Teaching children

[Paul Kuflik]

I am looking for some advice or if there is a consensus, or personal experience at what age is it appropriate and safe to introduce a child - in this case a grandchild- to woodturning? Obviously supervised and clearly each child is different. Is there any literature to read? Has anyone ever published guidelines and/or recommendations? Do schools offer this and if so at what age? I would love to share the experience but am concerned.

 

[hockenbery]

10 is the age we used for our classes when we taught at MD Hall in Annapolis, Md.
AAW used the same age when they started classes at the symposiums. We taught several classes there at different symposiums.

we did have a 8 year Old who was terrific at peeling wood away.
we let him in the class when his mother asked If we would consider a younger brother to a student we had.
I asked her “ can he slice a tomato unattended?” She said yes so we let him.

only problem we encountered with this one was turning gavels - in five minutes he turned his gavel head right Past the desired 2.5” diameter to about 3/4”…. he was encouraged to turn his second try to a larger diameter. He finished a nice looking gavel.

some friends have started their kids as young as 5.

most kids do really well at spindle projects. Spinning tops are a great first project.

most kids lack the hand strength to pressure fit a box lid.
most lack the range of motion to hollow a bowl on a long bed lathe by pulling the handle across the ways.

kids who can’t yet turn might participate. Coloring the top you turn… etc

our biggest problem was with a 16 year old….

 

[Paul Kuflik]

Thanks. That is really helpful. Younger than I would have guessed but sounds very reasonable.

 

[Mike Novak]

I started my grandson at 13 a couple months ago. He’s at the point now where he needs very little supervision to make his magic wands. My granddaughter is making pens at 15. I would have started them sooner if I had a lathe then and was comfortable myself.

Maturity and capability and patience vary a LOT with kids, so it’s hard to cite an age. Assuming you are carefully supervising, one might be ready at 5, another not until 10 or older.

 

[David Martin]

I'm not sure age has all that much to do with it. Some kids will learn to use a power tool at a very young age. I have known many adults who are completely untrainable and should never be allowed near a power tool. If your grandchild is expressing an interest, I think it should be encouraged. Shouldn't take long to determine whether they have any natural aptitude or not.

 

[Dean Center]

I taught my cousin's granddaughter at about age 8. She continued turning back home, so that was a big win. As mentioned, maturity, strength, and height are all considerations, not precisely determined by age. When you're teaching a relative in your own shop, it's also a much different liability dynamic than when you're teaching strangers at a symposium.

 

[Neil S]

When you're teaching a relative in your own shop, it's also a much different liability dynamic than when you're teaching strangers at a symposium.

Agreed, there is quite a distinction between those two situations.

I start my own grandchildren off when they are quite young, but it is closeup and one-on-one until they are mature enough to be not distracted from what they need to be concentrating on...

​

 

[Mike Zip Hamilton]

Paul, I see you joined our group a month ago. How long have you been turning yourself? Have you worked with a mentor or have had formal training turning? If you are comfortable mentoring your grandchildren, make sure they have saftey glasses and a faceshield that fits them. Have fun!

 

[Paul Kuflik]

I have been turning a couple of years. I am predominantly self taught and have a long way to go. I do have quite a bit of experience in the mentoring department as I have been teaching spine surgery for more than 30 years. I agree with and appreciate all the advice I have received. I have done a fair amount of hand tool woodworking with them but have never allowed them near a power tool.

 

[Mike Zip Hamilton]

Paul, you are obviously not going into this without thought. If you are not already hooked up with a local club, find one. If l were in your shoes, I would take a beginning class with my grandchildren. Our club does offer classes, but not for minors. However we do have skillful mentors that could have a private session or two with you and your grandchildren. I hope that would be possible in Woodmere.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

I have done a fair amount of hand tool woodworking with them but have never allowed them near a power tool.

Maybe flatwork power tools would be a good place to start. You and they would get an opportunity to see how they handle the "excitement" and follow direction in a faster paced operation. The bandsaw comes to mind. Could be just cutting blanks or making a bandsaw box.

 

[Paul Kuflik]

Interesting idea. Thank you.

 

[Dave Fritz]

My understanding is schools are not teaching shop classes much anymore. Liability, cost as well as legislative imposed academic standards have all but pushed them out the door. Our friends son is a S. T. E. M. teacher. He had a student whose father signed the permission form so the boy could work with shop tools. The boy nicked his finger on a band saw and the divorced mother is making Tom's life miserable and giving the administration head aches threating a law suite. Kids are impulsive and when you have a class of 12 at some point they have to be trusted. The kid admitted he made a mistake and didn't do what he was told. Age isn't as critical as the child, can they be trusted? I know some 40 year olds I wouldn't let near my shop.

 

[Bob Brown]

Paul, I see you joined our group a month ago. How long have you been turning yourself? Have you worked with a mentor or have had formal training turning? If you are comfortable mentoring your grandchildren, make sure they have saftey glasses and a faceshield that fits them. Have fun!

And how many adults have you taught

 

[hockenbery]

Maybe flatwork power tools would be a good place to start. You and they would get an opportunity to see how they handle the "excitement" and follow direction in a faster paced operation. The bandsaw comes to mind. Could be just cutting blanks or making a bandsaw box.

I personally would not let a child younger than 12+ use a bandsaw.
1. The bandsaw is probably the second safest saw to use - the scroll saw being the safest

2. From my circle of friends the bandsaw is the most dangerous equipment in the average turning studio.
Of the turners I know who have gone to the ER most were using the bandsaw. One would have died had he been working alone. Fortunately he was sharing a shop and had someone to call 9-11 and make a tourniquet.

I have never allowed adults to use any saws in turning classes I have run.

 

[Dean Center]

Paul,

You need to steal a few of those OR step stools that you can stack up. They're wonderfully stable and still portable. Start the grandkids on 3 of them stacked up and as they grow, periodically take one away.

 

[Paul Kuflik]

And how many adults have you taught

Are you asking how many medical students, interns, residents and fellows I have trained? Countless. On another note, I know a nurse who lost her job for taking home unused sponges that were disposed of. You definitely don't want to be stealing those step stools from the OR!! Every room has 24/7 video recording. Besides you can never find enough of them in the OR when you need them! But I did buy a couple on Amazon!! I must admit the thought of one of the kids getting hurt, scares me enormously. I almost wish I had a pole lathe to start on.

 

[hockenbery]

I must admit the thought of one of the kids getting hurt, scares me enormously

We start every session with a review of our basic safety rules.
In multi session classes we have the students tell us a rule.

With good luck and maybe some watchfulness the only injury we had was a couple of splinters from blanks.

The lathe is not without risk. But is much less than many youth activities.

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

My understanding is schools are not teaching shop classes much anymore. Liability, cost as well as legislative imposed academic standards have all but pushed them out the door. Our friends son is a S. T. E. M. teacher. He had a student whose father signed the permission form so the boy could work with shop tools. The boy nicked his finger on a band saw and the divorced mother is making Tom's life miserable and giving the administration head aches threating a law suite. Kids are impulsive and when you have a class of 12 at some point they have to be trusted. The kid admitted he made a mistake and didn't do what he was told. Age isn't as critical as the child, can they be trusted? I know some 40 year olds I wouldn't let near my shop.

There are 17 High Schools in Rankin County, Mississippi with shop classes. Just depends on the school district. There are still some enlightened school boards out there.

 

[Kalia Kliban]

Following this discussion as I have a 10-year old nephew who has expressed a bit of interest.
I second the comments about there being adults who are untrainable, and very young kids who would be completely up to learning how to turn.