Giving private lessons

[OLD WORMY]

I noticed dgman (Dan) mentioned giving private scroll saw lessons. Does anyone else do this and what about insurance? The quote I was given for adding to my homeowners policy was prohibitive for me.

[dgman]

For me, it's not a business. Just an occasional thing. Using a scroll saw Is as safe as can be. If the student does not have any woodworking experience, I do all the drilling, sanding and anything else that might be needed.

I suppose I need to have them sign a release form like they have too when I teach at the Woodcraft store.

Edited February 27, 2017 by dgman

[tuner]

I never thought of lessons but then with me it was a hobby I just fell in love with the first time I saw my new neighbor using his, he made a living at art shows ect.I have sold a few projects along the way but never enjoyed it. Thinking back by the time I got involved I had built two houses and had almost 15 years in my own business., By then tools and small wooden parts, sanding. refinishing were old friends 😀 I guess we all had to learn somewhere and not everyone learned on there father's knee..

[Clayton717]

I have gave a few people "lesson" and the thought of insurance never crossed my mind. Just doing it if someone showed interest and wanted to learn a little instead of just jumping in.

[Lucky2]

My household insurance covers me for something like this, at least that's what my insurance agent tells me. He says that as long as I'm only teaching someone on occasion and not doing it full time, then my household insurance is all I need.

Len

[amazingkevin]

I noticed dgman (Dan) mentioned giving private scroll saw lessons. Does anyone else do this and what about insurance? The quote I was given for adding to my homeowners policy was prohibitive for me.

There's always that one that's looking to get rich from someones neglect.my friend lost $100,000 for a cracked window someone skateboarding slid into .and even tough they got cut 1/2'' no blood was seen.Signs are posted no skateboarding ,roller skating etc.

[Bpardue]

I am a mentor for anyone in the Carolina Scroller's Association to learn how to do intarsia. Never had any issues. 

[Phantom Scroller]

I've done one demonstration once with about 50 women & man that was fun but never again. My ears hurt. :lol: Roly

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

I have been asked a few times and mainly politely turned them down. Not much of a teacher. But have to say I have shown a few people my techniques and have made corrections or helpful hints to some new scrollers. I like to think I have helped moreso on sites like this. There are so many videos out there today that it is a different world we live in than when I first started. Easy to just click and watch at your own convenience. Never gave the insurance thing a thought. It is like when you have people over to install things and work on your house. There is always that fear even though they are suppose to carry insurance. It is the sue happy world we live in.

[hawkeye10]

I have been asked a few times and mainly politely turned them down. Not much of a teacher. But have to say I have shown a few people my techniques and have made corrections or helpful hints to some new scrollers. I like to think I have helped moreso on sites like this. There are so many videos out there today that it is a different world we live in than when I first started. Easy to just click and watch at your own convenience. Never gave the insurance thing a thought. It is like when you have people over to install things and work on your house. There is always that fear even though they are suppose to carry insurance. It is the sue happy world we live in.

John I will have to say you have helped a lot of folks here on this forum, including me.

 

Thanks.

[ike]

I have been asked and I always tell them that I am not good enough.

IKE

[CharleyL]

I have two friends that are spending Wednesday afternoons in my shop with me, learning scroll sawing right now, but they want to learn other things too. Both work with me as other train drivers of the train in my avatar.  Last week I set up my I-Box jig and my Freud SBOX8 box joint blade on my Unisaw and then let one of them cut all of the box joints in a 1/2" Baltic Birch box that I am making. I did the setup and then let him make the cuts (the boring for me part). He enjoyed it and was quite excited that the four sides of the box actually fit together after he had made all of the cuts. Since this was his first time using my saw, I watched him very closely, but did not need to stop him or correct anything that he was doing.

 

For the past few Wednesdays they have both been learning to scroll saw.  Neither has ever used a scroll saw before, so for starters, I gave them each some scraps of thin plywood with wavy pencil lines to follow, kind of puzzle like patterns. I explained how to make the cuts, how to make tight turns, and the fact that they could stop cutting just by not feeding the wood to the blade, etc. They spent a whole Wednesday afternoon doing this, but both got to the point that they could make relatively smooth curves and stay within a blade width of the lines. So I then gave them a simple Steve Goode project, "Pot Duckies". I have used this pattern from Steve when starting someone out on learning to scroll saw, since it's relatively easy and doesn't require a long time to finish. I have made up "kits" for these which include Steve's plans, two pieces of 1/2" hardwood, and a copy of the pattern on Overlay Film, which is a slightly frosted mylar sheet with a peel and stick back side that can be run through a laser printer or photo copier to transfer the image to. I have the student stack the two pieces together using double sided tape and then apply the overlay film pattern to the top piece of wood. Then they have to cut the Duckies out. When finished, I give them a fingernail board sanding stick so they can sand off the sharp edges, and then some mineral so they can put a food safe finish on their Duckies. The zip lock bag that held the Kit becomes a handy way for them to take their finished Duckies home with them without the oil getting on their clothing. So they have something worth having that is also something to help them remember their scroll sawing experience.

 

My two student friends are about 1/2 complete with this project, so this coming Wednesday they will be finishing them.  

 

I did the gluing of the four corners of the box and trimmed off the excess pin length using a flush cut bit on my router table, then sanded the corner joints smooth yesterday, because gluing all four box jointed corners of a large box is a fussy job that usually causes me to release a few words in the process that I would prefer not to say in public, so I prefer to work alone for this part, but I'm going to have one of these student friends glue the 1/4" top and bottom plywood on the "now assembled and glued" sides of the box.Then I'll likely let them trim the excess plywood off using my router table and flush cutting bit while I watch closely to make certain that they do it properly and safely..

 

I make a lot of boxes for many uses, and some for holding my workshop tools. Most of the boxes for the tools are made from 1/2" Baltic Birch plywood sides, with 1/4" Baltic Birch plywood tops and bottoms.  The box corners are almost always joined with box joints. I then install dividers and trays inside as needed for the intended tools. This box  will be replacing one that I made several years ago that has become too small for my needs. It will hold all of my scroll sawing accessory tools and blades when I take my scroll saws on the road to teach or to demonstrate at shows.

 

I never charge to teach my friends and I never sell my work, so my insurance agent sees no problem with what I am doing. 

 

Charley

[Forester]

I have been looking into giving lessons and you can get a teaching insurance to do this.

[Rolf]

I would always be happy to do a one on one with anyone interested. 

 

I have done lots of presentations at our club and at the Fox chapel Open houses. What a privilege that was.

It is lots of fun and a real pleasure to meet so many people.

 

I was mentored by the super talented folks in our club when I first started. Now it is my turn to "pay it forward".