Shopsmith Forums

wow lots of good ideas. I did have my son try out the lathe a bit yesterday. he has trouble paying attention and starts jumping and laughing while I am trying to show him how to use the tools but with me right there and my hands on his he did well. we are in the middle of making a redheart candle stick....... I think

I also recommend introducing him to hand tools. Hand tools teach even a young woodworker how to read the wood and how to react to different peculiarities of this often unforgiving medium.

It also provides a a sense of satisfaction and completion without introducing the inherent risks of high speed whirling things. Cutting a straight line with a hand saw and jointing it clean with a plane is very rewarding and satisfying.

Whether machine or hand tool. Keep the projects simple with progressive difficulty (How many of us still struggle with keeping things square?) Before long he'll be keeping pace with you.

Be glad your son has interest. My youngest (now 18) has no interest in anything in the shop. My older son (27) has limited interest. My daughter (29, Married with a son of her own on the way) expresses interest but when it comes time to actually getting into the shop has other things to do.

All of my kids have helped on projects and can at least tell a saw from a screwdriver and the difference between pliers and a crescent wrench. Just not a lot of interest in making things from wood. Oh well.

If he really enjoys the scroll saw check out THIS site and download the free pattern making program. You can make key chain name tags, desk name tags etc.. it would be a lot of fun for him to create and print out his own patterns and then saw them out.