No charge woodworking plans are a very helpful resource for students and shop teachers. Having a selection of ready made plans available gives students a selection of items to build in the wood shop. This is easier for them than taking time to design something themselves or having to come up with their own layout for a wood project. Having downloadable woodworking plans available for their students also helps shop teachers. Not only do they eliminate the time needed to prepare lessons, but since they are free they also save money. When teachers have a selection of plans to utilize, they can offer each student projects which are tailored to the student’s specific ability and skills.
There are free woodworking plans for entry level level students, such as the etched glass wall mirror. This project involves creating a frame for a pre-made glass panel. This project requires only miter cuts and rabbet to put together the frame. The only other processes needed are assembling, sanding and finishing. This project needs a minimal effort and materials to finish.
A more complex woodworking project would be to make an end or coffee table. The tables will use a frame built, including legs, cross members and a lower shelf. These plans will require using larger tools. The student will also have to know how to glue up the material for the table top and shelf from smaller boards. There are free woodworking plans you can get for both which can be made using etched glass panels just as the wall mirror has. This design consistency is valuable since it provides for projects of different skill levels and complexity using the same type of glass panels with etched designs. Following this common theme makes for a cohesive lesson plan where all the projects have a unified, consistent format while still allowing for variations in students abilities and time commitments.
All of the students can be offered the same decorative glass panel and then have the selection of building a project with it that they prefer. Advanced students can also use the glass etching panel to build more difficult projects, such as a cabinet with glass doors or a glass fronted grandfather clock. These projects will include making complex doors as well as the frame. The frame will need involved mortise-and-tenon joints as well as dados. The top, side and back panels will require gluing up wooden components. The students will need to work with the router table and planer for this project plus the table saw and jointer.
By including free woodworking plans, shop leaders can provide their students with assignments which will match their skills while still having a universal component. By using a selection of pre-made plans, teachers have standard criteria for assessing and can focus more of their time to teaching the students.
