JasonC
Member
So I've spent the past two days in prison. Specifically, teaching pen making to inmates in the wood shop. While there it's like being in any other shop. There are really creative and talented guys working there but life decisions have brought them there.
There are sexual offenders, criminals that committed crimes to fuel a drug habit, and a tiny, thin, methodical guy that's really focused on details. That guy, the smallest, most meager of the group, is a killer. Execution style.
I knew none of this going in (honestly didn't care why they were there), just knew that it was a medium security facility ran by the state. When I went in I couldn't take my cell phone nor the pocket knife I normally carry. Keys and ID only and those are given up on entry for the visitor badge.
Got in, shook hands, and started teaching. All the guys were eager to learn but there were the standouts that really asked questions. I answered questions as I worked, walked them through the process from start to finish, and then let them have a go.
These guys have a leg up over the average new guy because I taught them some tips/techniques that I've learned that I wasn't taught when I started. Showed them how to take one pen kit (European) and make it four different ways, showed them my process for applying a CA finish and buffing, showed them how to use digital calipers to match the pen blank the hardware for fit purposes, and so on.
Today one of guy guys came up and asked me what kind of wood he had in his hand. A lot of the guys thought it was Koa but the grain didn't seem right to them. It was Macadamia. I told them they could make some really cool pens with that. They told me I could as well and said they'd load me up with all I wanted.
They also had plenty of Koa in hand. Lots of curly Koa as well. I showed them pens I had made from curly Koa and they were amazed at how the figure really popped with the finish applied.
So today when I left they loaded me up with wood. They ended up FILLING my tackle box with a variety of wood before I left. Curly Koa, Macadamia, spalted Norfolk Pine, some wood they said was Chika (can't find info on it - closest is Chico), and Lychee.
It's a crazy situation. I couldn't carry my pocket knife in, but when I commented that "normally this is the part where I'd use my pocket knife but I wasn't allowed to bring it in" not one, but TWO guy offered up their box cutters. That was a bit of a surprise.
That shop is the single most dangerous place to be with these guys, but they all appreciate having a place to be creative and productive. They can't even take a pen they've made to their cell to draw.
A lot of mutual respect in there and, as much as I can teach them, there's just as much that I can learn from them. Some outstanding carvers in there. While it's called the wood shop they also do upholstery, metal work, carving, and so on.
Surreal. Some of the most dangerous guys here, in the single most dangerous place in the facility, and they're eager to learn and work just like any student I've had in the past.
So anyway, here's the haul I was given today. I was told by both inmates and the guy in charge that any time I needed wood or anything milled to let them know.
Also had requests (again, from inmates and supervisor) for me to put in an application to work there.
Sorry for the lengthy post, just kind of still processing it all.
Curly Koa, Lychee, and what they said was Chika on the right. I can't find info on Chika.
Norfolk Island Pine and spalted Norfolk Island Pine.
Macadamia
There are sexual offenders, criminals that committed crimes to fuel a drug habit, and a tiny, thin, methodical guy that's really focused on details. That guy, the smallest, most meager of the group, is a killer. Execution style.
I knew none of this going in (honestly didn't care why they were there), just knew that it was a medium security facility ran by the state. When I went in I couldn't take my cell phone nor the pocket knife I normally carry. Keys and ID only and those are given up on entry for the visitor badge.
Got in, shook hands, and started teaching. All the guys were eager to learn but there were the standouts that really asked questions. I answered questions as I worked, walked them through the process from start to finish, and then let them have a go.
These guys have a leg up over the average new guy because I taught them some tips/techniques that I've learned that I wasn't taught when I started. Showed them how to take one pen kit (European) and make it four different ways, showed them my process for applying a CA finish and buffing, showed them how to use digital calipers to match the pen blank the hardware for fit purposes, and so on.
Today one of guy guys came up and asked me what kind of wood he had in his hand. A lot of the guys thought it was Koa but the grain didn't seem right to them. It was Macadamia. I told them they could make some really cool pens with that. They told me I could as well and said they'd load me up with all I wanted.
They also had plenty of Koa in hand. Lots of curly Koa as well. I showed them pens I had made from curly Koa and they were amazed at how the figure really popped with the finish applied.
So today when I left they loaded me up with wood. They ended up FILLING my tackle box with a variety of wood before I left. Curly Koa, Macadamia, spalted Norfolk Pine, some wood they said was Chika (can't find info on it - closest is Chico), and Lychee.
It's a crazy situation. I couldn't carry my pocket knife in, but when I commented that "normally this is the part where I'd use my pocket knife but I wasn't allowed to bring it in" not one, but TWO guy offered up their box cutters. That was a bit of a surprise.
That shop is the single most dangerous place to be with these guys, but they all appreciate having a place to be creative and productive. They can't even take a pen they've made to their cell to draw.
A lot of mutual respect in there and, as much as I can teach them, there's just as much that I can learn from them. Some outstanding carvers in there. While it's called the wood shop they also do upholstery, metal work, carving, and so on.
Surreal. Some of the most dangerous guys here, in the single most dangerous place in the facility, and they're eager to learn and work just like any student I've had in the past.
So anyway, here's the haul I was given today. I was told by both inmates and the guy in charge that any time I needed wood or anything milled to let them know.
Also had requests (again, from inmates and supervisor) for me to put in an application to work there.
Sorry for the lengthy post, just kind of still processing it all.
Curly Koa, Lychee, and what they said was Chika on the right. I can't find info on Chika.
Norfolk Island Pine and spalted Norfolk Island Pine.
Macadamia