Thread: Beginning Woodworking - A Basic Woodworking Starter Kit For Kids

Hi SG
I did some thing similar for my boy when he turned 5. I went to Bunnings and Bought a "small" hammer, saw, tape measure, square, pencil, screw driver (no chisels) and made up a carry box. My thoughts were that he had to find wood working to be fun and the tools easy to use. He followed me around with his tools and I gave him little jobs to do. 19 years later he has completed his carpentry apprenticeship and loves his work.

TT

seems good, anything that sparks the imagination and enthusiasm is good..its completely arbitrary what constitutes a 'beginner' system as such so there is no right or wrong...of course its different depending on the age of the 'kid' too

i think you could add something for curves though, at least a coping saw with some different blades, and then a rasp or three, otherwise a sanding block..a keyhole and bow-saw might be more advanced or not

if someone can handle chisels and planes they can probably handle a claw hammer, doesn't have to be a full 26oz er, either way if your going to be putting nails in, then you need to be able to get them out, so a claw hammer or pincers or what ever. choice of planes can go in different directions, nothing wrong with yours, #3 instead of #4 (as you mentioned) and if it was opportune (finding one) then perhaps a junior jack plane would be ok in place of the #5, or a carriage plane that can double for rebate use also then

quite a few things could be made (if not wanting to purchase and to provide some interesting initial projects), a mallet for starters, for safe use with the chisels, a bench hook for sawing, a saw stool. clamps would be useful for glueing and also provide safety for holding work, either home made or a few cheap ones purchased, a mitre box would be good too.

there's always something else that can be added so the list can get pretty long but i would consider those things, not too much expense there and a couple provide a necessary measure of safety

cheers
chippy

I have some old copies of "The Woodworker" magazine (in the bound annual format) from the 30's, 50's and 60's. One of these has an article on a beginner's toolkit which I will chase up for you (I only read it last week, so it shouldn't be too hard to find).

Being of that vintage there are no power tools in the mix, so it will be close to what you have posted on your blog.

Also have a old book (50's, I think) for home woodworkers that has a similar section on the essential tools for a beginner - will try to post that also.

Regards,
Chris.

Attached are two pages from a book titled "The Home Workshop" published by Odhams Press Limited. The author and date are not listed anywhere in the book, but my search shows the book is pre-1950's at the very latest (therefore out of copyright in Australia).

The two pages are the "essentials" and the "desirables".

More to come.

Cheers,
Chris.

Attached is an article on how much money it costs (in 1961 GBP) to start woodwork. The magazine article defines three kits (Bare Minimum, Fuller, and Good Basic Kits) and works out a cost for each.

The costs?

Bare Minimum Kit: 13 pounds 10 shillings
Fuller Kit: 17 pounds
Good Basic Kit: 22 pounds 10 shillings

I have more, if anyone is interested, and if I'm not treading on anyone's copyrighted toes.

Cheers for now.
Chris.

Thanks for the thoughts chippy and TT.
Those are really interesting Chris.
It seems that things haven't changed too much over the eons.
Thanks for posting these.
Cheers
SG

I can't believe *I'm* saying this but ...

Safety Glasses.

Don't forget about starting their woodworking library.

Amazon.com: Woodworking For Kids: 40 Fabulous, Fun & Useful Things for Kids to Make (9780806904306): Kevin McGuire: Books

Great post, thanks SG!

I think what you specified would be a good kit for even an experianced woodworker, and I'd be suprised if many outside of us darksiders had such a good selection of handtools.

At my local woodwork club, we have enough machinery to fill a room but not a plane, rasp or spokeshave to be seen. I'm in the process of rectifying that situation

Originally Posted by Scribbly Gum

Thanks for the thoughts chippy and TT.
Those are really interesting Chris.
It seems that things haven't changed too much over the eons.
Thanks for posting these.
Cheers
SG

no worries SG, not that i am as computer savvy as the average bloke and dont really understand how blog sites work, but i like your page, nice and easy to look at..

smiled when i saw the pocket knife, kids (in particular boys) love it when they get given their first pocket knife!

In the screwdriver section, it might be worth making the distinction between philips head and posi-driv, the way you have it it seems to show them as being one and the same, whereas they are different and not good practice to use one type driver in the other type fastener, philips head driver will fit and work (sorta) in a posidriv screw but can (and do) easily slip out damaging the screw head (makes for an ugly finish), in contrast a posidriv screwdriver wont fit in a philips head screw, so if thats all you have you will be stuck. it might be worth having both type of screwdriver (or something that takes different bits) as both type of fasteners are pretty common


cheers
chippy

Montgomery Ward & Co. Catalogue and Buyers' Guide 1895 - Skyhorse Publishing - Google Books

Zoom in to read contents and prices

as the Dad of 2 yo and 4 mth old boys I've started looking at this kinda of thing too. Good list so far. Pop W'working had a 'gents chest' in their I Can Do That section a few months ago. So i'm going to make a couple of those little chests, and then start adding some tools.

I really can't wait until they are old enough. My two yo loves hanging out in the shed with me while i'm woodworking.

What sort of vise for a kid? I'm thinking Z-vise....it's light and versatile, but might be a bit too complicated.

Originally Posted by andrewr79

Great post, thanks SG!

I think what you specified would be a good kit for even an experianced woodworker, and I'd be suprised if many outside of us darksiders had such a good selection of handtools.

At my local woodwork club, we have enough machinery to fill a room but not a plane, rasp or spokeshave to be seen. I'm in the process of rectifying that situation

And that's probably why so many kids get through to adulthood without the faintest idea aWout woodworking, dad grandpa and the uncles all have "don't touch" power tools . The Junior woodworker by C.H.Hayward is a great book for dads and sons.