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A few weeks ago I told you folks that I was helping to mentor two highschool students with their senior project. A senior project is in lieu of classroom learning and empowers the students to identify a project, research it and build it. At the end of the session they have to present their project to their teacher and showcase it at a school event.
This weekend we started working on the Geodesic Bio-dome, It took eight hours to mill all of the stock, make a jig and assemble approx 65-70 triangles. Below is a picture of Michael holding the jig we made showing a isosceles and unilateral triangle.
Carpentry lesson #1: when you have to make a ton of parts make a jig and mass produce.
A geodesic dome is a sphere-like structure composed of a complex network of triangles. The triangles create a self-bracing framework that gives structural strength while using a minimum of material. The term geodesic is from Latin, meaning earth dividing. A geodesic line is the shortest distance between any two points on a sphere.
Below the students are joining the triangles to make a pentagon. Several pentagon sections make up the geodesic dome.
The the idea of combining triangles with
the arch was pioneered by German engineer Dr. Walther Bauersfeld when he designed the world's first projection planetarium, built in Jena, Germany in 1922.
The day was fun and interesting not only did I get the chance to help a high school student learn a bit about carpentry and woodworking machines we also had help from my old mentor, cabinet maker and friend Ted Spach. Ted show up and help us out with the math, and assembly.
What's your biggest pet peeve with multi-tool blades?
I bet your answer is the cost of the replacement blades. Was I right? Here's what I've done to deal with this. . . READ MORE
Bosch MX30EC-21 Multi-X Oscillating Tool Review
The Bosch MX30EC-21 Multi-X Oscillating Tool is the first Bosch oscillating tool to boast a tool-less accessory change lever, making it easier to attach or reposition the blade or accessories.
The hands free tool change is a game changer and an absolute must have for a professional contractor. READ MORE.
Sending Professional Emails
As a carpenter I do most of my communicating to schedule, price and
work out details on projects via email. It's fast, easy and can be done
at anytime of the day or night. A big issue that I often see if that emails lack tone and can be misleading at times.
READ More for tips on improving you email communications
Related Article:
OSHA News!
OSHA has recently trained numerous additional agents and will be doing
"sweeps" across Massachusetts beginning at the end of April.
OSHA is looking at things like hard hats and
safety glasses, not something you see a lot of on residential sites, but with
the full OSHA reg's they are often times required on residential sites. A
contractor up on the north shore just got hit with a violation because he had
guys working on the ground without hard hats on while he had other guys on the
roof and on staging, even though the guys on the ground weren't working directly
below the guys above. He also got hit with a violation for his guys not having
on safety glasses while operating saws.
We thought there is a priority on
the following types of contractors in this order: roofers, framers, siders,
painters...however, any and all types of contractors are subject to being caught
up in the sweep.
Fall Protection Standards should be implemented and
followed. It is imperative that you practice good "housekeeping" of your
worksite by picking up construction debris, equipment, etc. That will be the
catch-all that will prompt OSHA to enter your worksite, and now hard hats &
safety goggles. In short, don't give them an invitation to walk on to your
jobsite.
Furthermore, OSHA has an agreement with the EPA and if they see
potential EPA issues they will notify them which may lead to additional
fines.
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