Building Future Woodworkers

Don't miss my new postings - a Trophy Shelf, Custom Crown Molding Shelf, and Purpleheart Slimline Twist Pen.

My boys have all been wanting to use my tools. When the brush-off "when you're older" became ineffective, I told them that if they want to use my tools, they have to read a book about how to use it and pass a safety test and then they can. Well, my 9-yr old read the band saw book and then the lathe book in record time. His first bandsaw project was a jet out of a leftover piece of aromatic cedar:He's learning to use the lathe now, one skill at a time. Here's his spindle - alternating beads, grooves, and coves:
My 7-year old has been reading the band saw book, and in the mean time has been working on his nailing skills. While I was turning my purpleheart bowl, he made this box:After he finished, he took it inside and wrote on it: "By Matt Staten. It was hard, frustrating, and fun. Helped by: His dad."

Can't help but feel proud of my awesome boys. My 4-year old and 2-year old will one day have projects to post too, but for now they're more into smashing things with the hammers than assembling them. Good thing for the scrap box! Way to go future woodworkers!