Irvine, California December 12, 2012. Richard Williams, a former Marine better known as Corporal Willy and woodworker, is spending his retirement creating thought-provoking science and engineering projects for practically nothing – and then providing the designs free to any teacher who would like them in their classrooms.
“I noticed that teachers are continually digging into their own pockets to fund various science projects for their students,” he said. “I decided to start creating extremely inexpensive, but exciting projects requiring just cardboard, pasta, glue – and that’s it!”
A former electrician, Williams is part woodworker… part scientist… part engineer… and one hundred percent committed to helping teachers keep their students inspired and loving school.
Corporal Willy has often been described as a woodworking genius, able to recreate anything he sets his mind to. As an example, Willy has built a corrugated cardboard stool that can support up to 1,113 pounds, yet only weighed 9.25 ounces. He also built a Warren Truss bridge that has been displayed at the University of Las Vegas.
“Students love being able to make a perfectly usable stool out of simple corrugated cardboard,” he said. “It makes them think about other cool projects they can make for almost no money.”
Williams maintains a fully stocked woodworking shop in Las Vegas with the latest in CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) Laguna Tools help him produce precise templates for school projects.
After he has fully tested the projects – including seismic testing for buildings made of cardboard – he creates designs that he offers free to teachers. “That way, they don’t have to keep shelling out their own money for expensive supplies – just cardboard, glue and even Barilla Fettuccini pasta. It’s almost nothing compared to what these dedicated people have been spending that is never talked about.”
When Williams isn’t designing free science projects for teachers, he’s often called upon by the Las Vegas School District to speak before students about the importance of education with the PAYBAC Group (Professional and Youth Building a Commitment).
“I’m happy to do whatever I can to help stem the dropout rate here in the Vegas area,” said Williams, who is asked to speak to groups of students many times during the year.
For more information about obtaining a free science or engineering project design for your classroom, contact Laguna Tools at lagunatools.com.
Laguna Tools, based in Irvine, California, has been leading the industry in woodworking innovations for more than 28 years and continues to challenge the industry with new advancements and innovations. Laguna Tools builds and markets a wide range of woodworking tools, from small tools to CNC. At Laguna Tools, we aspire to be “globally local” by investing our time, support, products and services into many community outreach programs. For more information on the Laguna Tools quality line of performance products, please call 1-800-234-1976 or go tohttp://www.lagunatools.com.
Company Name: Laguna Tools, Inc.
Contact Person: Catherine Helshoj
Email: info@lagunatools.com
Phone: 949-474-1200
Country: United States
Website: http://www.lagunatools.com/