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For my senior thesis project I wanted to create a tool to help beginning woodworkers learn about good design and craftsmanship. The design is basically a shaker style table with two drawers that has been split in half. One half is loaded with commonly made mistakes, poorly chosen lumber, and a finish that is just disgusting. The other half features beautiful wood, carefully thought-out and executed joinery, solid construction, and a finish that will make you blush. I added an inlay feature on the table-top where the two halves meet. It shows Two-face from batman, done with appropriately good and bad techniques. I created a large (80"x56") poster which served as a map to the piece, illustrating each of the intentional mistakes as well as explaining their well-crafted counterparts on the other half.Thanks to everyone who helped out with stories of their own mistakes. I have more process pictures and I am trying to find a nice way to display them online. I hope you all like it.

Evan

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Comments

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Despite the intentional "mistakes", I think the whole thing came out incredible. One of my favorites I've seen yet.
 

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i cant tell which side is the side with mistakes--so tell your professors that your teaching tool is perfect--because when i get a close-up look..with more pictures I will really learn!!!\

good luck with the grade…personally (and professionally as a teacher) this is an excellent teaching medium. Teaching with metaphor and truly makes people thiink and they will remember the lessons…

Excellent concept…A+
 

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What an intriguing piece of work RB. I, too, would like to see a series of pictures showing some of the errors. Thanks for sharing it.
 

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This table is quite a statement to your craft. Well done.
 

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that's pretty clever.
great looking work.
for me, both would have the same amount of mistakes!!
 

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Heck, your bad side looks better than some of my good projects! ;)

Nice work.
 

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This is great :)
 

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Great project! I'd love to see it in person, because I really can't see the mistakes on the "mistake" side.
 

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Here are the pictures of the bad side construction. Good side will be up soon.

http://photobucket.com/TwoFaceTeachingTable

Thanks for all of the comments. With the bad side I was trying to show the work of someone who means well, but is either too impatient or just too new to the craft to use proper technique - basically me before I began researching this project. I've always had the woodworking bug, but now I have a much greater appreciation for what it takes to do it right. If anyone is near Cincinnati and would like to check this table out just let me know.

Thanks again,
Evan
 

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After looking at photos of the bad side, can I get a big "been there, done that" amen? <g>
 

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Very good teaching tool. Mike
 

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fascinating, your students will learn a lot from your teaching.
 

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This is really impressive, imaginative, illustrative and ingenious….and hilarious with a note of cartoon flavor of childhood. Well done !
 

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what a neat idea. brings a new meaning to "yin & yang". very kool table
 
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