The Perfect gift for my 6 year old.

Re: Two schools of thought:

William R. Duffield, on the Cohansey

>One is to give him a stone and a blade and make him practice sharpening for the next four years. The other is to give him a hammer, a bunch of nails and a board. The second one is to be discouraged, as he'll probably grow up to destroy perfectly good chairs and tables that have just gotten a little loose.

Tongue planted firmly in cheek.

You're doing fine. I'm guessing he'll grow up to really appreciate the tools and the techniques that go with them. Take the time to plan some simple exercises that he can use to make useful projects, show him how to do it, and let him practice.

Re: The Perfect gift for my 6 year old.

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>Kids are capable of amazingly complex work at a much earlier age than people realize; they also don't always have the fine motor skills necessary for some of the fine tool work at 6, and patience is sometimes lacking. Better he accomplish some things that he can be proud of than that he do them using the Absolute Right Methods. You might consider getting him a small rasp, as he will be able to make visible changes on pieces with it, perhaps better than with the LN 2.

You may want to get a copy of this *LINK*

Eric Hedberg

>The book Woodworking with your Kids by Richard Starr is out of print, but a great resource if you can find a copy. Don't forget the bandaids!


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0942391616/qid=1074314394/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/104-5728068-4395950?v=glance&s=books

Re: The Perfect gift for my 6 year old.

Tom Williams

>I'd second the rasp idea. Other popular items with my kids (5 and 9) are a brace, Yankee push drill, egg beater drill (thanks Bill!), vise and clamps, glue, and full privileges at the scrap pile. There's a huge amount of fun that can be had with this. I wouldn't be too project oriented at first. Just let him feel free to explore and get to know the materials and tools. And every creation is a masterpiece!

I personally would not let my 6 year old use sharp chisels even with close supervision. Like Bill says, the motor skills just aren't there yet and blood will be remembered long after the skin heals. A plane might be fun but you must be ok with seeing it dropped repeatedly by such young hands. Maybe the LN should wait on a shelf a few years? I let my son play with (and drop) an inexpensive wooden scrub plane but I have to keep it pretty finely set or it becomes too difficult for him to push.

Have fun!

Tom

Oh, and a miter box too.

Tom Williams

>

Even if he doesn't develop his WW skills

Bruce, a MN Galoot

>it doesn't matter. He wants to spend time with Dad. Whatever it takes to achieve that is worth whatever you can put into it. You're a lucky dad.

Bruce

Re: Even if he doesn't develop his WW skills

Steve Wargo

>That's the most important thing isn't it.

Re: The Perfect gift for my 6 year old.

Angus Barclay, in New Zealand

>I second the opinion on chisels and planes. He's not old enough for them yet. And if you don't get them, you and he won't need to the stone either.

The dovetail saw is a great idea. How about just using a pencil, a combination square and a ruler for marking out? After all, he likely is already suffienctly skilled with a pencil. If you want to get him interested and keep him interested, start simple. Keep the chisels and LN for his 10th or 12th birthday.

My 5 year old loves using has saw, hammer, scraps of wood, pencils, paint, glue and clamps.

He doesn't produce masterpieces but everything he makes is a treasure to him (and mostly to me too).

regards

Angus Barclay

Also buy him a tool box

Verne Mattson, Northeast NJ

>My 6 year old got a collection of tools from his uncle for his birthday.

Not only does he enjoy his tools (hammer, tape measure, nail remover, etc.) but I think he really likes having a tool box of his own.

He and his across-the-street buddy (who also has a tool box) like to walk around outside with their tool boxes at the ready to "fix" things.

Quite a funny sight!

Re: The Perfect gift for my 6 year old.

Jeff Tapke

>DAD!! I've missed you. When can I come home??

Re: Also buy him a tool box

Ed Falis - Ipswich, MA

>Or way better, take the time to build one with him.

- Ed

Re: The Perfect gift for my 6 year old.

Ernie Miller Topeka

>He might be a little young for a set of chisels make sure that you teach him that the blade it ALLWAYS away from the body! An LN! are you crazy! I don't even have one of them. My nephew likes the tools I have bought him over the years. Now it is getting to the point that it is expensive to keep buying tools for him. he got his first power tool for christmas.