| Project by JerryL | posted 2214 days ago | 1370 views | 0 times favorited | 13 comments |  |
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So why post a goofy birdhouse to a fine wood working website? Simply because this is the first thing my son and I have ever really built together. He’s old enough at 6 to learn shop safety and handle working the drill press and screw gun. I bought him a full face shield a while back because he has a nack for getting stuff in his eyes like no other kid I’ve ever met.
He walked into the garage with me the other night and says “Dad, can we build someting?” I was a little surprised. With the attention span of a 6 year old I knew we didn’t have much time so I suggested a scale model of the Death Star or a bird house.
He picked the bird house.
He sketched a plan and I followed up with a little rough drawing of my own just to keep the cuts in order. About an hour later we had this baby. I will do a few things different next time but I still think I’ll skip the finger joints for now. It’s one of those things, an hour or two of time with my son and a cruddy bird house are memories neither of us will forget.
Please, no comments on the construction. I was in such a huge hurry to get the parts so my boy could get to his part of the project that I kept all the dimensions as equal as possible to reduce the number of set-ups. That’s why the end grain shows in the front. He likes running the drill so we used some glue and screws to hold it all together.
-- Jerry L.
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13 comments so far
MsDebbieP
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18320 posts in 2330 days
#1 posted 2214 days ago
I think it is a gorgeous birdhouse—even without the story of you having made it with your son!!!
I bet the birds would move in quickly.
Well done, father & son.. well done
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
WayneC
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9596 posts in 2266 days
#2 posted 2214 days ago
Very nice. I’m sure the birds will love it too.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
cheller
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254 posts in 2278 days
#3 posted 2214 days ago
The smile in the first picture says it all. The important thing is your son spent time making a project with you. The construction isn’t important.
Well done Dad!
-- Chelle http://artsgranddaughter.blogspot.com
Karson
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34370 posts in 2569 days
#4 posted 2214 days ago
Great design that your son made. He should become an architect or an engineer.
But at least a woodworker like his old man.
Great.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
gizmodyne
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1762 posts in 2259 days
#5 posted 2214 days ago
I think it is awesome. I am waiting till my nephew finally is old enough for a little shop time. (1 right now). All kids should learn how to build. If you have ever read Norm Abrams’ book (Measure Twice….)you will see a connection to your experience; he talks about the influence his father had on him and his first set of tools.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
PanamaJack
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4472 posts in 2246 days
#6 posted 2214 days ago
Chelle said it…The smile tells it all.
It’s a great to teach kids the right way to handle woodworking tools, and how to do so safely. Great job, both of you.
-- Carpe Lignum; Tornare Lignum (Seize the wood, to Turn the wood)
cajunpen
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11537 posts in 2235 days
#7 posted 2214 days ago
Great story – and the bird house is nice too. My boys are 37 & 38, I’m still waiting to make that first project with them – Lucky You!
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
Larry
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200 posts in 2380 days
#8 posted 2214 days ago
Lets see – the family that builds together stays together – and whats more fun than making wood dust. Cajunpen – my two boys are around the same age – and with their ability to make things…..hummm – I think I will stick with the grandkids…
Larry
-- "Have you hugged your pet today?" ---------- Larry
fred
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256 posts in 2267 days
#9 posted 2213 days ago
Start them young. And, it is just a great smile. It looks like you got him hooked. Great project.
-- Fred Childs, Pasadena, CA - - - Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
Napaman
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5015 posts in 2246 days
#10 posted 2213 days ago
yikes..the bird house I am making now is NOT any better…I am making it so my 4 year old daughter can help me paint it…she is not ready to be in the shop with me as I work…but I promised she could paint it…tell you son he did a great job…!!!
-- Matt--Proud LJ since 2007
jockmike2
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10636 posts in 2416 days
#11 posted 2213 days ago
Cute kid and birdhouse too. He will remember that project forever and it wil bring you closer, the project was’nt at all as important as the time spent together. jockmike
-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -
David
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1970 posts in 2308 days
#12 posted 2212 days ago
The construction is great! What a cool project and a very special story. The memories will be priceless. I did a simailar project with my son and later with his Cub Scout den.
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
Robb
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628 posts in 2103 days
#13 posted 2101 days ago
Those are great pictures of your boy! You must be very proud. He sure looks happy to have been able to make something with his Dad! I can’t wait to build stuff like that with my son (almost 2).
-- Robb
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