Thread: Kid's Workbench

Made up a plan last night based on the need for two vises and enough space for two as miss three will be all over this like a rash. This morning I grabbed a sink cut out of jarrah I had laying around and picked up a nice 6 inch carter vise from my favourite rustic charms dealer. I had planned on cleaning up some pallet timber for the legs but the weather is bad so a trip to bunnings and som DAR pine was in order. I have also purchased a front vise from carbatec which I am going to mount as an end vise - two kids need two vises and an end vise makes clamping timber to cut with a hand saw easy.

Dimensions are 430 x 830 x 600 high for no other reason than the height seems right and the timber was that size. The top has a well in the centre for tubs of nails and the like as kids tend to knock stuff off if it is not secured.

No fancy joinery, just 100mm batten screws. I have gone as far as I can without mounting the vises so I am awaiting the top drying sufficiently to flip it and start playing around with how they will mount which will also define my leg spacing and the centre stretcher size.

Sound like Daddy enjoying Father's Day.

Cool another work in progress.

I am thinking that you will have to make a stand for Miss three to stand nearer the bench height.

Fantastic!! Just Great to see!!

Too often we don't think of kids need in terms of suitable sized furniture.

Happy Father's Day.
Nice to learn the children enjoy time safely in dad's shed.
Just watch that no fingers get caught in the vice or handle.
With bench height - you may consider making a few holes on the legs so the height can be adjusted as the children grow.
A step or two could be made so your youngest is able to work safely at the bench (also usable inside). If made suitably it could be used by mum and dad for those items up high.

G'Day Burnsy,
Very well done sir...your girls in the shed, play and learning....
I had my 3 girls in the shed that much i had to buy a set of tools just for they & I made they a tote box to store them,
BUT WOW, a Kids size work bench...first class effort.....keep it coming...
Cheers crowie..

PS - you might consider adding that beaut wooden toy your daughter made to the toy section of the forum!!!

I love it when miniArcher "helps" me in the shed.
I bought her some kids safety glasses a while ago. I could only find them in the US at the time but a quick search found these
http://www.outdoorkids.com.au/p/5962...ror-lens-.html
Well worth a few dollars to have safety glasses that fit properly. And I see you can get them in pink Don't tell miniArcher

A very worthy project. Really good to see kids showing intrest and being encouraged to make things.
Regards
John

Pink earmuffs in the picture.... I want a pair!

Originally Posted by Evanism

Pink earmuffs in the picture.... I want a pair!

Kids Peltors highly recommend them if you have kids.

Very well done, mate. You are teaching the girls valuable skills and, more, forming bonds which will never break.
All the very best.

Here is my effort of a couple of years ago. I posted pics in the metalwork section at the time, but they no longer show up....
The then 4 and 2 year olds are now very proficient at using all manner of hand tools - and even safe enough to let loose with a cordless drill (on their own work pieces and under supervision).
Despite the sharp saws and drill bits, nobody has been hurt more than I get hurt on an average work day - skin cuts, scratches and abrasions... BUT the now DO know what can and will hurt and they made it their business to learn to hit nails on the head instead of their fingers, REALLY quickly, actually.
P1000131 (Custom).JPG P1000135 (Custom).JPG P1000137 (Custom).JPG
Today (at 4 1/2 and 6 1/2) they can follow instructions on how to assemble something, disasemble screwed and bolted things without instructions, nearly never get the direction of a screw wrong, know the names of most tools and can recognise them by sight and knwo what they are used for. That makes them very handy co-workers.
A funny story: I fitted castors to my new Aldi tool trolley recently and Ned (4 1/2) helped. He put two of the castors on while I put the other two on. I then went to tighten the 4 screws on each in turn on 'mine' and continued to check 'his'. He said completely confidently " you don't have to do those, I already checked them all and they are all tight"
I had to wait until he was out of sight to tighten them all another 1/4 turn - just to satisfy myself - but they were surprisingly tight already.....
Ilove being a grandfather!

Love the concentration on their faces Joe, might have to steal the drawer idea sometime in the future, although I reckon I need some on my bench first

Picked up the front vise today which is soon to be an end vise. This meant I could mark out, cut and fit the skirts. Ends glued on now, they will be dowelled after the fact with some contrasting 19mm dowels. The Carter vise got stripped and painted a nice bright red today and is awaiting drying for the side skits to me marked, cut and fitted.

Bit of forward movement today. Fitted the Carter ready for the side skirt to be rebated around it (it is amazing how well it came up after a strip and respray), drilled out and fitted and turned up a handle for the end vise out of some spotted gum I had milled and made into a tree stake about 6 years ago.