Aspiring woodworker - visit #2

[Phil]

Grandson, 8 yrs, expressed in interest in learning something about woodworking.
I took pics of a lot of the tools, pasted into Powerpoint and printed for him to take with.
Instruction - bring own hearing protection and wear shoes.

I planned a small box and some cut outs on the scroll saw.
The box bits I already cut for him as he is a bit young to use the RAS.
The box will be assembled using glue and some panel pins, 50mm.

First we marked the edges where the pins would go.
Then I got him to measure and mark where the holes would be drilled.
Each mark was tapped with a centre punch, makes it easier to drill.
Off to the bench drill.
He had to stand on the small step as the drill is quite high.

I explained to him and showed him by drilling one hole.
"over to you now, carry on and do the rest."
The exit holes required sanding, "here is a piece of 220grit paper, sand it until there is no high bits".
(first time I had seen him with his specs)



Assembly was simple, showed him how to spread the glue on the edges, I held the wood and he hammered the pins.
Again he needed the step to get the right height for hammering. (after one side on, said his arm was sore).

With 2 sides glued, we moved over to the scroll saw. I had drawn 3 Xmas trees on some 3mm hardboard scrap, nice big size easy to cut, a bit thin.
Then showed him how to hold it down and cut. Stood next to him and guided his hands.
When the blade gripped and bounced the board, he quickly removed his hand, switched the saw off, and sorted it out.
He cut with confidence. Next time we will cut much thicker scrap and then how to navigate round corners.
(no pic as I helped him hold down and saw)
Gave him some sand paper scraps to sand them and paint them at home.

Back to box to glue and pin the end bits.
Box done, he can sand and paint at home.

He brought his birthday present to show me, that he chose and bought.

An electronics starter kit.
Which he knows how to plug and play. He has also in the past bought other stuff (led's, wire and battery holders, switches and motors.)
All runs off 2 small batteries.

 

[Mike G]

Great stuff Phil.

Teaching someone who is keen is the very best start for them. The next best thing is to set an example. My father did a load of woodwork and DIY, but didn't try to teach me anything. In fact, the only time he wanted me anywhere near his workshop was when he needed a long board to be supported through the table saw (in other words, a mobile outfeed table!). Nonetheless, knowing that woodwork was possible, and seeing it as normal, was obviously my way in to a lifetime of woodworking.

 

[AJB Temple]

Great stuff. My dad was very practical and gave me a tool set when I was young. (Some I still have, some was stolen). I "helped" him from a young age, including rebuilding a VW beetle engine where I learnt to grind valves. I have taught my own son to do woodwork as well. When he was about 8 and had a birthday party, we had a woodwork activity for him and his friends where they all made wooden swords and shields. At least one of those kids had never even held a saw before.

I feel exactly the same about cooking: start them young. Show them how to use sharp knives (blunt ones are more dangerous) and then let them get on with it.

 

[Blackswanwood]

Nice one Phil - good grandparenting in action!

 

[AndyP]

few things in live can be more satisfying than passing on skills to the younger generation. Mine all had an interest at that age that has since waned.

 

[BigMonka]

Brilliant Phil . You never know what the seeds you're sowing will grow into.
My grandad taught me how to solder by making little animal figures out of bent copper wire that we soldered together. It was an activity that we did once, for probably less than an hour, when I was maybe 8 - but I still remember it vividly and probably indirectly led to me becoming an electronic/electrical engineer.

 

[AJB Temple]

few things in live can be more satisfying than passing on skills to the younger generation. Mine all had an interest at that age that has since waned.

Yes, but you've got all girls. What you have actually taught them is how to tell men what to do

 

[duke]

He will always remember his time with you working in your shop Phil.
Only had one grandfather and we spent hours with meccano.

 

[Cabinetman]

My love of woodwork really did start with my father teaching me in the shed on his old bench, first thing was a pine open fronted box for books, the design and methods were lifted straight from a Woodworker annual. I still have the annuals and they are useful for seeing how things were done back in the day. All credit though to my father as woodwork wasn’t a thing he did much at all.
Like Adrian I had a kit of tools which came in a small plywood suitcase, they were child sized and designed to work.
Well done Phil, you obviously had him interested and keen to learn.

 

[AndyP]

Yes, but you've got all girls. What you have actually taught them is how to tell men what to do

Don’t I know it.

 

[Woodbloke]

I've got a full set of pictures of my son (now 37) aged about 6 building a bird box to obtain one of his Cub Scout badges, but alas he's shown absolutely no interest in building anything out of wood. Hopefully my grandson will (age now 1) as he's been left all my hand tools which include Norris, Clifton, Lie-Nielson and Veritas planes as well as much else besides - Rob

 

[Phil]

Thanks for all the comments, appreciated.

I taught eldest son how to weld, and delegated all welding to him. My welding looked like vulture cr-p.

GS parents are both electronic engineers, and both very practical with their hands.

I must have been about 9 yrs when my brother gave me a coping saw, small hammer and a file with a handle – rasp on one side and metal other side. I still have them and occasionally use the fretsaw and file.

Stepfather was a legal chap (not handyman) and taught me gardening and painting of walls & ceiling, which I still do today.

At high school we had woodwork one year and metal work one year. I still have the metal lamp and chisel that were made. Woodwork was a foot stool with mortice and tenons. Destroyed by eldest son using it as a rocking horse.

As a school project I restored a Victorian dining room chair (lots of pocket money!) It is still here 62 years later and is on the TDL for oiling/waxing.

Over the years no serious woodwork (lack patience). Made us 2 bedside cabinets with louvre doors (meranti) when we married and first house a frame (meranti) around an alcove in the bedroom, also louvre doors (meranti), for a wardrobe. At last house we added onto carport 3 garages + workshop and flat. For the flat I did all the woodwork – ceiling (asbestos sheets) pelmets as well as all the plumbing including pipe threading.

Back to GS – I need to plan some more cutting projects, like an Xmas tree in Pine with holes drilled for LED lights and a stand. I also want us to cut a template block for manual scrolling, that he can use at home, something like this.

He says that he reads woodwork books at the school library. I will see what books/magazines are in the study.



I must stop rambling and do some work, the village provisional tax is due before end December and everything starts shutting down from 15th.

 

[Phil]

My greatest regret is not spending more time with the kids when they were younger.
Work always got in the way and also being away from home for work.

 

[Phil]

Visit number 2.

Modify the patterns to do away with round bits, easier to cut straight lines. (me)
Cut out the patterns. (GS)
Find pine offcut long and wide enough for the pattern. (me)
Cut pine 10mm longer than pattern. (me) There is no way you will be cutting on the RAS!
Hold pattern down and draw outline in pencil. (GS)
Ok, not to worry if it moves a bit. (me)

Proceed to scroll saw. (Us)
Tension up the blade to ping, and then 1 more turn. (me)
Hearing protection on (Us)
Present wood to saw table, not too close to the blade (GS)
Switch saw on (GS)
Now follow the lines as close as possible. (GS)
He is more confident in cutting straight and then reversing out for the next cut.
(Me) hold the wood down while cutting, if blade jams, remove hands fast and switch off.

This is the pattern for the tree and it's stand.



Concentrating on the cutting.



For the hole in the stand we drilled a 20mm forstner and then rounded over the tree base with a rasp.

Forgot to take a pic of it completed
While waiting for the glue to set we all went swimming at the clubhouse.

The original idea was to drill a number of holes in the tree for LED lights, bought at chink shop, ZAR10.00 per set, includes batteries. The one set has 3 settings, both have coloured lights.
I realised I would need to plan the lights very carefully - 20 of them with 100mm between each light, timber is 23mm thick, so his tree will have the lights hanging and I will cut identical tree and then plan the holes with lights.