Project suggestions for a 10 year old.

[Toney Robertson]

Last weekend I ask my great nephew if he would like to learn how to turn wood. I think he is old enough and he seemed enthusiastic to learn.

What project would you recommend?

For a child that age I think he needs immediate feedback. Something he can take home and show his parents.

Would you recommend that he scrape at first? Maybe less of a chance of catches?

What do you think? I obviously want this to be a positive experience.

I also know that it might be considered child abuse to submit him to the vortex. VBG.

Toney

[Pete Jordan]

Toney,

I started with finger tops with my kids.

[Jim Becker]

Tops are one idea as are pens. When I taught a local "Hands On Workshop" session for our AAW chapter, the one 10 year old I had did an amazing job on a simple bowl using my Ellsworth gouge. It was mostly a matter of getting his height adjusted to the lathe for proper orientation. (I built a simple platform) Then we covered body movement just like David Ellsworth does and did a 4" bowl. As I'm not a big fan of scrapers, I never showed him how to use one...we went right to the gouge and there were no catches that day.

[Brodie Brickey]

Last year the AAW Symposium's Youth Program had classes for the items below:

• Spin Top with Chatterwork
  
• Egg Cup
• CD Spinning Top
• Gavel heads
• Gavels handles
• Baseball Bat Pen
• Honey Dipper

Other than those, baby rattles, snow men, and ornaments come to mind.

[Norris Randall]

How about letting him start with a baseball bat?
Full size or mini would give him a chance to feel the thrill while watching the bat take shape.

Or you can "bowl" him over.

PS while I'm here can someone tell me if I have to change my "Member" to "Contributor" or will that be done when my donation accepted?

[Les Kuesel]

How about a magic wand (like a Harry Potters) He will see how wood can be transformed into something magical.

[Clem Wixted]

I "helped" my 8 year old grandson make a handle for a 6 in 1 screwdriver. I used a plastic handled 6 in 1 screwdriver that I removed the plastic handle from. I drilled the wood for the insert.

I helped him turn the handle and let him do all of the sanding, all 8 grades of it. He buffed it and assembled the screwdriver. It took about 45 minutes and he "uses" it a lot and whenever a screwdriver is needed he's right there. That was his birthday outing with me.

Not a challenging turning task but a great introduction, and he has a useful tool.

Clem

[John Yogus]

I second the pens and baseball bat. I currently have a few bat billets I'm working on for friends. You can find some good quality billets relatively cheap. I think it would be great for a kid. Plus, it's great when you take it to the batting cage and use it.

[Jim Becker]

How about a magic wand (like a Harry Potters) He will see how wood can be transformed into something magical.

This actually is a project that is more difficult for someone new to turning because of the vibration aspects that you get with thin spindles. I've done three of them and found it to be quite challenging, even with a steady rest!

[Dick Strauss]

How about the classic ball in a cup toy like this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_in_a_cup?

Maybe you can make a whirly gig, a spinning top with launcher, a yoyo,...

Here's a picture from our " Toys for Tots" turning program for some other ideas:



I hope this helps!

[Toney Robertson]

Thanks for the replies.

I have never done a pen so maybe that would not be the best project to start him with since I would not know what I was doing! LOL

I like the bat idea since his little league team is just starting to practice. Or it might be a good idea to have him turn a small bat at first.

Anyone have an idea where you can find ash blanks?

Toney

[John Taylor]

HI

Something I find youngsters always like to turn are mushrooms.

john

[Fred LeBail]

When I was about that age my father got me started turning . My first projects were handles for his files and rasps. He showed me how to shape the handle and measure for the ferrel , which was some copper pipe. As soon as the first one was done he showed me how to put the file in. Instant gratification !!!
Although he has passed some of those handles are still on his files.

[Tim Thomas]

Anyone have an idea where you can find ash blanks?

Rockler sells them:
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=1711

I've never bought one of these, so I don't know anything about them from personal experience. The price seems a bit steep since they contain only about 2.5 board feet of wood. I'm sure you can probably find a better deal, but this is an easy option. The Rockler blanks are available in both ash and maple.

[Toney Robertson]

Last year the AAW Symposium's Youth Program had classes for the items below:

• Spin Top with Chatterwork
  
• Egg Cup
• CD Spinning Top
• Gavel heads
• Gavels handles
• Baseball Bat Pen
• Honey Dipper

Other than those, baby rattles, snow men, and ornaments come to mind.

I like the honey dipper idea. That way he could give it to his mom.

What is a CD spinning top?

Toney