Galoots,

A week or so ago someone asked about tools for GITs.  Mine are 2 and 4
and I thought I'd share what I've learned so far.  Some of this may
seem counter-intuitive, but it's what has worked for us.  Your mileage
may vary.  In no particular order, here are the findings:

Pre-drilled holes in a 2x4 cutoff move GITs to independent hammering
quickly.  Also, while they tried many of the smaller hammers, we've
found that the extra weight of regular sized hammers is helpful.  So I
cut the handles down to size.

Their favorite tool by far is the spokeshave.  Pulling with a 2-handed
grip on the edge of a board, they can produce shavings that make them
proud.  They love the curlies.  Surprisingly, with a little
instruction, we've found it to be a very safe tool.  Haven't had a
drop of blood from it yet, but we have had bruised fingers from the
hammer.

They like to clean up shavings with a hand broom and dustpan.

They get a lot of use out of the workbench that is their size.  The
vises and dog holes are just as handy to them as they are on my bench.

They like to mark boards.  A pencil and a simple square can entertain
them for quite a while.

Similarly, the 'toy' measuring tape with a vinyl tape is fun (and
doesn't slice fingers like a steel tape would).

A small brace (6") with a sharp 1/2" auger can be fun.

An eggbeater is (for some reason) a bit more tricky and can be
frustrating.  Also, smaller bits tend to break very quickly, so go
with larger, sharp bits.

They like to wear eye protection (and ear protection when Dad fires up
unmentionables).

They like to wear shop aprons that can be obtained free from those big
box stores that are frequently cursed on this and other forums.

They are proud of their old, beat up toolbox that stores their tools.

Small scraps with many biscuit holes along with plenty of biscuits can
be put together to make interesting structures.

Sandpaper is fun.

Here are some shots from their shop:

http://tinyurl.com/fd5sw

~Jeff
near Memphis, TN where it is way too hot to do anything in the shop
but quickly take a couple pictures of the GIT bench.
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On Aug 9, 2006, at 12:09 PM, Jeff Thieme wrote:

> Galoots,
>
> A week or so ago someone asked about tools for GITs.
>
Then Jeff drops a bomb:

> They like to clean up shavings with a hand broom and dustpan.
>
I wasn't planning on having kids, but this news forces some serious  
reconsideration...

Best regards,
Greg T.
gstucker@v...

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Greg wrote:
:Then Jeff drops a bomb:
:
:> They like to clean up shavings with a hand broom and dustpan.
:>
:I wasn't planning on having kids, but this news forces some serious
:reconsideration...

I'll second that. My ten-year-old daughter loves to spend time with me,
even though I unfortunately don't have my workroom set up for her to
help. She never seems to tire, however, of grabbing my brush and pan and
sweeping the floor.

My five-year-old son, on the other hand, want to make holes in wood with
the brace, which means that dad doesn't get anything else done for the
duration, since he can't handle a brace solo yet (all I have are a pair
of 10-inchers). That and that the only usable work surface in my shop is
a Workmutt, which isn't quite big enough for two...

You go, Jeff!

Rob in Peoria
http://www.galootcentral.com/modules.php?name=Web_Links
As recommended by Popular Woodworking's Christopher Schwarz

Wood shavings on the floor! Wood shavings on the floor!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Highly Esteemed Galoots--I gotta tell ya' that it warms my old heart  
to hear of all the woodworking with yer youngins'.  And, I have to  
confess that when my kids were young that I didn't do enough of that  
WITH them.  But, I do remember giving my two eldest old braces and  
bits and they entertained themselves for hours making holes in a  
rotten stump that they named Holly Evil.  Nobody seems to remember  
why the stump got a name. but, I eventually had to give them limbs to  
work on because Holly Evil eventually got to be about 3 feet deep as  
they continued their mining operations with the braces. SWMBO thought  
there might be some chance of the thing collapsing on them.

As I made my usual old tool route today I happened to come across a  
quite functional brace for small hands.  It no doubt was part of a  
set a some time, but it has a set screw to hold smallish bits and  
will fit my 3 year old granddaughter's hands quite well.  With her, I  
resurrected a big piece of 4X4 balsa wood.  She can hammer nails in  
and extract them and  should be able to drill holes equally well.  
Sometimes we can spend an hour looking at the Tremont Nail website!

For those of you with GITS, be sure to share your woodworking/tool  
collecting hobby with them early. Spend that quality time, you won't  
ever regret it.  I am happy to say that while I didn't share my  
woodworking with kids as much as I wish I had, 2 out of 3 so far own  
their own homes and are learning to putter quite well!  My Dad is  
about 80 and my two eldest are 26 and 30. Today I can answer most of  
their questions and help them fix whatever, but still, I have to go  
to my Dad for some answers! I hope he lives a long time because he  
has forgotten more than I know! Intergenerational learning is sorely  
lacking in our society and anything we can do to share that wisdom  
from one generation to another is a really good idea. My Dad and I  
often get lessons in newer technology from the younger generation so  
the learning goes back and forth!

 From my Dad I learned auto mechanics--up to a point, but best of all  
he taught me how to swear, for which I shall ever be indebted to him!  
I also learned things like, you should never take the carburetor off  
of the car with a hammer! But most importantly he modeled for me the  
American work ethic of his generation. Somebody much wiser than me  
once said,"Don't be concerned that your children don't listen to you,  
Be more concerned that they are always watching!" Let them learn good  
values in the shop! Paul in Normal

On Aug 9, 2006, at 1:10 PM, Robert A. Weber wrote:

> Greg wrote:
> :Then Jeff drops a bomb:
> :
> :> They like to clean up shavings with a hand broom and dustpan.
> :>
> :I wasn't planning on having kids, but this news forces some serious
> :reconsideration...
>
> I'll second that. My ten-year-old daughter loves to spend time with  
> me,
> even though I unfortunately don't have my workroom set up for her to
> help. She never seems to tire, however, of grabbing my brush and  
> pan and
> sweeping the floor.
>
> My five-year-old son, on the other hand, want to make holes in wood  
> with
> the brace, which means that dad doesn't get anything else done for the
> duration, since he can't handle a brace solo yet (all I have are a  
> pair
> of 10-inchers). That and that the only usable work surface in my  
> shop is
> a Workmutt, which isn't quite big enough for two...
>
> You go, Jeff!
>
> Rob in Peoria
> http://www.galootcentral.com/modules.php?name=Web_Links
> As recommended by Popular Woodworking's Christopher Schwarz
>
> Wood shavings on the floor! Wood shavings on the floor!
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
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Paul and Beth Schobernd
paul.schobernd@v...

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Galoots,

I'm embarassed to admit that I forgot to give credit where it was due.
 Check out the red eggbeater:  [http://tinyurl.com/fd5sw].  There's
also an oversized Rabone boxwood folding rule, Handy Andy metal
square, a little hack saw, a wooden spokeshave, a couple c-clamps, and
a wooden handled turnscrew in their tool box.  Up high on a shelf is a
box with a scrub plane and a couple other cool old tools that are
waiting for them to grow into.  ALL of these were generously donated
to the boys by our own PJ McBride from down under and they arrived in
time to be a HUGE surprise for Christmas.  I originally meant to
mention this in the original post, but was too focused on getting the
list of findings together.  And I have to say that I probably wouldn't
have ever thought to give them a spokeshave if Peter hadn't sent them
one.  Now, it's their favorite tool by far.

Thanks again, Peter!

~Jeff
near Memphis, TN
------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is one of my favorite subjects, so I have to chime in.

First, regarding this...
> They like to clean up shavings with a hand broom and dustpan.
>
My eight year old son (and a friend of his) have decided these have some 
sort of value. They have been collecting them into a box for reasons 
that are way beyond me....

My eight year old also loves his rasp.  He will rasp and rasp and then 
sand and sand.  He also has a 12" Disston saw (which I want back, so I 
may trade him a 16" saw) which I let him us.  The eggbeater drill has 
been a hit for a while as well.  We bought a cheap set of bits ($2?) 
from the 'cheap tool guy' at the local flea market - so lost and broken 
bits are not a huge issue.

Over the weekend, we were camping at a relative's hunting camp.  I took 
some handsaws (and a froe, and a drawknife, and some chisels that needed 
handles, and...well I am a Galoot).  While there, I let the GITS cut up 
some small branches for kiddlin' wood with the handsaws.  This was a 
HUGE hit.   My six year old used a 20" panel saw and my 8 year did okay 
with a 26" saw.  (Meanwhile, I just left a lot of drool marks on the 
pile of cherry firewood.)

Finally, the talk of spokeshaves reminded me of something.  When my 
eldest son was younger (3 or 4), he went to a one day a week pre-school 
program at Mercer Museum.  Every week had a different theme (making 
butter, wool/spinning, etc...) but one or two weeks were on 
woodworking.  My wife said there was nothing cooler than a bunch of 
little kids trying a drawknife on a shaving horse.  My wife said the 
instructor said the blade was sharp, but that it was actually safer that 
way as it would really cut the wood - versus jerking loose and hitting 
someone.

Bruce Love
Pipersville, PA

------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's more than all this.
 Sure the time with Dad is precious and the motor skill irreplaceable in 
a kids life.

  But the fact is, for all the rest of their lives, other kids and other 
people (many that shouldn't) are going to be insecurely trying to tell 
them what they -can't- do and what they can't have.
 Nobody gets clean away and the fears and hard times are going to 
come.      Everybody grows up hard one way or another. 

 But the lucky child with the self assurance of "can do" set way down 
deep............. won't ever really be taken in,  .
 
      A foundation of solid stone just won't crack in the stormy weather 
of life.      
    yours, Scott
 
 
Scott Grandstaff, Box 409, Happy Camp, CA  96039
scottg@s...

Tools <http://users.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/>
Tools <http://oldtoolsshop.com/Galoots/sGrandstaff/>
Kitty's PageWorks <http://users.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/>
 

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