Paric smiles and looks about the room.  "Everyone here?" he asks, but not expecting an answer.  "Okay.  Why don't we get started then.  Today ... you will be learning about woodcrafting," he says his arm sweeping about the room.

Paric casually walks around the workbench and leans up against it. "What exactly is woodcraft?" Paric asks rhetorically of the apprentices as he looks at each.

"Woodcrafting is simply the art or craft of creating or building something from wood.  Can any of you give me an example of items that we ares exposed to on a day to day basis that are made from wood?" Paric asks looking at each of the apprentices in turn.

Paric grins, "Geran...I notice that you are paying attention...give me an example!"

Laeron smiles, "Tables, and chairs!", he exclaims

Geran raps his knuckles on the wooden bench. "Chairs. Tables. Marks..." He trails off.

Geran grins, muttering, "Well...I /wish/ I encountered marks on a daily basis."

Agrajag smiles, "walking staffs, boxes"

Laeron winks, "wagons.."

Paric nods, "Okay..very good.  What about that door or its framing?"

Paric chuckles, "Yes...wagons..very good."

Geran looks over at the door. He didn't even think of that. He nods in agreement, eyes flicking back to watch Paric. "Some doors are made of metal, though."

Laeron perks up at the mention of /metal/.

Paric chuckles, "Yes...but usually the outer doors...not the inner ones.  There is a reason for that.  Geran, can you tell me why?"

Geran grins and nods. "Thread?"

Geran shrugs. "

OOC: Geran says "oops"

Paric nods, "Yes..."

Paric grins, "All around you are examples of woodcrafting.  It is a very important part of our society."

Geran shrugs. "Plus the outer doors take more of a beating. Metal is stronger than wood in that area."

Paric smiles and continues, "Very few people actually realize what we in the woodcraft do or the amount of work that goes into making a small wooden chest, bookshelf, chair or even a spoon.  You will hopefully gain an understanding of that today."

Geran raises his hand.

Paric smiles, "Yes, Geran!"

Geran smiles, "Just wondering...are we going to learn about wood dying?"

Laeron looks puzzled, "wood dying? isn't it dead as soon as the tree falls?", smirking.

Paric chuckles, "I will briefly discuss finishes and stains...just briefly.  But I'm sure that I could do a complete lesson just on that subject."

Laeron grins mischieviously.

Geran 'ohs' and nods, flexing his hands. He looks at Laeron and wonders though he voices no comments. Blue orbs flick back to behold Paric.

Paric chuckles and looks about the room at all the smiling faces, "Okay...any other questions before I continue?"

Paric smiles and nods in the silence of the room.  "Okay...I'll continue then."

Agrajag says, "When do we get the other lesson on stains?"

Paric laughs, "I'm sure that I can have one ready for all of you fairly soon.  Is everyone interested in learning about stains?"

Geran shrugs, wrinkling his nose slightly. He mutters something about glass lessons before he asks, "Will this class cover ship building or is that something different too?"

Paric shakes his head, "No...just the basis crafting of wood."

Geran nods, grinning. "Thought so..."

Paric walks over to other side of the room and picks up several different scraps of wood.  He takes the pieces of wood and places them on the workbemch.  "Okay ... when looking at doing a project you need to be aware of many things, one of which is the types of wood available to you.  They are divided basically into two categories: Softwoods and Hardwoods."

"Softwoods," says Paric gesturing to several scraps of wood on the workbench, "are from conifers like cedar, Douglas fir, spruce and redwood.  While hardwoods are cut from desiduous trees like the birch, yellow poplar, cherry, oak, teak and mahogany."  He grins and looks at each of the apprentices, "Hmmmm...Okay, can any of you tell me which is harder?  The Douglas fir or the yellow poplar." 

Laeron smirks, "poplar."

Geran raises his hand to ask a question, looking at Paric curiously.

Paric grins, "Yes...Geran..."

Geran smiles. "What's a conifer, and what is a desiduous tree?"

Laeron raises his hand.

Laeron says, "I think I can answer that, sir"

Paric chuckles, "Actually a conifer is a tree...hmmm...that bears cones.  It is from this that it can produce other pines.  The seeds are located in the cones."

Laeron smiles, "A coniferous tree is one which reproduces via cones, and is also an everygreen, while deciduous trees loose their leaves seasonally, and usually reproduce via flowers which may turn into fruit.

Laeron grins, "growing up on a farm, you learn a lot, sir."

Paric grins, "Very good...you've been well taught, Laeron."

Laeron blushes slightly, "Thank my father, sir, he was somewhat of a botanist in his spare time."

Paric grins, "So it pains me to inform you that the Douglas Fir is actually harder than the poplar."

Paric chuckles, "Now, don't let the term soft or hard fool you.  For though hardwoods are usually harder, some of the softwoods, like the Douglas fir and southern pine, are actually harder than than popular hardwoods like poplar and aspen."

Agrajag barely manages to keep himself from laughin.

Paric chuckles, "It was a trick question."

Laeron laughs, slapping his forhead, "Now why didn't /i/ get that.."

Paric smiles, "Now...it is usually the rule, that softwoods are easier to work and are more readily available than hardwoods.  However, hardwoods are usually more durable with a greater variety of grains, textures and colors.  This is something you should consider when planning your first piece."

Geran stands up, puts his hands on the bench, and he sits on his hands. He looks at Paric and smiles, listening intently, trying to think of questions.

Geran raises his hand.

Paric chuckles, "Yes...Geran."

Geran smiles, eyes glittering brightly, "Where are hardwoods usually found? Softwoods?"

Paric chuckles, "Actually you can find them all about Pern.  I believe you'll see more cone bearing trees however, in the mountainous regions."

Agrajag says, "Is it worth it to try to work broom wood?"

Geran ohs, nodding as he remembers this. It /is/ what he is here for after all. Learning.

Paric smiles, "Actually...I think it all depends on what you are going to try and accomplish.  I am not familiar with the broom tree or wood as much as other species of wood.  I would hazard, that you might find it appropriate for some pieces.  You need to consider the size of the piece you will be doing, as well as the texture and grain."

Geran shakes his head, eyebrows furrowing, "Umm...you've lost me..."

Agrajag nods, "I haven't heard much about it other than it's the hardest type of wood on Pern and wasn't sure if it was workable if it was so hard."

Paric smiles, "Isn't the wood from the Broom Tree almost like a shrub."

Agrajag shrugs, "I really don't know"

Laeron smiles, "isn't broom those really big and tall trees, with flat tops that look like a dragon cold curl up and go to slep on them?

OOC: Laeron points to the book 'Renegades of pern' for broom wood descriptions and working ability :)

OOC: Agrajag says "that's where i got it from? :)"

OOC: Laeron says "yep :)"

OOC: Paric says "chuckles, "I have no idea...I'll take your word on it.  The only broom tree I'm familiar with is actually a shrub like tree foud in Jamaica.""

OOC: Paric grins, "There is much too much information to learn sometimes.."

OOC: Geran concurs! (and coughs).

OOC: Laeron says "heh.  I remember that tree, just a sec, lemme go grab that book and I'll find a short passage describing them for everyone here"

OOC: Geran doesn't really care to be honest.

OOC: Laeron smirks.

Paric chuckles, "Well...I'm interested in OOC...but I should try and finish the lesson."

OOC: Geran is a glass/metalsmith after all. I'm only here 'cause Paric is teaching it. =) And it's always nice to know woodcrafting.

OOC: Agrajag says "it's important to know about this if your specialty is woodcraft :)"

OOC: Laeron is a metal/gemsmith and is only here to say he attended a class.  *wink*

OOC: Geran grins at Jag and pokes everyone to shaddup and let paric continue.

Collan has connected.

Collan wakes up.

OOC: Paric nods.  "Well as Laeron is looking it up...let me continue...I am still interested...I can use it my descs..."

Smiling, Paric leans back against the workbench, "Okay...you've seen what types of wood there are, but that is only a small fraction of what you'll need to know when crafting with wood."

Paric smiles.

"To properly craft wood, you'll need to know about the tools of the craft," Paric says with a smile.  "There are several types of tools you will use including saws, " he says gesturing to a couple of tools on the workbench, "...shaping tools, like planes, files and chisels, drills, hammmers and mallets, clamps, and other devices which are used to measure and mark the wood."

Paric smiles, "I will talk more about these on another day."

"You will also need to think about how you will fasten you piece together." Paric says with a smile while looking at each of the apprentices.  "Do any of you have any idea what types of fasteners you would use to build a small book case?"

Paric smiles and awaits and answer.

Agrajag says, "You can carve to wood to fit together and be secure."

OOC: Agrajag says "it's called a dove-tail, but i don't know what it'd be called ICly..."

Paric smiles and nods, "Yes...possibly using a dowel...or some form of joinery."

OOC: Paric says "smiles, "I'm not sure either...we have been just referring to it as dove tail.""

Paric smiles, "But, other than wood, what can you use?"

Agrajag says, "And you can give it metal hinges that don't move."

Paric chuckles, "So how do you secure the hinges in place?"

Agrajag says, "You make it one piece of metal instead of two or three."

Paric chuckles, "That is understand.  But how do you attach the metal to the wood?"

Agrajag says, "oh, that's simple, you pound some nails into it."

Paric smiles and nods, "Yes.. nails can be used.  You could also use screws, as well as glue to hold various pieces together.  Another thing you should consider is how to keep the fastener hidden from sight, unless that is your intention."

"Okay," Paric says smiling, "We have covered hardwoods and softwoods, woodworking tools, and types of fasteners.  Now we will look at the various ways that we can join two pieces of wood together.  This is called joinery."  Paric walks around the bench while he talks and puts all the tools away in there proper places, then pulls out several examples of joinery.

"There are basically six types of joints: butt joint, rabbet joint, dado and groove joints, lap joint, mortise-and-tenon joints, and dovetail joints," says Paric picking up each example upon naming it.

Paric smiles, "Each joint has a specific use.  For example, the dovetail joint is used a great deal in building the frames of drawers.  Mortise-and-tenon joints are sometimes used to hold the frames of beds and cots together."

OOC: Laeron is back.

Paric smiles, "Okay, everyone with me so far.  This is just a basic introduction to woodcrafting remember.   This is just to wet your appetite a bit."

Agrajag nods, "I'm just waiting for the more indept stuff."

Paric chuckles, "That will be on another day...but I'm glad that you are interested in the specifics of the craft."

Paric smiles, "The last part of any project is usually the finish.  That is," he says with a chuckle, "preparing the wood by sanding and sealing, then applying stains to add color, and then a finish like shellac or an oil finish which will may provide some protection from dirt, abrasions, moisture, etc., as well as greatly enhance the appearance of the object."

Paric chuckles and looks over at Geran. 

Geran raises his hand.

Paric chuckles.

Paric smiles, "Yes Geran."

Geran grins, looking at Paric, "What do they treat ships with?"

OOC: Laeron says "Broom Trees = These large tree may reach up to 15 dragonlengths (equivilant to a 40 story building), is remarkable hard, and is the only tree known to be able to survive the onslaught of thread on pern.  What appears to be only one tree is in fact many trees, intertwined together.  Their large, flat tops could easily house a dragon and it's mate.  Trader trains have often tried to harvest these trees, however their axes did little to the tree except dent it."

OOC: Paric smiles, "Then...to answer your question...probably not..."

OOC: Agrajag says "yeah, but someone in the same book there's a guy with a cane made out of broom wood :)  he's thella's informant that's missing a foot and in the igen caves"

OOC: Laeron says "correct.  It was a limb of the tree, and took forever to shape.  :)"

OOC: Paric smiles, "Hmmm..maybe a branch from the broom wood."

OOC: Collan nods. And what's-his-name had skybroom wood to make the chairs. And in Dragonseye, Iantine painted on skybroom...

OOC: Paric smiles, "A tree as tall as that would have an incredibly large trunk..but if you could cut a branch off about as thick as your arm...that would be worthwhile."

OOC: Laeron says "for more info or good reading, see Anne McCaffrey's 'The renegades of Pern', published by ballentine books, copyright 1989."

OOC: Laeron says "it's not one tree, it's many trees twined together, just like one fibre isn't as strong as 10 twisted together :)"

Paric chuckles and shakes his head.  "Geran, I think that would be something we should have you do a little research on.  And you can come back and tell us about it."

Paric grins.

Geran wrinkles his nose and frowns. That's what he gets. He shrugs, grinning at Paric. "I will, then."

Paric chuckles, "Well..I think it is getting late.  Why don't we end this for today...and later we can look at some other aspect of woodcrafting.  "

OOC: Paric smiles, "And if anyone needs or wants a class on a specific topic, tell me and I'll see what I can do."

OOC: Laeron chants for metalcraft.

OOC: Geran says "Glaaaass!"

OOC: Geran says "I /need/ glass!"

OOC: Paric chuckles, "Rand is preparing a flamer class...And Cera has a Glass lesson ready I believe.."

OOC: Geran had the flamer class, and he goes chasing after Cera. =P I just need it by the time I'm 10. =)

OOC: Paric chuckles, "But if we can't a metal craft lesson soon, I'll see what I can do.  I know more about woodworking than I do about metal."

OOC: Laeron smirks.

OOC: Paric chuckles, "Well...you guys have fun grading me...and you pretty much stumped me a couple of times...forgive the pun."

OOC: Laeron rofl.

OOC: Collan laughs.

OOC: Paric smiles, "Just keep the comments on the topic of the class and what you thought of it...you will all hopefulyl have to go through this someday too."

OOC: Agrajag laughs.  i only remembered the broom wood stuff because i read renegades *after* I joined the craft...

Paric smiles, "Well...I'm sure that Cera is waiting for me...so unless anyone has questions?"

Paric chuckles, "Well..I'll see you people later...and make sure that you are working on your projects."

Agrajag nods, "I will be"