Welcome Daniel!
P.S. What age would you recommend starting to teach my boys?
My own kids were a lot older when I started woodturning, but grandkids and kids of friends were often interested in the shop. When some were very small, they had great fun sitting on the floor pounding nails into a board, or drill holes by hand with a small gimlet. Let them experience the shop and just be around the woodturning.
When maybe 6 or so we pick a project they are interested in, I set it up on the lathe and turn it round, they help with laying out and marking with a pencil. They watch while I turn, then they might help doing some sanding by hand and/or applying finish.
(BTW, all parents of kids shown here gave permission for the photos.)
I knew a LOT of young kids since I taught kindergarten SS for 27 years. Many came to the farm to brush a horse, herd llamas, plant seeds in the garden, go on hikes in the woods and smack a tree with a stick.
View: https://youtu.be/EftGzOMsSNg
Some showed a special interest in things I made in the shop. This little friend wanted to make a french-style rolling pin for her mother for Christmas. She was thrilled just to be there. She did help with things like marking the length and inflection points with a pencil while I turned the piece by hand. (I had completed sample pieces for her to look at.) After some hand sanding she helped apply an oil finish.
This grandson wanted a magic wand. He helped with the design and layout, I did the turning and texturing, he did some sanding then sawed off and hand smoothed the ends. Was excited!
When a little older, we worked together on couple of presents for his parents. At that age he was able to do more of setup and turning. Right after this I built a short platform for him to stand on!
I've had many other kids come for some lathe experience. In general, when they are about 10 or so many have the coordination and are able to follow instructions needed to work safely (with me always at their sides). Some kids, of course, need a few more years!
I have a zillion photos of students at the lathe but never thought to sort them by age or even record their ages. KIds are all different and some not capable until a bit older. Here is one composite photo of some males students, some boys, some old guys. Some of the younger turners are standing on the platform, visible in the photo at lower right.
I think the bottom line is a kid at nearly any age is ready for an introduction, see the process, help with some safe things. You have to decide when they are mature and coordinated enough to put a tool to wood. As always, do them a favor: start first with spindles!
And I realized most may never touch a lathe again but at least they'll know what it's all about!
Oh, and when a older (perhaps much older!) some came back for other things (done with safety first): scroll sawing, metalworking, welding, concrete, gardening, helping with fencing, herding llamas, riding horses, operating the excavator!
JKJ
