Vlad, my (almost) 6 year old son’s biggest dream since I started woodturning is to learn how to turn. I build a work table for him 1 year ago and bought him a handplane but I convinced him at the time that he is too small for woodturning. I did promise though that we will try woodturning when he turns 6. A month ago he reminded me of the deal and asked if the small Jet lathe will be his. Over the weekend I decided to give it a try with Vlad even though he is not 6 years old yet. I’m blogging our adventures in the hope that we will inspire some of you to teach your sons/daughters woodworking.
Before I go any further, here is a picture of Vlad at work:
Good work needs good setup
I do have a 10” Jet, my first lathe, that I have not used for 1 year. This is an ideal lathe for a beginner in general and a kid in particular. It runs very smoothly, it is not noisy and can go as low as 500 RPMs (important for a kid). We started woodturning over the weekend and I temporarily installed the lathe on Vlad’s bench. It turns out that the lathe was too high and we had to struggle to do any turning. I had to put him on top of a wood block, which I did not like. I decided it is crucial to build a stand that puts the spindle at the correct height (elbow height) in order for Vlad to enjoy turning and me not to freak out that he gets bad habits or that he is in danger. I promptly bought 2 studs, designed a bench and started building it over the weekend. You can see the result in the next picture:
Needless to day, Vlad is very proud of the setup, especially because it is clearly his (it is way too small for me to work comfortably even on a chair). The 4 hours spend building the stand were well worth it. The stand is very solid and Vlad can work comfortably. He even has room to store his tools. Somehow I have the feeling some of my tools will migrate to his lathe, but we’ll deal with this latter.
Safety
When involving your 6 year old into woodturning, safety is paramount. The last thing I want is for my kid to get hurt. This will immediately result in him giving up woodturning for a long time. Here are some of the things I am doing to make woodturning safe for him:
1. No playing with the tools. Kids like to play and if I still have to do some things to set Vlad up he will start playing, including with the roughing gouge. I had to make it a rule that, when he is not turning, he puts tools down and does not touch them. I am aggressively enforcing this rule
2. No turning when I am not around. I warned Vlad that I will be very upset if he uses the lathe when I am not with him. He is not allowed to turn with any other adult or alone. Most adults have a good idea about keeping their kids safe but not in a shop. The lathe looks benign but can be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing
3. Use only roughing gouge for now. The roughing gouge is the least dangerous of tools. I grind Vlad’s gouge in such a way that the corners are rounded so a catch is not possible. The tool also has a large cutting surface (it is a 1” roughing gouge) so it is easy to use. The skew can be wild so we will not use it for a while.
4. Only spindle turning Vlad’s dream is to make bowls, like his dad, but that is out of the question for now. Spindle turning is a lot easier and safer. I found the perfect target: woodturned pens. For now we are practicing on cherry strips. Once things look good enough, well move to pens. Cherry is a perfect wood to learn how to turn since it turns beautifully.
5. Cover spur center with tape The spur center has claws that can hurt really bad if the hand gets caught in them. Vlad’s fingers are small so they can get broken by the claws. By covering the spur center in tape, he is perfectly safe.
6. Safe Sanding Sanding normally produces a lot of dust. Dust gets into the lungs, which is not good. For this reason, I started some time back to wet sand with paint thiner. For the turnings I’m doing with Vlad, we use oil instead while sanding (linseed oil). The oil goes on easily with a piece of paper. The dust from sanding mixes with the oil and fills in the pores or accumulates as a slur which can be easily wiped off. Vlad likes the oiling and wet sanding a lot:
7. Good habits I insist on good habits all the time. Once you start picking bad habits, it is hard to unlearn them. Here is Vlad using the gouge is a correct way (the gouge is big for him; for a grown up, it can be hold from the underside as well):
That’s it for now. Once Vlad completes a project on his own, we’ll post it for all to see.
Thanks for looking,
Alin and Vlad
-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida
22 comments so far
Betsy
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1478 posts in 284 days
posted 102 days ago
That’s wonderful Alin. Vlad looks quite happy. I think it’s great that you are teaching him so young. Making rules and standing by them is a lesson that he will take out of the woodshop and into everyday life.
Keep it up. I look forward to watching Vlad’s progress.
-- Betsy - There is no strength where there is no struggle
FrankA
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134 posts in 167 days
posted 102 days ago
I think it is great to get kids started young and learning proper saftey at this age he will carry it with hime for life. I look forward to seeing one of his projects.
-- Frank Auge---Nichols NY----"My opinion is neither copyrighted nor trademarked, but it is price competitive."
HallTree
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562 posts in 156 days
posted 102 days ago
Wow Alin I love this story. What a great way to start a young boy in woodworking. He has got to be proud of his self, and of course dad.
-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota
Woodshopfreak
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315 posts in 131 days
posted 102 days ago
wow. That is so great. I wish that I could have started woodworking that young and to be able to turn! Keep up the great work. You and your son. He’ll be the best woodworker when he’s older.
-- Tyler, Illinois
trifern
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1831 posts in 156 days
posted 102 days ago
Great story. You may even consider taking the key out of the power switch when your are not around just to be safe. I hope he will be posting a project soon.
-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.
Scott Bryan
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7769 posts in 210 days
posted 102 days ago
Alin,
It is absolutely wonderful that Vlad is moving in this direction. I would rather see him doing something like this as opposed to sitting in front of an XBOX all day long. Here he gets to expand his mental horizons and develop his imagination while learning a valuable skill. He is one precocious young man.
Have you thought about installing a lock-out on the lathe? I know that you have told him not to do this but occasionally, especially after they become an “expert”, they seem to think that the standing orders no longer apply to them.
But then again he could probably figure out a work around- as intelligent and resourceful as he is.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Alin Dobra
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312 posts in 276 days
posted 102 days ago
Scott,
As trifern noticed, the switch on the lathe has a lock I can take out. I’ll start doing that to be on the safe side.
Thanks everybody else for your comments.
Alin
-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida
scottb
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2739 posts in 715 days
posted 102 days ago
That’s great – you’ve really thought this out, and he’s loving it. My daughter is so interested in seeing me use my “Jet tool” It’s nice to see their enthusiasm and eagerness to try new things – what a great education your son is already picking up!
-- The opposite of war isn't peace. It's creation. -- Wood T's: http://www.printfection.com/snbcreative
GaryK
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8183 posts in 377 days
posted 102 days ago
A family that turns together stays together, huh?
Great looking little setup he has.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Grumpy
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3804 posts in 239 days
posted 102 days ago
I am sure the lad is in good hands Alin, he could not have a better teacher.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
teenagewoodworker
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1682 posts in 157 days
posted 102 days ago
thats awesome. i think you’ve got a master wood turner to be on your hands. great post.
SPalm
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654 posts in 270 days
posted 102 days ago
That is so cool. Good for you guys.
I started turning when I was 13, and some said I was too young. It looks like the rules and guidelines you are demanding will make this a lot of fun.
Steve
-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon
rikkor
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6465 posts in 263 days
posted 102 days ago
This is so neat to see, Alin. Thanks for sharing it. I am glad that you are teaching him heavy emphasis on safety, too. That is a lifetime lesson.
-- Maplewood, MN
Dick Cain
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4290 posts in 688 days
posted 102 days ago
That’s great Alin,
But I recommend that you get a full face shield for him.
-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
ND2ELK
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1826 posts in 162 days
posted 102 days ago
Hi Alin
Thank you so very much for this blog. I have a 5 year old grandson who I am sure will become interested in wood working once his grandpa gets his shop up and running. It is a wonderful thing you are doing with your boy. I might have to buy a small lathe just to be doing something like this. My wife expressed and interest in wanting to build pens. Maybe I will get both grandma and Tim into woodturning. Might have to have two working heights, grandma is 6’-2”. Thanks for posting
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
Patrick Jaromin
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151 posts in 221 days
posted 102 days ago
Thanks for this post! My eldest is only 2, so I’ve got a few years…but I’m hopeful that at least one of them asks for their own bench/tools some day. I’ll be following your adventure with great interest!
-- Patrick, Chicago, IL www.TenonAndSpline.com
Blake
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1802 posts in 263 days
posted 101 days ago
I think what you are doing is great. And the fact that you are being very methodical with safety is the key. He will be an expert some day, I’m sure.
I do not turn, and do not have a lathe. But one thing from your photos caused me concern. Isn’t it dangerous for your son to be turning with long sleeves on? It just seems that with anything spinning and exposed, such as a lathe or drill press, all loose clothing should be pulled back or taken off. If he were to reach for something over the lathe for any reason his sleeves might get caught.
Just one more thing to think about, I guess. Otherwise the setup and teaching method appears very safe.
-- Dust collectors suck.
Alin Dobra
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312 posts in 276 days
posted 101 days ago
Blake,
I thought about it too and I started raising his sleeves. Thanks for pointing this out since it is very important.
Alin
-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida
johnjoiner
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142 posts in 282 days
posted 100 days ago
Alin.
Great post. I got my ten-year-old started turning a while back, but we lost steam for some reason.
One thing you might try for safety that I learned from Alan Lacer is to use a cup center instead of the spur center. I think these are also called “dead centers?” The cup center holds well enough to turn small diameter work like you’re doing, but if you get a catch the piece you’re turning can just slip on the cup and stop moving. That way the chance of the tool getting knocked out of your hands is much lower. I don’t turn a lot, but when I do I still use the cup instead of a spur.
Keep it up with your almost-six-year-old.
-- johnjoiner
MsDebbieP
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10975 posts in 549 days
posted 100 days ago
awesome!
very clear boundaries and expectations and never waver from them. Period. —you are giving him the best lessons he’ll ever get in life: self-control.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Gary
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285 posts in 713 days
posted 98 days ago
Vlad is very fortunate to have you instructing him and allowing him to learn at this age.
He’s begun a journey that will produce miles and miles of rewards; I can see so many accomplishments
in his future.
What a wonderful setup: the bench reminds me of the one I built for my first lathe.
Kudos for making him perfectly comfortable!
Please keep us update on his progress.
Cheers,
Gary
Alin Dobra
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312 posts in 276 days
posted 97 days ago
Johnjointer: thanks for the tip. I was thinking the same thing when I saw such a thing in the new Penn State catalog. I’ll get one as soon as possible.
Debbie and Gary, thanks for the comments.
Alin
-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida