projects for the kids

[74grabber]

Ok guys here is the deal my nephew age 14 is huge into working with hands and getting dirty, yes proud uncle. Problem is I work out of town all week long so I am in need of low cost projects that he can do and work on to keep busy until I get home so we can work on the bigger projects together. to also add he has no interest in model cars or planes.

He likes working on cars, bikes, quads, guns, welding, and machining. He is responsible with the tools but I'm not comfortable with him using the mill, lathe, torches, or welder when I'm not there. So in his mind that cuts out all the "fun" tools.

And I do not understand today's school system, at his age I had 2 shop classes in school..... He has to wait until he is a JUNIOR before its even AVAILABLE as an option and thats if the seniors don't fill the classes first.

So lets here it guys got any projects for a 14 year old do accomplish on his own with minimal supervision?

Any help is appreciated

 

[Keithinsc]

Find an old lawnmower that doesn't run.
Have him tear it down and reassemble.
If it still doesn't run, have him tear it down again and THEN help him reassemble.

Maybe just start small and do it with the carb. 99% of free mowers are gunked with gas.

Gramps had me do this and placed me on the path towards being self-reliant.
Thanks Gramps!

 

[machine_punk]

The truth about any welding or building project is that there is a LOT of fabrication (cutting to length, drilling holes, fitting, beveling joints) before you ever touch a welder to the project. There are things which are going to help him fabricate on his own later that you can help him build now...and he can do the 'fabrication' during the week, and you can help with the welding on the weekend...

- a small welding table
- a rolling cart for the 'average' MIG welder he is likely to buy as his first welder
- Get him a Red HF 5-drawer service cart to hold his first tools. He could sand that down and custom paint it, then assemble it.
- a double bottle rack for Oxy-Acetylene bottles

Then, once the welding is done, he can do the sanding and painting while you are gone.

Perhaps you can set him on the 'designing' aspect of milling and machining during the week. Have him come up with an idea for something he wants to build, then put together shop drawings with enough detail for both of you to build it on the weekend. Have him figure out things like, "what size does this part need to be to be a slip fit into this part?" and "What should the cutter look like to make this part on the lathe?" So that when you get together on the weekend, you are just tweeking ideas and making stuff, instead of doing the design work.

I'd also recommend getting an old lawnmower engine off CL or eBay. Have him completely disassemble that and rebuild it with a rebuild kit. Maybe build a go cart with that engine and let him do the design and basic fabrication during the week and help him weld it together on the weekend.

You could get a car engine out of a pick & pull. Get the Haynes manual and help him disassemble and rebuild that engine (of course, this would be ideal if it were an engine which would fit into a car he'd like to have in a couple of years).

Of course, you can always just get the whole 'project car' and teach him everything from rebuilding the engine to body work to painting, etc.

Kev

 

[E.rodz]

Here is a thread I started on here a couple of years ago lots of great ideas on here.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83441

BUILD SOMETHING WITH YOUR KIDS . is the best way to search this up if this link does not work.

 

[rslaback]

How does he feel about electronics? For under a hundred bucks he can make a 16 channel controller used to program Christmas lights as a light show.

 

[longlivepunk]

Oh man, SO many things he could do! As machine_punk said, I would really recommend having him build some items that he'll need when he has his own garage. He could cut the material, do lay-out, etc. while you're gone. He could build jackstands, tool-boxes, tooling-holders, etc. If you pick-up an old spot-welder he could probably handle that without supervision. We had one in Jr. High. You could also have him look into wood-working projects. Lastly, I personally have an ad on my local Kijiji asking for free motorcycles to work on. Believe it or not, I actually get contacted, picked up a few free bikes already and plan on fixing them up to sell off and purchase tools/fix-up the garage.

That one could be really good for hi, because it would be good experience, he'd work on a variety of different engines (not just the type he would normally buy), he could potentially have his first mode of transportation, it would teach him the value of things (when he goes to sell), and it wouldn't take up too much room in your shop!

 

[74grabber]

Great ideas guys! thanks I appreciate it!

I think to get the ball rolling, I'm going to have him design and build a 4x8 work bench out of the 10x8 one that is taking up to much room in my shop. At that point I will free up some space for him and me.

Add on to that go through my un used tool buckets and see if I can make him a set for wrenching without having to buy a complete set for him. That puts some more of my clutter to actual use and out of my way

Than on to finding a free lawn mower (don't believe I did not think of this, it was my first project in our shop class as a kid), repair the motor while looking for a go kart frame candidate to work on fabrication, painting and sanding skills.

HOPEFULLY this will keep him busy for a while, but I swear the kids a machine when it comes to projects......... Late nights in the shop is his passion. Wish I had that kind of motivation still, now I enjoy tinkering and enjoying what I have already built vs getting into the bigger time consuming projects.

I really like the idea of him rendering his ideas and thoughts onto paper first as well, I'm a napkin drawings kind of guy but maybe I should try and pick up a copy of autocad or similar since he enjoys computers as well.

E.rodz I went through the thread, great idea! I will get some pictures posted in there as soon as I can.

 

[John in OH]

Lots of good ideas above!!

One more possibility .... get an old lawn tractor for him to rebuild. Lots of variety on a lawn tractor ... engine work, transmission, body work, painting, wheels & bearings, tires, etc.

Plus, it's something he can drive himself it at 14!!

 

[machine_punk]

If you have a 10x8 table, you could help him make TWO 4x8ish tables...one for your shop and one for him to keep.

Sounds like you've got a plan going. As far as drawing...consider getting him hooked on Sketchup...a free 3-D drawing program with barrels of videos out there on YouTube and tutorials elsewhere. I pay for my 3D design program (GeoMagic/Alibre), but sketchup gets great reviews on GJ. For 2D CAD, go to your local software store, where they have a 'cheap CD' software section (you know, they software which comes in just a CD case and doesn't have a fancy box). They almost always have some sort of CAD software for $10 or less.

Kev

 

[74grabber]

Lots of good ideas above!!

One more possibility .... get an old lawn tractor for him to rebuild. Lots of variety on a lawn tractor ... engine work, transmission, body work, painting, wheels & bearings, tires, etc.

Plus, it's something he can drive himself it at 14!!

I would love to but that would be my toy! lol

I live in the city and we are currently maxed out on storage space for large toys (mild prerunner ranger, sand rail, quad, 67 mustang, 56 caddy, f150 4x4 extended cab long bed, my company truck, and her daily driver) unless the wife unit lets me take the back yard for storage.......

I could put it up on the father in laws property, but soon after arrival he would take it over and I would get told thanks for the tractor

 

[74grabber]

If you have a 10x8 table, you could help him make TWO 4x8ish tables...one for your shop and one for him to keep.

Sounds like you've got a plan going. As far as drawing...consider getting him hooked on Sketchup...a free 3-D drawing program with barrels of videos out there on YouTube and tutorials elsewhere. I pay for my 3D design program (GeoMagic/Alibre), but sketchup gets great reviews on GJ. For 2D CAD, go to your local software store, where they have a 'cheap CD' software section (you know, they software which comes in just a CD case and doesn't have a fancy box). They almost always have some sort of CAD software for $10 or less.

Kev

I will have to look into that, I'm not much of a computer guy but I got a friend I will see if he can point me in the right direction.

If I set him up with Sketchup up is it a good "learning" program to move on to the bigger more advanced CAD programs?

 

[machine_punk]

I will have to look into that, I'm not much of a computer guy but I got a friend I will see if he can point me in the right direction.

If I set him up with Sketchup up is it a good "learning" program to move on to the bigger more advanced CAD programs?

There are two different things here...2D CAD (like regular 'drafting' on paper, or house plans, or 'blueprint.') and 3D Design programs (you design the thing in 3 dimensions...then you can print out a rendering of the object, or, in most programs, also print out a 2D drawing with dimensions).

There are numerous, inexpensive 2D CAD programs out there and he will be well-served by learning any of them. The techniques transfer to more-advanced programs well. But, they will only ever produce 'flat' drawings of an object.

3D Design is a whole other animal...the techniques are different and the way you think about designing in 3D is completely different. It was a steep learning curve for me, even after years of drafting on paper, then years of 2D CAD drafting on the computer. BUT...it is the way things are going and his mind is at the right age to be open to learning new things like this (us old guys have to work hard for new knowledge and skills...learning new things comes naturally to kids his age).

Anyway, Sketchup has a great following and learning to design in 3D is a valuable skill. Even if the specifics of that program don't get used in more advanced programs, the concepts of good 3D design are the same...and very valuable things to know. Once he has designed in 3D, he can print out 2D shop drawings with dimensions, or print out a rendering of the object, or plug that into stress testing or surface rendering products...or port it over to CAM software...which can translate it directly to G-code for CNC machines. He might not be there yet, but it is a valuable skill to have.

I don't have any personal experience with Sketchup, but I do use a similar program for 3D design and printing out shop drawings. While the concepts he learns in Sketchup will relate to any 3D program (the concepts are the same, even if the specific controls are different). But, if he never does this for a job, the Sketchup program may be all he ever needs for this sort of task.



Kev.

 

[74grabber]

^^^Thank you very much for the post, very informative.

 

[elav]

I think learning CAD is a valuable skill but you have to set him up to be successful at it (this needs to be fun, not frustrating for him while you are away). If he is the type that wants to learn Sketchup and is OK watching tutorials on YouTube for initial guidance, then it could be a good learning experience. If he is the type that wants to figure it out himself, then I don't think I would suggest this until he goes to a basic class. If he has interest in woodworking you could have him build a woodworking bench with dog holes, etc. using only non-powered hand tools. The great thing about non-powered hand tools is that while you may cut yourself it is difficult to do great bodily harm. In addition very little dust is generated. There are a number of plans out there to construct a bench using 2x4s and hand tools.

 

[rslaback]

I teach CAD at the high school level. I highly recommend being taught AutoCad. When I have students come in that just want to make up a quick set of plans for a metals or woods project I direct them to SketchUp. It is much more learn-it-yourself friendly.

 

[plow]

I set my nephew up with some relays, transformers, lights, bells, switches etc. to familiarize him a bit with basic electricity and circuits. 120vac, 12 an 24vdc.