17 year old working in home shop while I'm at work

[Fastfish]

Howdy,
Now that my shop is mostly done. (automotive shop, compressor, 10klbs lift, mig, arc, oxy/acc. welders, pneumatic tools....) My 17 year old son is working on some friends cars alone while my wife and I am at work. I hope/believe i've taught him well, but sometimes I worry. Any one else built their shop and been confronted with the same situation? Any advice? Thank you

 

[bobcatdan]

I don't have kids so I can't give you a perspective from your point of view, but from your son's angle. Pa gave me a key to shop when I was 16 so I could get in when they weren't around. Pa didn't have any issues with me doing anything by myself that I know off.

 

[TractorJeff]

Other than his friends breaking/taking stuff. You should outline the rules to your son about liabilities, missing tools and respect of his friends to your property.
I would rather he is in the shop than out on the streets causing trouble.
Country kids are usually hanging out in the garage/shop if the father started teaching them at a young age.
Yes you need to worry that something "Might" happen but hope that you taught him well to not depend on jacks for support only, tools need to be used properly and No Horse Play!

 

[Rookie2]

Its easy for some of us old farts doing stupid **** in the garage ! Put limits on what gets done without Dad around. No fuel line, fuel tank work ! Get a fire extinguisher ! Have to use jack stands ! Etc. etc. etc. He'll do ok !

 

[Leoruiz]

Yes.I have 3 kids. 2 iron workers and a boilermaker. Just over emphasize safety.Especially on torches and tanks and the lift-jackstands etc etc. Eye protection before he walks into the shop...no matter if it's to work or not.Just like a job site rule.His idiot buddies too. It's s sue happy nation.
Show him some videos like these.

 

[fred d]

I was working in our shop/garage by myself at 14.
I think it really depends on the kid

One of the things is that the "friends" have not been trained by you, so that might be an issue

 

[61falcon]

when I was 16 I used my dads shop on a regular basis for working on my cars and my best friends car. Quite often we were unsupervised as we used his shop after hours after school and on weekends. My dad taught me well about safety and double check the shop for any possible fire hazards before we left for the night. We never had an injury or fire and I know it was because my dad taught me well. I'm sure he worried but he knew I had to learn to be responsible and gave me the opportunity to prove myself. But if I left one tool out of place or dirty I sure heard about it, rightfully so. So give your kids the opportunity to prove themselves. It is ok to worry, it shows you care.

 

[Fastfish]

Thanks a million to all you folks who replied. I am feeling much better. I wish I could buy all you guys a cup of coffee......

 

[matt_i]

My Dad also let me use his shop at a certain age. At first the restrictions were no power tools while he wasn't there, but I couldn't accomplish much without the wood bandsaw . So the rules were modified after some trials. Nobody ever worked with me, my friends didn't care much for that kind of stuff. But, it was very valuable training for today. One of the biggest things I was taught was Respect for the Equipment, and its ability to change your life in a good or bad way. Also Use Your Head was a common admonition, in other words, think ahead before you do something about the possibilities and consequences.

 

[Dragoonmc]

I grew up helping my dad work on our atvs. I always had a key to the shop and would start taking things apart before he got home. At the age of 8 I completely disassembled my atv engine to replace the piston and rings without him. I've had my share of accidents but nothing permanent and the shop was always cleaner than I found it. However we didn't ever really use the welder or torch much

 

[bgarrett]

I was operating a service station, by myself at 14, I changed engines in my mothers car by myself, parents not home when I was 17

 

[sr71]

worked in the shop alone when I was 15 …pulling engines with friends when I was 16…..I didn't try anything major I hadn't done with my Dad previously except I did a lot of welding and lathe work on my own… playing around. Our garage/shop became regular social hangout for my gear head buddies on weekends. Great memories - probably kept me out of a pile of trouble.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

When growing up in a small town surrounded by an implement dealership, a welding shop, woodworking shop, lumber yard, manufacturing plant, a grain elevator and numerous repair shops all within sight of our house, I spent a good deal of time amongst the workers; as I had no interest in sports... My Uncle asked me to crawl into his Super 26 Massey Harris combine when I was eight.. He put screws in from the outside, and I put nuts on and tightened from the inside.... I was elected as cleanout guy at the same time... At nine years old, I was pulling a disc with a WD Allis Chalmers.... At thirteen, I was welding on machinery by myself.. I enjoyed helping my Uncle; every time I was heading out to the farm; Mom would warn me to stay away from the tractors.. The older generation that I favored to hang out with taught me allot, and always had time to explain things to me... With their influence, I have claimed for years that I was 60 before I was 16 (now count backwards)....The knowledge that my Old Friends shared is something I will forever cherish..

There are some people I would not allow near my shop; whether 16 0r 60..
The attitude of your Son may be AA++ as far as safety, but I would make sure everyone is on the same page as far as his friends go... The word "liability" is used more in today's world.... That word can be an awakened monster if someone got hurt.. You have a tough choice to make, especially when they are under 18..

 

[Shootingdad2]

I have always encouraged my boys to use my shop. Have always allowed them to bring their friends around also. Rules same for all eye, ear protection(when needed),use jack stands. Safety 1st horseplay outside! clean and put my tools/equipment up. Have never had issues

 

[chops101]

Only you can gage the knowledge/safety aspect of your son.
Keep liability in mind if a friend gets hurt.
I was doing the same thing at a commercial service station at 15 and alive to talk about it.

 

[rsanter]

I spent a ton of time in the shop with dad so I always had free reign in there no matter what.
You nee to know your son and what his capabilities are and then apply limits from there.
I had no limits but then I was also using some of the big equipment starting at about 9 years old. By jr high I was a good welder and was also good at using the torch

Bob

 

[Richard Cranium]

My experience was a little different. My father had no shop, and very limited tools. But my neighbor had heavy equipment and I had full run of his shop, In fact he used to call me over to weld for him.

 

[justanengineer]

I'd worry more about your kids at 17 if they didnt have free run of the house, shop, and town than if they did. Realistically, at that age many of us were on our own, making safety decisions for ourself, and directly impacting society daily.

Personally, I cant remember ever not having free reign to do as I wished and worked many days in my father's equipment shop without him present. For a good portion of my high school days, my parents lived/worked on one of my siblings' homes 200+ miles away so I was on my own. Working on vehicles was common long before I turned 16 as was running machinery, cutting firewood with a chainsaw, and doing more hazardous work, and I certainly didnt grow up "way back when," I'm only 31.

 

[APEowner]

It really depends on the kid but at 17, if he's working in the shop on his own then I'd say good for him. I'd support that big time. Check out what he's been working on. Give him encouragement, help if he want's and ask about what safety precautions he took on a specific job, by job basis.

 

[dlcwent]

It really depends on the kid but at 17, if he's working in the shop on his own then I'd say good for him. I'd support that big time. Check out what he's been working on. Give him encouragement, help if he want's and ask about what safety precautions he took on a specific job, by job basis.

Could not have said it better Ape.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I would lay some ground rules down about safety and meet his friends. They would probably be the biggest unknown.

 

[jask]

Way to go Fastfish! Don't forget to show him the Garage journal as well.

 

[bobcatdan]

The more I think about, a shop is no place for a 17 year old. Far too dangerous. He should be in his room playing video games, smoking pot and eating pizza. With McDonald's paying $15 an hour soon, he doesn't need any skills.

 

[ford33]

Working in the shop and creating something builds confidence. Taking things apart and putting them back together better than it was before teaches valuable positive lessons. Encourage him to create something.

 

[ASHMAN_AZ]

Just keep up on what BIG projects he will be working on to remind him of safety issues. Dust, Fire or lifting.

My 16YO removed his front axle while I was on a camping trip, Kind sketch use of jack stands, but he said he use an extra jack and a tire under it when he was working on it.

Im still the one that seams to break stuff and get hurt. Kids are typically more scared and more cautious, if taught they should be safer than us most of the time.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

By himself, he can concentrate of doing the job safely.. With friends hanging around, someone could grab a part to ""help push"" only to find it was still hot from the torch work... Someone could ""pitch in"" with a grinder without warning others about their eye protection... and the jabber, jabber, jabber that distracts everyone..

Customers would often self invite their way into the Dealership shop to see how their vehicle was coming along.... I made it a point to stop working and answer their questions, and show them any details.. Then I would politely tell that I better get back to finishing my work... I have no problem, in fact, I enjoy explaining things to people the same as my old friends did for me.. Well, it is Your turn to be the Old Friend for your Son AND His Friends... Take your time to explain things in detail, and answer Their questions.... The reason for stressing the importance of his friends understanding the safety aspect is : They are bound to show up unannounced sooner or later when You are not home.

 

[404]

Some sort of panic button that can be worn, and still pressed after the car comes down and the squish sound happens. This is just what came up on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W8VSHFO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[glider]

I have been down this road with my son in a production woodshop. Started side business when he was 5, he is 22 now. I stayed on second shift till he was about 16. There has been a few issues but nothing too bad. It's a tuff call and should have a plan. This is our last year in business.

 

[Ben7203]

Hopefully I'll have the same issue to worry about in a few years.

Having seen the way my son and his friends act together, makes me worry about what can happen if they get a hold of some power tools. May have to set some ground rules, maybe talk to their parents too

 

[James-W]

I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand I think that having him in the shop working on projects is a good thing because he is learning how to do stuff and he isn't going out with some dopey friend getting himself into trouble.

But on the flip side, if something happens when he is working in the shop? There is nobody there to help him, or to get help should the need arise. Having his friends there may, or may not, be the best idea either. If his friends are responsible young men, then it would be a very good idea to have them there with him. But, if his friends aren't very responsible, it probably would best if they weren't around. In any case, chances are if he observes simple safety rules, nothing bad will happen. But what if something does happen and he is all alone?

When I am working out in the garage by myself, sometimes the wife will come out and tinker around on something. She is not out there because she wants to be working on a project, she is out there because she is afraid something might happen and I would be out there all alone with nobody around to help me. Sometimes, she will just come out to the garage about half hour just to check on me and make sure I am OK, then go back in the house.

 

[66354dream]

You should be proud of yourself, most 17 year old kids just want to text message all day and not do anything.

 

[ATC]

I did more work in the shop when I was 16-17 than I have in the past 4 years! I was swapping engines, lifting trucks, suspension/axle mods, etc... I bought my own Oxy/Ace torches around that time as well...

If your son has a level head on his shoulders with some common sense...I wouldn't worry too much. Now his friends on the other hand....

 

[Shadowdog500]

If you taught him right he should be fine. Plus one on being more concerned with his friends breaking or borrowing your stuff, or just getting hurt. But it is a trade off since it is always good to have an extra person around if anything bad ever happens. I was fixing stuff for my friends parents by that age.

Chris

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Above and beyond the liability of anyone getting hurt in the shop, there's the liability or other potential issues from working on someone else's car. Looking at it from the point of view of the other parent: Your son installs a cold aiir intake kit for his buddy. His buddy goes out on the road a blows up his trans the next day. He doesn't say WHAT your son did to the car. He just tells his Dad that your son was the last one who worked on it, so it's obviously his fault...

Tommy

 

[magimerlin]

Like most have mentioned... as long as he has a good head on his shoulders and knows his boynderies, and sticks to them even when friends are around, he should be good.

But just as a safety thing depending on what you have for a phone...gotta be a mart phone(yes i know some people that still use the old flip non smart phones..lol) they have video cameras that you can be accessed/viewed with your phone. Not to spy on him but to check on him from time to time if friends are there of if by himself just to make sure he's safe..

sent from what use to be a great country...