Thread: Help for a single mum in Adelaide wanting to teach her son woodworking!!

Welcome to the forum I'm sure someone will come along with some advice.

Hi and welcome.

Just the right age to get started there is lots to learn and time to do it.

I believe Bunnings do kids sessions sometimes check with your local store.

Speak to some of your neighbours and see if any of them are into woodwork they may be able to assist of course always be careful.

Ray

Hi

what part of eastern Adelaide? I am in Stirling. Is that too far away? Or are you looking for someone to come to you?

Bob


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pretty sure I saw woodwork kits for sale in Big W. They are in an orange box, about the size of an A4 ream of paper.
They can glue and nail the parts together, then sand and finish.
They have model cars, bookends, jewelry boxes etc.
They are quite cheap as well as I think it was 10 bucks.

So maybe he can make the one in the kit and then try and copy the kit with new timber, work out how to make it in reverse etc.

Cam I ask what tools do you/son have.
You can get the basic small kids tool kits from local hardware (Here in Mackay QLD the local Porters Hardware have two different sets)

Can you put up some photos of what he as done so far.
this may help when he see comments from other members of this forum, and they may be able to give you some pointers or web sites you can go to, just help you son to take photo's and upload them

I believe Adelaide has a great woodworking history, local woodies could help


and you could Find a local Men's Shed, a lot of the blokes may be willing to help

Welcome to the forum.

A men's shed might be the go. You might have to go too.

Kids can do some amazing stuff.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=k...w=1165&bih=841

Google kids wood work projects as well.

Originally Posted by tea lady

A men's shed might be the go.

For a kid to work in a mens shed I suspect that every member will have to have a working with children certificate.

While we are waiting for our new shed to be built our men's shed is operating out of at a high school and we have 3 high school lads that come down from the school for mentoring.
Because of being located at a school and having kids on site all our members have to get working with children certificates.
If this was a long term thing I think it would deter quite a few folks from becoming members so I'm glad we are moving out of the school.

I know I will sound like a grumpy old man but I don't like kids on a routine basis in a mens shed, I spent a large part of my working life working with young people and I guess I am "young peopled out" and on the safety side of things it's an extra thing to worry about.

More likely will be to find someone from a mens shed who can work with a young person in a private capacity.

Originally Posted by tea lady

A men's shed might be the go.

There is still a lot of confusion between a Men's shed and woodworking clubs. Men's sheds are for men to get to gather by providing a socal meeting place and maybe do some woodworking or other activities.

It is not suitable for a young child as insurances does not cover teaching children and not all have working with children certificates.

Maybe a woodworking club would be suitable but most have a minimum age restriction again because of insurances.


Peter.

Originally Posted by Proactivemum

Hello All

My 7 year old son is a carpenter/builder in the making!!

His passion is to spend his days building anything from timber that his mum picks up from the hardware. He would rather do this than watch TV or play Nintendo!! (which is great!)

But he is having a hard time knowing exactly how to put it all together and his mum is not technically minded!!

If anyone is aware of woodworking classes in and around eastern Adelaide or other alternatives I welcome your responses.

Many thanks!!!

Sorry that i wouldnt be able to offer much local advise for Adelaide other than like the others have said, perhaps a woodworking club or if he likes watching videos online check out woodworking masterclasses with paul sellers, great introduction to woodoworking on there with all sorts of projects avalable. But secondly what you are doing i just think is fantastic, the fact your activley looking to help your son in a talent that he has an such a young age is amazing and wish i was given that sort of encouragement when i was that young. To be encouraged and nurtured into something he really enjoys at such a young age wow. you never know you could have a master craftsman on your hands one day Good stuff!

Originally Posted by Sturdee

There is still a lot of confusion between a Men's shed and woodworking clubs. Men's sheds are for men to get to gather by providing a socal meeting place and maybe do some woodworking or other activities.

It is not suitable for a young child as insurances does not cover teaching children and not all have working with children certificates.

Maybe a woodworking club would be suitable but most have a minimum age restriction again because of insurances.


Peter.

Peter,

I know some of the men's sheds in Qld had teenage school boys attending. I'm told they come mostly from homes where mum is raising them alone, and the boys want to spend time with men doing bloke stuff.

Some 'mens sheds' have 'kids days' - check locally as it all depends on the shed members and each is different.

I'd suggest having a look at YouTube, search for 'Popular Woodworking', 'Christopher Schwarz', 'Megan Fitzpatrick' - there are heaps of good hand tool woodworking video's under those parameters. Popular Woodworking magazine has a very active online website with several blog type articles posted every week (and you can search back for years of back posts) - and unlike another big-noting magazine none of it is hidden behind paywalls, the most you have to do is 'register' with the site to access some of the 'I can do That' print magazine articles.

You can (should) also search for 'Roy Underhill' and 'Woodwright's Shop' for more general videos, or you can watch several years worth of videos from the Woodwright's Shop at PBS's online site for free:
http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/home/

Be wary of 'Children's tools' - they are usually absolute carp, not worth the effort to chuck them in the bin. A 'Pax' Gent's saw (look for pictures of one on your favourite search engine) is pretty easy to use and being fairly small is easy for a child or small handed woman to control, the fine teeth are easier to start in a cut than a full sized saw. A couple of blocks of 2x4 pine can substitute for a plane with sanding sheets glued on with PVA glue. A small claw hammer, a couple of packets of different sized small nails, maybe a screw driver and a couple of packets of various screws, No.6 or No.8 diameter, 20mm and 32mm length. First project - build a box to put it all in (or an Op Shop woven basket - very medieval)

Bugga Pt Linc is to far away otherwise Id love to teach a 'new dog old tricks'

There has been some useful answers and then some not so useful. To me its pointless buying stuff/kits if the lad wants input on the best way things go together.... not the bl***y easiest. Excuse me but any nong can bang a nail into something pre made but to teach a young fella the tricks would be a real pleasure.

Maybe the powers that be could also put this thread into other sections as well.