Every taught a skill class at your place ?

TnAndy · #1 09/03/10, 09:39 AM

I have a pretty nice wood shop, with, as my wife would say "every tool known to man" ( but she is prone to exaggeration when it comes to my toys

), and 40 years of woodworking experience.

I also taught HS shop ( and have a BS in industrial arts ) for about 7 years until I developed the mental clarity that public skools were way more about warehousing kids until they were 18 than it was about education, and went back to working with my hands for a living.

I'll have some time on my hands this winter, and was thinking about running an ad on Craig's List to teach 1-2 people ( max ) how to build their own kitchen cabinets or furniture.

Would use my shop/power, and whatever I could teach them....they would provide any materials it took to build whatever it was they want to build.

I'd charge $20/hr ( $25 if it was two family members working on the same project ), which really probably only covers my machine use and electricity, truth be known.

I KNOW the liability issue...don't rag me too hard on that.....I'll get my family attorney ( who I'm sure will rag me too ) to draw up the most ironclad release he can come up with to cover accidents.

Any other words/comments ?

Am I nuts to consider this ?

lisa's garden · #2 09/03/10, 10:19 AM

Well, I have to say that it sounds like a great deal for your pupils! I would suggest that you find out about the liability insurance and add the cost into your fee, then add a bit more so you actually make some money.

The other possibility might be to look into the local community college and see if you could offer a class through their continuing education schedule. That way you would get paid, but they would cover the insurance and maybe the cost of the lab?

Good luck!

lisa's garden · #3 09/03/10, 10:20 AM

Well, I have to say that it sounds like a great deal for your pupils! I would suggest that you find out about the liability insurance and add the cost into your fee, then add a bit more so you actually make some money.

The other possibility might be to look into the local community college and see if you could offer a class through their continuing education schedule. That way you would get paid, but they would cover the insurance and maybe the cost of the lab?

Good luck!

Our Little Farm · #4 09/03/10, 10:26 AM

I would ask about the community college thing too, they may have an insurance plan that would cover you.

I have only taught bread making, dehydrating and canning, so not on the same level at all.

jlrbhjmnc · #5 09/03/10, 10:26 AM

I think it's a great concept.

Is there a local community college that would pay you to do this at their facility AND provide liability cover?

Kmac15 · #6 09/03/10, 10:29 AM

Great Idea!! DH says to sign him up!!

TnAndy · #7 09/03/10, 11:00 AM

OK,

Quick call to my insurance agent, and this idea is trash canned.

He said, when he finally STOPPED laughing, ( he knows me well enough to do that ) I'm probably looking at $5,000 year for commercial liability insurance, plus I would have to put commercial insurance on my shop/tools/etc instead of covering them under my existing policy.....and the deductible would probably be about 2k, so I'd be out that right up front for anything that happened.....and starting next spring, new law says I'd have to have workman's comp on myself also.....nuther 5 grand, minimum.

His personal opinion was "you'd be nuts to do this in today's environment".

Guess I'll skip the call to my attorney and another round of horse laughter

Sad......some skills I might have passed on, and a good deal for some else to have a self built, usable product will not happen due to the possibility of an accident.

Amazing place we have come to as a country, huh ? And people actually wonder WHY we're headed down the toilet......

Well, it's not like I don't have enough projects to do without taking on another one.....

katy · #8 09/03/10, 11:09 AM

[QUOTE=TnAndy;4621027]I have a pretty nice wood shop, with, as my wife would say "every tool known to man" ( but she is prone to exaggeration when it comes to my toys

), and 40 years of woodworking experience.

I also taught HS shop ( and have a BS in industrial arts ) for about 7 years until I developed the mental clarity that public skools were way more about warehousing kids until they were 18 than it was about education, and went back to working with my hands for a living.

I'll have some time on my hands this winter, and was thinking about running an ad on Craig's List to teach 1-2 people ( max ) how to build their own kitchen cabinets or furniture.

Would use my shop/power, and whatever I could teach them....they would provide any materials it took to build whatever it was they want to build.

I'd charge $20/hr ( $25 if it was two family members working on the same project ), which really probably only covers my machine use and electricity, truth be known.

Any other words/comments ?

Am I nuts to consider this ?[/QUOTE] A RESOUNDING NO, NOT CRAZY.

TRADE OFFS

No, to Craigslist, to many unscrupulous characters to risk your home and family. One alternative, Word of mouth, acquaintances or group affiliations. Check with local high school to see if they offer similar night - evening classes, and teach there instead of at home. I built a small bookcase in night school woodshop 25 years ago and it's still good today.

In my experience when a school offers night classes it is with an on-demand availability, not enough interest and it will not go forward. But the right person at school would have an idea as to the amount of general interest, and might be helpful.

I personally would be interested, need expanded kitchen and cabinets. Good luck.

Callieslamb · #9 09/03/10, 12:13 PM

Great idea. We all have to take some kind of risk. Giving what you have to others is a great way to spend your time!

CarolynRenee · #10 09/03/10, 03:20 PM

I will never, never understand why you couldn't just have a no-liability-WHAT-so-ever kind of contract with a person or persons. Why do we have to have lawyers make a contract between two people basically meaningless???? Ugh.

I think you have a GREAT idea. I wish there were more people that would host workshops like yours in our area. I'd still go for it, but as others have mentioned, I wouldn't advertise it but rely on word of mouth & maybe do a little investigating on the student(s) to make sure they arn't the unethical type that would sue for a splinter.

Michael W. Smith · #11 09/03/10, 04:03 PM

I'm sure you could make plenty of money by advertising that you will hand build such items.

I know, not quite the thing you were looking for (you were looking for teaching someone your skills).

I still think you could get around the liability part by having them sign an agreement that "build and use tools at your own risk" and coming right out in the "not responsible for ANY kind of injury".

As has been said though, I'm not sure Craigslist is the place you want to advertise. You want to actually know something about the people who will be coming to your place.

WhiteWillow · #12 09/03/10, 04:56 PM

I think that having a class like that is a good idea. It seems that some of the homesteaders on here could make some decent money by holding classes. A lot of you have tremendous skill and knowledge! It's really sad about the liability thing. Guess there's no sense in comment further on that. It's a shame that the liability aspect is what is holding you back.

chewie · #13 09/03/10, 11:14 PM

dang, i wish you'd teach me some stuff. i just was talking with my DD15, whose best friend is taking home ec and its a joke! folding napkins? how bout teaching them how to feed a family of 6 on $20? how to make healthy food with cheap ingredients? anyhow, ranting and off topic....i told the kids to take woodshop. as her mom, i can teach her about any 'home ec' she wants to know, but wood working, building etc., even after building our house, i'm clueless and it bugs me! simple stuff, like a few nest boxes for my hens.

here in sd, you can put up a sign about how you can't be sued if you get hurt with horses at my place, since you should know better. maybe there is some way you can do this for your idea?? real shame someone willing to teach with the skills and tools, etc., to go 'unused'.

Aohtee · #14 09/04/10, 06:14 AM

TnAndy,

If your goal is to pass along your knowledge, why not make videos ?

Personally I would love to have a reference video showing the different tools involved in wood working and cabinet making and how they're used. The most frustrating thing for me when I was learning how to lay out stairs was the fact I didn't know how to use the framing square. I went thru book after book without success until I found a old copy of a navy manual on how to build houses. It assumed you knew nothing and went from there.

If you're number one fan (your wife) can't run the camera, try contacting a local high school or college that offers a videography course. Maybe you could generate interest in setting up something like the Fox Fire books.

I have always thought that the phrase "when a person dies you lose a library" was very apt. Its an absolute shame we live in a society where being penalized for passing on your knowledge and skills is encouraged.

big rockpile · #15 09/04/10, 10:35 AM

I showed two Guys and a Blind Woman how to butcher a Beef once.The two Guys got sick and left,the Blind Woman did ok but I had to watch getting close to her when she had a knife.

big rocklike

Mydoggies · #16 09/04/10, 11:28 PM

oh yeah i done tons of classes at my place. first i have them sign a general release form saying i am not liable for their injury!
i charge cost of matierals and by the class but mine are just a few hours or weekend events. I taught canning, soap making just to name a few!

Old John · #17 09/05/10, 07:04 AM

I have taught a few Workshops on Home-brewing, both for Ale/Beer and Mead/Wine.
I didn't charge, for them. I was happy to pass on the knowledge. And, I was going to be doing the Brewing anyway. I just sort of let a few Folks come in to share in the experience. The workshops generally just last through a morning or an afternoon.
My only real outlay was to let the folks have a sample/taste, from my past endeavors, of the various Brews & flavors that are easily made.
It was fun.

**clovis** · #18 09/05/10, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aohtee

TnAndy,

If your goal is to pass along your knowledge, why not make videos ?

Personally I would love to have a reference video showing the different tools involved in wood working and cabinet making and how they're used. The most frustrating thing for me when I was learning how to lay out stairs was the fact I didn't know how to use the framing square. I went thru book after book without success until I found a old copy of a navy manual on how to build houses. It assumed you knew nothing and went from there.

If you're number one fan (your wife) can't run the camera, try contacting a local high school or college that offers a videography course. Maybe you could generate interest in setting up something like the Fox Fire books.

I have always thought that the phrase "when a person dies you lose a library" was very apt. Its an absolute shame we live in a society where being penalized for passing on your knowledge and skills is encouraged.

Awesome idea!!!!!

TNHermit · #19 09/05/10, 07:38 AM

Sorry about the classes. Been there. One thing I thought of and never asked. Don't know how well versed you are in hand tools. Not a dig. We seemed to be similar experience but some go power and some mix and some do hand tools. Anyway what if you limited it to hand tools. Do a small Seaton chest or something. It TSHTF it would be good skill to know

Patt · #20 09/06/10, 10:55 AM

I agree with checking with your local community college. It really stinks that you can't do it at home in your own shop but there still may be a way to pass on that knowledge! And yes the laws are crazy and so are far too many Americans who are so fond of lawsuits.