Popular Post Chet Posted June 30, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 I started a new project/adventure yesterday. Of the four, my 10 year old grand daughter is the grand kid that has always shown the desire to learn woodworking, she is also the youngest. The intelligent questions that come out of her mouth can stun a college professor. So I decided to ask her what she would like to build, you know bird house, napkin holder, those kind of things. Nope, that wasn't going to work, she said with no hesitation I want to build a coffee table for my mom and dad. So that is the project. We spent some time looking at pictures of coffee tables on the internet, after we got some ideas we drew up a design and I showed her how to make a cut list. Then off to the lumber yard. Yesterday in the shop we rough cut all the pieces, jointed and planned them and then stickered them for a couple of days. She is a quick learner and understands the process of being safe so when I took each of these pictures I had her turn the tool off so I could take the picture with out worrying about her safety at the same time. When she was putting pieces through the planer, my wife took the pictures because I was catching for her. The only thing my grand daughter didn't want to do was running the pieces through the jointer so I did that for her and I was glad that she was willing to make a decision like that instead of thinking she "had to" do everything. Laying out parts with a her tape measure and caulk. Rough cut to length with the jig saw. Ripping to rough width at the band saw. Running things through the planer. And Stickering. 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post drzaius Posted June 30, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 Good times Chet. My 15 YO grand daughter has always been interested in spending time in the shop, but the lately has really wanted to do more. Here parents hardly know which end of a hammer is which. We are doing some cabinet renos in our 5th wheel & she is involved in every bit of the job. Most times when I start to explain a process she interrupt to finish because she's always 1 step ahead. You can't put a price on time spent like this. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted June 30, 2020 Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 This is just to cool on so many levels!! BTW those little rests for cutting down stock on the work bench are going into my I need some of those file 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeslayer Posted June 30, 2020 Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 What an experience for her and you Chet, something you both will always remember. be sure to have HER sign and date it and keep us posted on her progress, she's going to be thrilled when its done 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted June 30, 2020 Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 That is awesome, Chet! Why doesn't she have her own account here yet? BTW, I recall seeing you use those bench hooks / stand offs before, thought it was a great idea, and STILL haven't made a set. Thanks for the reminder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chet Posted June 30, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted June 30, 2020 5 hours ago, pkinneb said: BTW those little rests for cutting down stock on the work bench are going into my I need some of those file 1 hour ago, wtnhighlander said: BTW, I recall seeing you use those bench hooks / stand offs before, thought it was a great idea, and STILL haven't made a set. Thanks for the reminder! I am really happy with them. It makes breaking down so much easier, you don't have to figure out how to position work so you have it hanging over the edge for a cut. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted July 1, 2020 Report Share Posted July 1, 2020 Fantastic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave S Posted July 1, 2020 Report Share Posted July 1, 2020 Chet, you're living my dream. My daughter and son-in-law just let us know she was pregnant and my mind went right to what a pleasure it will be to teach him/her woodworking. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted July 1, 2020 Report Share Posted July 1, 2020 Chet, that's a great story, and you are very, very lucky. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chet Posted July 2, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 Not a lot to show for the day but she learned how to do some different things. First she ripped the top pieces to width for glue up. Then did some layout for dominos to help with the glue up. Then she practiced using the domino machine on some scraps. Then on to the real thing. Applying glue... ...and into the clamps. After this she practiced cutting curves on the band saw and cleaning them up, first with the spindle sander. and then using a spoke shave. After that and some lunch, we took the top out of the clamps and cleaned up some squeeze out and then ran it through the drum sander, I didn't get any pictures of that. She learned how to do an epoxy fill on some small knots in the top. And she learned that everyday, at the end of the day the shop gets cleaned up. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 Chet, you have a keeper right there! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post treeslayer Posted July 2, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 This thread makes my day Chet, that’s one talented and smart girl right there, she’s fortunate to have such a great teacher, wouldn’t be surprised to see her being a woodworker her whole life thanks to you 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 You need to have these pics printed and framed! What an inspiration. You gotta be one proud granddad! As I’m sure you are of all of your grandkids. Well done Chet! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan McCully Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 Love reading this thread. Hoping that one or multiple of my kids will have the same interest in the next few years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chet Posted July 3, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 We started of today by cutting the legs and aprons to final length. First she trued up one end of all the legs using the cross cut sled. Set up a stop block to cut them to final length. Here she was learning how to check the setup of the stop block for correct length before cutting the long aprons to final size. And making the cuts. Next we did all the joinery for the legs and aprons. For this we used Dominos. I forgot to take pictures of this because I was enjoying watching how well she has adapted to using this machine in such a short period of time. If anyone is interested in how we decided to use dominos for this instead of a more traditional mortise and tenon joint for her first project, let me know and I will be happy to share it with you. This is the first dry fit of the project. This brought a real smile to my face to see her work on her first project come together this well. The table looks chunky right now but we still have to add some curves to the aprons and legs and a chamfer to the underside of the top among other things. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeslayer Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 Wow Chet I bet she and you are so proud of your work together, she looks like she’s in “the zone” 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 In the zone, for sure! Does she realize she is "internet famous" now? I know everone here is excited to watch her "blossom" as a new woodworker. And picking it up so quickly, too! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RichardA Posted July 3, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 She's doing so well, I'm ashamed of my woodwork. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post treeslayer Posted July 3, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 23 minutes ago, RichardA said: She's doing so well, I'm ashamed of my woodwork. Me too, I see a great future for that little lady, she will put us all shame in a few years, I wonder if Chet has thought of his future bills for tools for her, at least she will be easy to buy Christmas gifts for 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted July 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 2 hours ago, treeslayer said: I wonder if Chet has thought of his future bills for tools for her, at least she will be easy to buy Christmas gifts for Well right now the other three grand kids haven't really had the same interest as she has, so right now she stands first in line to take over the shop when I leave this earth for better things. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlyoak Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 Chet, you have a real woodworker there. And a cutie. Is this a generation skipping talent or do your children have the knack also? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chet Posted July 3, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 Her Mom, my oldest used to hang out with me in the shop with me, although at that time the "shop" wasn't nearly what it is now. We built some nice projects together. I would say that she listened to what I was saying back then because when she was in college part of her major required her to take a shop class were they learned how to make theater sets. We heard through the grape vine from the college that on a couple of occasions our daughter informed the instructor that "there was a safer way to do that". 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curlyoak Posted July 3, 2020 Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 2 hours ago, Chet said: We heard through the grape vine from the college that on a couple of occasions our daughter informed the instructor that "there was a safer way to do that". How long ago was back then. I find that uncovered stuff from the past can become pleasant and fun conversation. You might let your daughter know what you heard on the grapevine. There might be a few laughs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted July 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2020 33 minutes ago, curlyoak said: You might let your daughter know what you heard on the grapevine. There might be a few laughs... She heard all about it through her faculty advisor who is the same person that told us. She graduated from college in 1999. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Sawdust Posted July 6, 2020 Report Share Posted July 6, 2020 This is an awesome opportunity for both of you. I'm so happy you get to have this with her and to share your knowledge and passion with her. I didn't have any kids and my stepdaughter is more interested in girls so my chance for grandkids is not looking good, so I'm extra happy to see this thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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