forward to my 50s and a retired gunsmith was teaching me tricks of his trade and re-sparked my interest in learning about machining. After the gunsmith passed I was fortunate to find your videos along with Keith Fenner and , Keith Rucker and several others that inspire me to keep learning and enjoying metal crafts. The bonus is in the neighborhood I am known as the guy who can fix about anything , smiling. So, with that said, please continue to share I am sure I am not alone when I say I am grateful and inspired to to " keep making chips" Thank you.
I always had fun in shop class. Sometimes I didn't take it seriously.. as the folly of youth I guess. Now I enjoy watching woodworking videos and relish my time in my shed trying to put in practice what I have seen. Amazing the difference 30 years makes in one's attitude.
I took shop classes as a junior and senior. Metal, wood, ceramic , printing, electric and 2 years of automotive.
Loved each course and class. 50 plus years later still repairing cars and lawn equipment.
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"Fond days". My father was a high school wood shop teacher from 1966 to 1988. A few years after retiring the industrial arts program was shut down. I enjoyed wood and metal shop in middle and high school. Still use all the learned skills to this day. Industrial arts was the best part of my education and those teachers are the ones I remember today.
I enjoyed Industrial Arts in junior high and senior high. We covered all aspects of the trade world. Woodworking, metal working, casting, printing, small engine repair, plus a few others. I still have the bookcase I made, the walnut bowl and the Warrington hammer. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun! All this stuff is almost sixty years old and still used today.I enjoyed and respected all my Industrial Arts teachers. Almost all of them are dead now so I want to thank you and your fellow shop teachers for teaching. I learned!
Enjoyed wood shop in school way more than metal shop. first year of both were hand tools only. working with hand tools on a piece of wood was so much more pleasurable than filing a piece of quarter inch stock into the shape of a bottle opener . Fortunately now enjoy metal working with machine assistance ! still enjoy wood working by hand.
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It does my heart good to see someone who loves tools as much as I do. I enjoy listening to Mr. Pete’s stories as well.
Very interesting video. My junior high and high school had no shop classes at all. I always felt a bit cheated. My youngest daughter took wood shop and made a clock, gave it to me. I enjoy looking at it every day. My dad was my shop teacher. Taught me all I needed to know to do whatever had to be done. Sure do miss him.
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If it wasn’t for shop classes like : wood shop , metal shop , automotive shop, small engines shop, up upholstery shop, welding shop .that I took in high school I would have dropped out . Best days of my life was attending shop classes . I use all I learned from those classes through out my sixty years of being on this earth . I feel sorry for the kids now that have nothing like what I did , it’s all gone now. Then again who could teach those classes now if they brought them back .Thanks for your time teaching mr Pete .
In Australia we have schools shutting down their ‘manual arts “ classrooms constantly. This is in fact despite the reality that old style trades people are the most sought after employees in the country and earning top money. Obviously doesn’t fit with the new world order types who determine school curriculums these days.
Totally agree
The push to send everyone off to university to get a Liberal Arts degree no matter their aptitudes and desires - and don't even think about employability! - was in full awing when I was in my teens 40+ years ago here in California.
Fortunately for me, helping my dad with all the home repairs and remodeling gave me decent shop skills which proved quite useful when studying physical chemistry and engineering - skills which otherwise would have not been acquired so young, because the high school curriculum was set up to actively block college track students from taking any shop classes...
That's right, STEM students can benefit from getting a few high school level shop classes under their belts...
Public "Education" has become a racket on so many levels...
When you factor in how many staff are in the school district, the pay for the superintendent, and the opulence of the district offices, you will know whether a district is about education or ostentation. Houston ISD had a 5 story fountain in the lobby of their district offices. I'm sure it was donated and volunteer run....
I wish that districts would marry the 'manual arts' with math and science. I finally understood trig when I was advancing the compound to get a fraction of a thousandth. It just snapped together. Lathe work and milling are practical math lab. I keep playing around with opening up my modest shop thru a local self study group just for that reason. The unit circle was a cast iron barbie-doll, and was not that easy to understand for me. Not like using a sin on a know angle to advance a compound a known distance.
I'm sure Prezzo in Australia would be able to shed a bit of light on this subject as well, how about it Mark.. put your threepeneth worth in( it's gone up by 50% coz of inflation lol)
@@stxrynn Exactly! I use physics, chemistry, and algebra all the time at work and in my home shop. It's one of those concepts that they teach you in Ed' classes, but governments or school boards hate to actually put into practice.
Lyle, I graduated in 1975. I took Industrial Arts for four years. Best year's of my life! You remind me so much of my teacher, Mr. Ball. I loved that class. Thanks.
Lyle, I want you to know Iam now 60 and I still maintain relationships with the remaining shop teachers left form my jr high and senior high school days, T/Y for all of your vids they are a real breath of fresh air in these days of craziness!
Mr Pete . As I look back at my career , and I am now retired. I had learned way more in my shop classes . That I was able to use in my vocation and on the job every day.Than I did in any other class or classes. Sad to say ,when I went to high school in north west Indiana. We only had to take 1 year of math. I have taught myself more math than I had learned in H.S. I daily think of my shop classes and some of my teachers in them. Many times I had to get a pass written from my welding class teacher . I would weld right through half of my freshman English class. I knew an Auto Shop teacher still working well into his 70's. When I asked why he had not retired. He told me. When past students stop coming to see me. And tell me that do to his teaching. They now have a great career and can support their family. And thank you Mr Pete. For what you did and what you do today. Thanks from a home shop knuckle head.
i dont know if you will ever read this but your videos really motivate me, i ended up just watching videos about tools and things but for a long time i was never was really interested but i recently got my own tools and just started learning how to make things. thanks to you i got some basic tools and started a new hobby, i got into wood working, made some things im proud of and i have never been happier
I was one of the lucky people who had shop class for three years in grade school and all through high school. I was interested in wood working from the age of seven with my dad. I am now 69 years old and I have made a good living being a well rounded carpenter. I wish I could go back and thank all my shop teachers for showing me the way and for putting up with my antics. I know I can`t do that so even thought we never met let me thank you in their place.
Mike from NJ
I live in central PA and we have a large Amish population in the region. Many Amishmen are involved in the trades, especially carpentry and other woodworking specialities. It is very interesting and enjoyable to see them arrive at work in the morning with neat clean clothes (no buttons though), no tattoos, then put their work aprons on and go to work. No cussin', no drinking, and keeping the workplace clean and orderly. Some are very strict about the use of power tools while others will have what they need. My son's house was built by Amish craftsmen, the finish craftsmanship is excellent but so are the bones, wood joints are all tight and only the nailheads visible. I recently was in a shop that specialized in windows and doors recently and it is a pleasure to see a read wood window rather than the vinyl crap that is used today, finished and cared for these will last a 100 years or more. The read point of what I'm talking about is that these folks attended an Amish school K thru 6 and then apprenticed into their trade. They make a good living and pose no burden on society and are never unemployed, if there is no work in the shop their uncle probably needs some help on his farm etc. I am a transplant to PA but appreciate what the Penns saw in these people and their decision to bring them here and give them special rights (no military conscription, no mandatory school attendance, etc.). The only warning that I offer is that when you shake hands with an Amishman you are putting your hand into a vice but there is honestly in that.
I have fond memories of my days in shop class Mr. Pete. We learned wood working skills, mechanical drafting, proper tool handling a use and so on... It seemed that the shop class period never was long enough, time would fly by because it was fun!
Great video Mr. Pete. Thank you so much.
Mr. Pete I work with wood as well as metal and I still love using a hand plane. They still have their place and are very widely still used. If you have wide boards that won't fit on a jointer that you don't want to cut down and re-glue then you're going to need a plane. Those handles you have there are Rosewood. Rosewood is endangered and there are people across the pond that have their Ebay items confiscated because of the Rosewood handles. The planes you have still hold value. Plane collecting is still pretty popular. I hope you find a good home for them. Too many end up in a scrap bin.
I attended shop class in Junior High 1947-8 and enjoyed every minute of it. I still use some of the methods I was taught and now at 84 years old I have continued both wood working and metal working. The woodworking I do is with hand tools. My father taught me how to sharpen the hand saws, chisels and plane irons
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I was raised in my fathers shop at home , when I got into shop classes in the 7th grade it was all second nature to me . I enjoyed every shop class I took and did very well at them . When I was in grade 12 my woodshop teacher William Brogan asked me if I would pick a crew to build a carport for the VP of our school . The only class I ever got 100% in . I ended up doing my Apprenticship as a Carpenter , I did a bit of teaching at George Brown College in Toronto . One of thing I most remember is Mr Brogan telling me that one of the hallmarks of a proper tradesman was the willingness to teach what you have learned " we do not own what we know , we are stewards of knowledge . Our place is to improve upon it and teach the next generation " . I have tried to keep to that all my life .
My "general shop" teacher back in Jr. high would get a dreamy look in his eyes as he described and demonstrated getting "that perfect shaving" from a piece of stock..I didn't understand the pleasure then but I sure do now. Thanks, Mr. Pete! :-)
Yes
They teach you stuff before you’re ready to understand it cause THEY need to consume your youth.
They rank you according to you ability to comprehend stuff your brain isn’t built to comprehend.
You just proved it, once again.
They do destroy lots of your life before you realise it.
The top dog system is everywhere and it’s a MASSIVE SOCIAL DESTRUCTION problem.
The best minds get destroyed by The school system.
It’s a well known terrible fact.
Took many shop classes. To this day, the plane I use most is a Stanley 5-1/4. Like Andy Rooney, in my mind all of my tools are razor sharp.... Thank you for the lifetime of knowledge you have passed on to us these past years.
I do hope that all the people in this thread commenting about the demise of shop classes, remember that feeling when they go to vote in their local elections. Vote in the direction of more money for education, get involved in your local school boards, be ok with your property taxes going up to support shop classes. Find a local maker space and volunteer or become faculty to teach and share what you know about making. Mr. Pete has taught me so much on this channel and I know many of his fans also have years of industrial arts experience to share. Don’t let that knowledge become lost. Young people do want to make and learn, they just need to know what the possibilities are, and the industrial generation has the keys to unlock those possibilities.
Mr Maestas at north junior high was my first educator on tin smithing and woodworking. Also built a hammer from a piece of bar stock and even hardened it. God bless his patience and effective discipline, and shop teachers everywhere!
My little school still had high school wood shop (CVAE?) in the late 90s while I was a student there, and my uncle was the teacher. Not only was I inspired by the sights, sounds, and smells of the shop and the chance to learn to make things by hand, but I also ended up "accidentally" getting my start making miniature swords out of nails in-between assignments, which grew into my obsession with metalwork. I hope some day I get the chance to share that feeling with others!
So sad we don't teach these classes in schools anymore. This video sparked a memory for me. My mild mannered Uncle previously had been the shop teacher at our school(before I got there), I was messing with a plane at our farm one day, he was there, and he got MAD because I didn't set it on its side when I put it down. To this day, I never set a plane down on the sole!!
Hi mr. Pete.
Yes i had shop class. I graduated from h.s. in 1983.
I took both metal shop & wood shop classes from grade 7 through grade 12.
I Loved them all. Learned a Lifetimes worth of Ability & knowledge about hands on activities with wood & metals.
I became a Journeyman Plumber in Detroit Local 98
& now work for the USPS as a Mechanic.
Thanks to teachers like yourself i have been able to carve out a spot in society for me to exist.
Thank You.
👍 😁
Mr Pete, I did woodwork back in the 1970s as most of us in the UK did at that time. Metalwork was also available. Apart from test pieces of all the common joints, we made a couple of types of table lamp and a tray, 12” x 24”, with little fold-out legs that would lock into place, making it ideal for breakfast in bed. I don’t know what happened to the table lamps but I still have the tray almost 50 years later! Also, I did Engineering and Technical Drawing, and at age 16/17 this class became optional, so, by then there was only me and the teacher remaining! He needed bearing support blocks for a chisel sharpening machine he wanted to make, so we drew what was required, made a pattern, and set about casting them. The metalwork shop had the whole works for this so it didn’t take too long to get a couple of usable ones. That experience was worth a hundred lessons in front of a blackboard!
I own an old Stanley (Bailey) No 4 which has trued up many a door over the years. and a Stanley 220 for really small work.
Shop classes are still a very fond memory my father had no handyman skills so when high school shop classes came I really enjoyed the hands on. Our teacher was very fussy and expected the best from us. These skills came along with me on life’s path way as a great asset I have since passed working with hand tools to my kids and grand kids. Keep it up high school teacher it is greatly enjoyed and even built some of your steam engines. Thanks for sharing
Yes, I had a hard time squaring a board at 13 but always looked forward to my time in the shop. My favorite time of the school day unless it was lunch. Thanks to all the shop teachers out there like you that put up with "the kids"
I loved my shop classes in the 70's. One of the best teachers I ever had who really cared about his students and teaching. To this day we have remained friends and I still sometimes ask some questions or opinions on different matters wood working or machining. Really enjoy when you talk about your teaching day. Takes me back!
Metal & Wood shop in Jr High, and then Drafting class in High School were my best memories in school. Though I had some knowledge & experience before taking those classes (my dad had grownup on the farm & was an air plane mechanic in WWII , and after. He was one handy guy and could fix anything. I was lucky to watch & learn from him). I'm so sorry for the children that have had the Industrial Arts stolen away from them. I'm thankful, daily, for all that I learned from my shop teachers & my dad, those lesions greatly made me smarter, & gave me more pride/confidence to become an adult & the man I've become. Thank you too Mr. Pete!!!
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I was near the end of good industrial art classes late 80's in my area (Alberta, Canada) and its a shame the classes dried up. We were a horrible bunch of junior high boys and tried our poor shop teachers patience to the max. Your UA-cam videos will be relevant and teaching for a long long time even after you pass on. Thank you.
My IA (Industrial Arts) education consisted of a General shop course in Grade 9 : Basic woodworking with hand and power tools, basic sheet metal work, shop safety. In high school I took three years of electronics ( + academics) with two excellent instructors and that great experience has informed my entire working life. I finally did get a chance to run a metal lathe and shaper in engineering school. Enjoyed the video, thanks.
I remember the time when I was introduced to the Stanley Bailey plane in junior high. Our teacher did not allow us to take the plane apart, and we were given strict instruction that when putting the plane on the work bench we always laid the plane on it's side so as not to mess up the knife edge on the blade. Any adjustments were made by Mr. Webb and only a select few were given the privilege of being shown how to actually sharpen one (usually after, or before school).
I enjoyed seeing your plane collection. I've been an amateur woodworker most of my life and I collect and continue to use hand planes. I have a number of Stanley and Bailey planes. I still have a Jr. Jackplane that my father gave me. It was my first plane. I agree that there's nothing quite as pleasurable as using a nice sharp hand plane. I took woodworking classes in school and enjoyed them. Most of the industrial arts teachers were grumpy, and I understood why.. We kids were a bunch of jerks to be honest about it.
In my city most of the schools started eliminating shop classes a few decades ago as the industrial arts teachers were retiring. One of my best friends (now retired) was an auto shop teacher at a local high school and they were the only shop class that remained. He told me that one of the main reasons for that was because the class got involved in providing ASE training and certification. This provided a good deal of sponsorship in the way of funding and supplies. During the student's senior year they could get part time placement as mechanics at the local dealerships.
I took industrial arts at McKeesport high school in 1980-81. The teachers name was Floyd Mandela. The man changed the course of my life and gave me a love for decades worth of woodworking. If anyone knows Floyd tell him hi and thank you from rick j. He even helped me make my wife’s hope chest in the school shop about 8 years after I had graduated. Great teachers need more praises! Floyd was a GREAT TEACHER!
Shop classes for me started in 1969 in 7th grade (woodworking), 8th grade (sheet metal) and 9th grade (graphic arts).
I loved shop classes, especially metal work. Still fondly recall my Teacher, Mr Means. As we were on a modular class scheduling system, spent all of my extra time in the metal shop or in the computer lab (I taught myself programming in 1969!)
In 8th grade, everyone learned to solder sheet metal and spot weld. I still have my hip roof tool box (50 years old now!) Some learned to braze too. As I had extra time in shop, I learned to gas weld and run our little Atlas lathe. This turned out to help me later when I taught myself to TIG weld and worked while a college student as a machinist.
By High School, I was headed to Engineering. Electrical or Mechanical, I was not sure. The only H.S. shop class I had time for was Electronics.
I ended up going to the Univ of MN and studied Mechanical Engineering. Those shop classes were critical in my very successful career leading Engineering Design and Product Development Laboratories.
Shop classes are now long gone in Urban School districts accross the US. HS guidance counselors are pushing all manner of mathematical savant's into STEM careers. Trouble is most make lousy engineers from a lack of basic background. I rarely hired urban engineers, was much more successful hiring farm kids or rural community kids.
Retired now, I teach robotics, electronics, welding, auto mechanics and many related STEM activities to Boy Scouts and other youth groups.
There is such a need for this education.
Teachers have a huge affect on kids life's that I'm sure they don't even realize. Both positive and negative. My industrial arts teacher (and basketball coach), Mr. Fultz, I respect and admire to this day. I have a nice shop now, that I could just as well name the Mr. Fultz shop, as he was the inspiration for my love of woodworking. Those days are great memories for me, and I'll always love and respect the man (teacher).
I find it very sad that the schools have done away with the shop classed. When I was in high school I took all the shops for the first two years and then majored in electrical. I actually became an electrician but I ended up starting my own business in excavating. To this day I use all that I have learned in my shop classes. I have my own machine shop that I use to fix my equipment, I have a sawmill and do lots of woodworking and I also fix all my own equipment mechanically so shop classes where very valuable to me. Now I find it almost impossible to hire someone because not very many people these days want to do anything with there hands so I’m not sure what the world is going to end up in a few more years when everyone wants to be a computer geek. It’s a sad time for shop teachers right now.
After apprenticing as a machinist ,and working in various phases through the years , approaching my retirement years I tried to find someone to train .Well , the work was " too hard , don't want to get dirty , that's too heavy , why do I have to come to work that early , etc. Finally gave up !
Most young people, not all, but most, are computer stupid. Meaning if it’s not computer related then they don’t have a clue, and a lot of it is just basic common sense stuff....lol.
@@tmurray1972 : 'computer stupid' - that's a good one, know exactly what you mean, I'll remember that.
When I was teenager it was all "get into computers, you'll make a lot of easy money!" and computer labs were all the rage in schools down to elementary levels. Much of that information taught in those classes became useless and outdated before graduation - though a small amount of it has remained useful (like understanding how to use boolean search operators.)
Now there's a flooded job market in "tech" and a lot of my peers are struggling with the most basic degrees that have been rendered worthless thru oversupply. They would have been better off going into the stock market instead of college.
Our school didn't do electrical work or plumbing !
'MEOW'
or pet-care !
Better go feed the cat!
In high school, I took a combination of drafting and industrial arts my junior and senior years. I LOVED these classes. Most classes I took in high school, I was mediocre at. But, in these classes, I was the one that could excell, well above some others that thought they were so smart. I learned alot, and these classes have proven invaluable as a stepping stone to other trades I've done in life. What a shame that schools have downsized these programs. Thanks for the video.
I enjoyed every session of shop class ! I went on to become an engineer who worked on 5 continents, I lived on 3 of them in my 40 year career I was involved in building world scale processing plants , was involved in patient designs and complete many reworks and redesign of problem equipment . I retired as a CEO . Shop class was an excellent way form me to understand “ how things are made “ by the way I was educated in the 60’s in Canada where shop also included machine shop ;I still have the tack hammer I made, and welding both gas and electric arc. Thanks for you effort to educate!
G'day Mr Pete I'm 63yo when I was in hight school we learnt "Wood work" and that was all it was called. We used N04 Staley Smoothing Plane we were taught before we even touch them the parts and how to sharpen the blade first on a bench grinder and then we were showen how to use the Jig that the blade sate in and we sharpened on a wet stone but we used oil. They were all well looked after and I was very grateful that I learned it because I use what I learned today. The best Plane we were taught was the wooden ones because they don't bruise the wood. Now Im loving metal work. I can't get over the state of some of these planes Stanley we were told was the best plane you could buy. Kind regards and couldn't agree more with what you are saying about the school system it's happened down here John Kinnane Tasmania Australia
Wood and metal shop classes in junior high left an indelible impression on me. My day job is working with computers, but when I have free time I enjoy building things with my hands. I think there's a crossover between technology fields and wood/metalworking. When you're young, something that seems trivial to many, can further a child's problem solving, spacial conceptualization, and practical task execution abilities. Sharpening an iron isn't a big deal, but when you build something with that plane, it makes the mundane tasks worth it.
Loved shop class back in the late seventies! Had woodworking in junior high, and senior high was mechanical drawing and metal shop. Woodworking machines were all painted blue, and metal shop machines were all battleship gray.
I enjoyed this video. I remember shop class in junior high. I was fascinated by the metal lathes but my one year curriculum was making a ring from a large nut - basically filing. The teacher had the nuts bored on the lathes by older students so we never got to even watch the lathes work. The shop teachers were the athletic coaches in that school - I wonder how that worked in the budget discussions?
In some schools. Coaches And driver education teachers we’re also Shop teachers. Most of the time their heart was not in it
Cliff Miller there are more “teachers” hired because of what they can coach in this country then you would care to believe. I know, I worked with many of them. Sad but true.
@@mrpete222 Thank goodness our coaches weren't shop teachers. The only coach we had that was a good teacher was one of the two drivers Ed teachers. We did not have any bad shop teachers.
Hi Lyle, I'm in the UK. Just had my 64th !!, So I can remember being taught squaring up a sawn timber, with marking gauge and Stanley 5. I had a flair for it and have had a number of jobs working with wood.
My final employment before retiring, is as a Workshop Technician ( workshop Yoda!!) in a West Yorkshire, High School. I've seen the watering down of Woodwork or Metalwork in Design Technology. Kids taking courses, with subject titles like Product Design or Engineering (not what you might hope!!). To comment on your post, hiding in my department was a hoard of Stanley and Record No 5 planes, nearly 20 planes. After inspection, fettling, correcting, and fitting a few new handles, and a few new plane irons, I had made 12 razor sharp fully functional No 5's from a pile of 20, wrecks. Finally my son's High School taught Resistant Materials, which he continued at Alevel, at 6 form college. This can be very close to the old days if the teachers passion, the school's ethos and workshop equipment, and students ability allows it.
I took a technical drawing class in my first semester, 7th grade , and a metal shop class my 2nd semester. I am 74 years old now and still use, with great pleasure and satisfaction, the lessons I learned in those classes.
Thank you Pete, this brought back many good memories.
Yes
In my high school freshman year they offered a class where you tried a different "art" each marking period: Art class, wood shop, drafting, and metal shop. Once sophomore year came around, I chose metal shop and spent the rest of high school focusing on that. Best classes ever. Mr. David Faulhaber was the teacher.
It's such a shame that the industrial arts has fallen into such a sad state. Shop/welding/industrial technology Were always my favorite classes. The tools were all always in aweful condition, every thing was bent and broken, but we made it work. My teacher Mr. Fisher was awesome, but due to destruction from students and no buget he wasn't able to keep up the equipment. I graduated in 2008 and I know I wouldn't be the man I am today without those experiences.
A big thanks to you Mr. Pete. I really enjoy all of your videos and appreciate all the hard work that you put into it. I always learn something new, thank you 👍
good morning Mr. Pete, you brought back many fond memories of shop classes. I was always more at home in the shop that any other class. I know what you are saying about education changing over the years. I had discussion with my 4th grade teacher a few week ago about that and she just turned 90. She gets around better than some younger people and is still sharp as a tack. Thanks for a trip down memory lane, now time for more coffee.
I took electrical shop 10-12 grades in the late 60's . Mr Krupkat would tell us about the time he spent wiring the Empire State Building and it was so cold that workers would put 100 watt light bulbs in their coats to keep warm.O' the stories. Thanks to shop and shop teachers that knew their stuff, the guys that couldn't give a damn about academics had a place to shine. Thank you Mr. Pete and specifically Mr. Herbert Krupkat R.I.P.
In the 1930s, my father-in-law went through industrial arts training in high school where he hand crafted several planes including ones for making finish moldings. My sons have them now.
Mr. Pete I spent my entire working life using the skills I was taught my by shop teachers. Auto service center, building homes, restoring vintage aircraft and now machine shop work. I have never forgotten the names of my teachers in 1970 and I think you might be under estimating your contribution to the builders of America. On behalf of my teachers I thank you, where would I be today without people like you? Would like to hear your take on the demise of the industrial arts instead of worthless sports programs. Cheers from Arizona!
Mr Pete, I always find your topics most interesting. I was always very interested in what we called shop at our school. Because I was in the School Band all my elective classes were always taken up as musical related. Alas my education in construction has mostly been self taught or from books. My youngest son shares my interest in tools and has amassed a good many. Both electric and manually operated. I have had a few planes in my day and have given them to my son. He uses them which is very satisfying to me. There is a reason for everything. Many times no longer known or necessarily useful to most people. However I find this information most interesting. Thank You for this time we spend together. I too have completely stopped watching any news programs. Always the same and very depressing. UA-cam and old black and white 40s and 50s movies are the most interesting. The good guy always wears the white hat and the bad guy always gets it in the end. Thanks Mr Pete
Thank you for the interesting observation
Mr Pete great subject I had shop classes in junior and high school metal and wood and then in the early 70s we had building trades we learned how to build a house we actually built a small house from the foundation up then we did all the electrical and plumbing in the new addition of the high school those were some of the best days of my life truly a life experience Mr Glass was our instructor back then we brought our hunting knives to shop to sharpen them on the wet stones times sure different there were great
Liked shop a lot, woods, welding, machine shop, carpentry. Graduated in 86 probably right before the demise began. Several machines in machine shop had been donated by Fairbanks Morse Beloit Wi. Or the Navy. Enjoy your videos, thanks!
I used those tools in junior high and high school. Those are my favorite classes. I enjoyed working with all different types of tools in good old Cicero Illinois!
Keep producing great videos! I Graduated in 1977 and took all the shop classes that were offered in our school. Wood shop, Vo Ag (taught by a roll your own, smoke em if you got em WW2 vet) machine shop where I made several small cannons, even one for my Vo Ag teacher but wasn’t allowed to put the touch hole in any of them after the school found out. I still use the skills I learned in those classes and watching you has freshened up those I was rusty at. Thank you!
Loved wood and metal working at school we had 2 good teachers, I spent many lunchtimes in there making stuff to sell.
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I once went and did some turning in lunch break. Agreed it with the teacher - but he thought I meant at the start of lunch break. So when I turned up after lunch he wasn't there. Power was on so I just got on with using the lathe.
Not realising what a fuss I'd cause later on !
Lovely to see a pile of planes on the bench again. Its seems like only yesterday I would spend my summer break repairing the all the tools the kids hand part destroyed during the final term. All the vices in one shop used up, clamping wooden handles together. Bending that long screw straight again, grinding out the chips and scores. Sad to say it has all been swept away here in the UK too. Great days :)
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! Your right many reasons for shop classes being dropped, the worst is money and where they decide to spend it. Thanks again and keep um coming.
I LOVED my junior high and high school shop classes. VO-AG in jr high, Carpentry in high school. Miss it badly. Loved both teachers.
When I was in Junior High school 55 years ago, we were required our first year to take wood shop, metal shop, electric shop and industrial drawing. The following years we could take whatever one we wanted and I chose metal. To say I hated going to school was an understatement. The only thing I looked forward to was shop and my teacher Mr. Barkley was someone I idolized and stayed in contact with for many years after I left. I got a chuckle out of you telling of people walking in off the street to have things repaired. For several years after I graduated I would have Mr. Barkley weld things for me, until I was able to afford a welder of my own. Eliminating shop classes has been another step in the gradual decline of education in this country. Thanks for the memories and all of your great videos. I watch every one!
Had woodwork class as a HS freshman.....loved it. Still have a lap desk I made from scratch.............55 years ago.
Mr Pete, Since you asked, I grew up in rural Mo. and took shop in HS, was in FFA. Wanting to get away from home, I went to NMSU in Kirksville as an accounting major. Quickly decided not for me and changed over to Industrial Occupations major. I took metal working, wood working, sheet metal, foundry, welding, leather craft, but mostly drafting classes. Quit college, got a job as shop carpenter, got married,went back to college, graduated 1980. After a few jobs started working for electrical contractor doing drafting and project management. Fell in love with the work. I was an electrical designer in two years, changed to Consulting Engineering company for a while. Went back to another contractor. While there, converted to AutoCad. Then went to largest contractor in St. Louis. I was approved and became a Professional Engineer 2007. Learned 3D AutoCad 2008. Was in charge of design department for a year. Retired Oct 2018. I enjoy turning wooden bowls and vases in my shop now.
Respectfully, Kevin
Mr. Pete, last year at the Bar-Z Bash we talked about this and my wood shop teacher. I grew up in Eagle Rock, a suburb of Los Angeles and graduated from Eagle Rock High School. Our wood shop teacher was Mr. C J Hansen, he was more then a teacher, he was a mentor. One of the things that he did was to make you understand why you needed to learn math along with the other subject taught in school and he wouldn't let you make anything without a drawing with dimensions on it. One time I was trying to make a more complicated set-up on the saw and asked him for some help. When he came over, we talked about what I was trying to achieve and various ways of accomplishing it and the pros and cons of each way, in other words how to problem solve. I've been a cabinetmaker / millman for 47 years. Two of my much older brothers are also cabinetmakers ( Retired) along with hundreds of other boys because of C J Hansen. What schools are missing now days are teachers like you and C J.
Yes add a video on why Shop Classes were stopped. I took wood, machine, drafting, and automotive. As a handicapped person who could not pass a union physical exam, the shop classes gave me talents that I still use today. Instead of working in a shop I sold machine tools.
Took “Industrial Arts” in Junior High (grade 7-8). Received the Industrial Arts Award in Grade 8. I went on to Danforth Technical School in Toronto from there. Machine Shop, Electronics and Industrial Physics held my interest in High School. Mr. Kinney, my grade 7-8 Industrial Arts teacher set me on a course for which I have always been thankful.
Mr pete,please continue with the education, there are many that want and need to hear !
I loved our industrial arts classes ! That's were I learned on lathes ( wood + metal ) proper operations. There was drafting , book binding , stamp making just to name some of the things taught in my junior high school and continued in high school were electrical and electronics was added. To add to my education of tools was my father a master carpenter and my maternal grandfather a machinist for Bendix Corp.
Thanks Mr. Pete for video. I did wood and metal shop in Australia in 2005. Metal shop was not so popular unfortunately. I still use those skill every day, I have a wood and metal shop now. Love your work keep teaching us.
Hi Mr Pete,
Although living in NZ I was born raised in UK. Did the traditional woodwork and metalwork classes using planes and files. Loved it and the main reason I become an Engineer. 56 and still going
shop classes were the best... 58 yrs later I still use what I learned.
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Thank You Lyle....Always informative...Makes me think back to my high school Mr. Dolans wood shop teacher...How much patience a teacher needs.....TM
From Central IL thank you Mr. Pete! I have a couple older cheaper quality planes, one is a Dunlap which was from Sears. Someone once told me, “if that particular tool is the only one you have then it is the best one you’ve ever owned so treat it as such”. I have always tried to follow that advice until I could afford one of better quality. I never had any proper machining training nor have I ever done any machining but I have enjoyed your channel for several years now. God bless sir!
Jr High metal shop yielded lathe turned cannons and foundry sand casting aluminum shot , wood shop yielded 12ft sail boards and carriages for the cannons, science yielded the black powder to make it all work for the sea going pirates. :) (all of this in addition to what the Teachers were teaching us) Kids are both capable, inventive and resourceful at ages much earlier than adults realize. ... oh yea, the planes...yep we got a tickle with the term frog! To this day I get a kick out of that sssnnnniiiiicccckk sound of the sharp blade severing a thin wisp of willow oak. on my bench. Thanks Mr Pete.
It’s always a privilege to help someone and a double privilege to repair something.
My midlife crisis was spending one hundred to two hundred fifty per plane to get a set of Stanley Bedrock planes. I’d seen them in a case at one of the best antique malls in reasonable driving distance. Full set breakdown below.
4 and 5 are used the most out of any planes and can be used for any task.. 1 and 2 are for very small parts. 6 is a forplane all arounder or roughing plane used before(Forplane) using another plane. The mighty 7 jointer plane for edge joining. Then the battleship number 8 for jointing larger stock and flattening large area.
The 5 1/2 is considered the preferred plane for final smoothing. The kind of smoothing that means you don’t have to sand the wood at all. Any marrow plane with the 1/4 added is usually a roughing/scrub plane.
I enjoyed my metal and wood shop classes. I was one of the lucky few who was allowed to run a lathe, because my grandfather was a designer/ draftsman in a small machine shop, and got me tool blanks for our shop teacher to grind for us to use. Had to guard those tools like they were gold, took them with us at the end of class, or they’d be ruined or stolen,
I'm 71. Got hooked on print shop in junior high. Ran the offset press every day after school and was good at it. Printed tons of jobs for the school.
Got to highschool and the offset press set unused in the corner. It was all letter press. Gravitated to the Linotype machine. By the time I graduated, I was being paid by the school to set type for class schedules during summer vacation.
It was a great experience and I used a lot of what I learned during the rest of my life.