Woodwork Year 8 2021
Semester 1 in 2021 I took woodwork as a compulsory subject. It was unlike any other subject I had taken before, as it was all practical work. Through this project I learned how to use tools and wood to create a working spinning top, this is something I have never even thought about trying and would have never tried if not for this subject, but I am glad I did do it because now I know how to do all this stuff. I can use this knowledge in the future if I choose woodwork next year or if I ever need to use those machines for another project.
The Process
The first step in the building process was our on-guard training, which helped us learn how to safely use all equipment and machines we would need. We had to pass with a 100% mark to be able to use the machines.
The first step we did was to drill 2 holes in the original piece of wood. These were our holes for the spinning top to go in. For this, we used the 2 different bench and pedestal drills.
The first Drill we used to make the big hole 
a close up of the first drill we used 
The second drill we used 
a close up of the second drill we used
Next we trailed all the machines we might want to use, I ended up using all of the machines we trialled. We spent a majority of the first term trialing each machine.
Then we started designing all designs we might want our handle to look like. I made 5 designs, but I ended up using a mix of my 2nd and 4th designs, so I used these to create my final design, my 6th one. I used the eclipse tool to do this.
Next, we got to work, I first sanded down the ends with the disk and belt sander combo, using the disk part. Mr Haddow cut my work quickly on a machine we were not taught to use, so I could sand it all at once. Then I used the scroll saw to finish off the sides of my handle, cutting 2 eclipses out of the sides, both smoothed out and different sides to suit my hands and the shape of how I wanted to hold it.
Next, I sanded the sides down with 120 grit sandpaper, then 150 grit, then 240 grit sandpaper. I used the spiral sander to finish off the sides. I moved on and did the surfaces with the 120, 150 and 240 grit sandpaper, and did not use the spiral sander.
To finish it off, I used an 800-grit sandpaper after my peers recommended trying it, just to finish it all off and make it smooth, doing the job perfectly.
the 800 grit paper on the sanding block 
i did not use this sprial sander
The final part of the building process was when I marked with a pencil on my spinning top, and Mr Haddow drilled through it, and put my string through the hole, then finally I finished my spinning top. It worked really well and we had a challenge of who could spin for the longest. Mine won.
To put some personal parts on it, I used the laser cutter. First, I used it to print an elephant and an elephant calf on it, then after I printed my name on it. It gave it a personalized touch to such a lovely finished product
I would recommend this project to a friend because its very different to all other projects I have ever done, and I would never have done it if it weren’t compulsory. I think I have learned plenty from this project and would recommend it to a friend so that they can also learn something new. This was a great project and i am glad i did it.