Starter tool box for youngsters

[rick carpenter]

I have two small starter tool boxes that I'm having fun building out for my grandkids. They're just 3 now, so their parents and I will teach them the basics as they grow into being able to grasp the concepts. I have a flat blade screwdriver, a crosspoint screwdriver, slip joint pliers, adjustable pliers, an adjustable wrench, nippers, locking pliers, and long nose pliers so far in each box. What else for a starter tool box?

 

[sk farmer]

3 or 30 is the same answer.

a basic tool set should include combo wrenches and a 3/8 socket set that covers all sizes up to 3/4 and 19 mm.

no woodworking tools on your list but a claw hammer, wonder bar, small square and tape measure fit minimum requirements as well.

accessories like a magnetic tray, scribe and telescoping magnet are also good starts.

 

[Hakeem]

Id suggest a demo screwdriver, one that can be properly abused to pry and chisel. Otherwise I think you have a good list already.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Hammer and eye protection

 

[Notgrownup]

We bought some tools for my granddaughter this year, she’s 21 just graduated from nursing school and moved into her first apartment. She got the most of basic stuff she would need.

 

[tmp]

My 3 year old has an absolute blast running around with a tape measure and “measuring” everything in the house. Also great for a very young kid is a plastic torpedo level. Mostly a toy now, but basically indestructible and should work fine until she’s ready for “real tools”

 

[Hakeem]

Actually, i totally missed the part where they were three. I’m getting this for my soon-to-be three-year-old’s birthday:

Makedo Explore Kit

Ultimate cardboard construction kit for boys and girls aged 5 to 12, containing all the tools needed to collaborate and make just about anything from upcycled cardboard. Make cardboard forts, vehicles, costumes and more. Perfect educational and sustainable gift for busy parents looking for fun...

www.make.do

 

[tool_scrounge]

In addition to tools, give them something they can take apart using the tools.

 

[nicks78camaro]

I have two small starter tool boxes that I'm having fun building out for my grandkids. They're just 3 now, so their parents and I will teach them the basics as they grow into being able to grasp the concepts. I have a flat blade screwdriver, a crosspoint screwdriver, slip joint pliers, adjustable pliers, an adjustable wrench, nippers, locking pliers, and long nose pliers so far in each box. What else for a starter tool box?

Small hammer, safety goggles for eye protection, ear muffs for ear protection

 

[fishwatcher]

Nice! How old will they be when you give it to them?

I think either an HF Icon bit ratchet set and/or a precision screwdriver with bits set would be good additions.

Amazon.com

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

In addition to tools, give them something they can take apart using the tools.

Our neighbor donated a dead Ford Falcon for me to explore when I became mechanically curious. Dad put it out behind the workshop and let me dismantle it as much as I could. When I finished the Falcon and we had hauled it's remains to the dump, he towed home an old hump backed Volvo and let me repeat the process. A little more intriguing than the lawn mowers I had been playing with.

 

[rick carpenter]

Actually, i totally missed the part where they were three. I’m getting this for my soon-to-be three-year-old’s birthday:

Makedo Explore Kit

Ultimate cardboard construction kit for boys and girls aged 5 to 12, containing all the tools needed to collaborate and make just about anything from upcycled cardboard. Make cardboard forts, vehicles, costumes and more. Perfect educational and sustainable gift for busy parents looking for fun...

www.make.do

That's awesome. Might look into buying one of these for me I mean to keep at our house for the kids to play with. The cutter looks somewhat similar to the Canary box cutter I use at work.

 

[rick carpenter]

Actually, i totally missed the part where they were three. I’m getting this for my soon-to-be three-year-old’s birthday:

Makedo Explore Kit

Ultimate cardboard construction kit for boys and girls aged 5 to 12, containing all the tools needed to collaborate and make just about anything from upcycled cardboard. Make cardboard forts, vehicles, costumes and more. Perfect educational and sustainable gift for busy parents looking for fun...

www.make.do

Next purchase!

 

[BuffettFan]

Small hammer, safety goggles for eye protection, ear muffs for ear protection

Great idea, Rick!

As im sitting here listening to the ringing in my ears, a huge 2nd for including and teaching them to ALWAYS use the PPE.

 

[rick carpenter]

Nice! How old will they be when you give it to them?

I think either an HF Icon bit ratchet set and/or a precision screwdriver with bits set would be good additions.

Amazon.com

Hopefully soon. The niceties of precision screwdrivers will escape them for several years. When I do though, they will be Vessel 9902 sets.

 

[richfinn]

Flashlights, they will have a lot of fun with those

 

[Wamsutta]

Kennedy model 220

 

[KariFS]

I suggest a PH2 and a Pz2 screwdriver, or a set of bits, and remember to teach them the difference too

 

[Hakeem]

That's awesome. Might look into buying one of these for me I mean to keep at our house for the kids to play with. The cutter looks somewhat similar to the Canary box cutter I use at work.

Yes, my toddler likes to play with my tools but I think it’s more of a “oooo shiny trinket!” appeal for her. Hopefully this set will help her understand that tools can be used to accomplish some larger goal

 

[cannuck]

Our girls were in shop with me from 2 or 3 on and today get tools from me for birthday and Xmas presents. They both use tools for home and business reno and maint projects they do on their own (youngest her own GC in planning and building her vet hospital). They understand the value of being hands on.

3 of our 5 grandsons are shop curious but only the eldest has been with me since about 5. He got hand-me-down surplus tools from me for quite a while, but when I had a regular income I bought him over a couple of years sets of Milwaukee packout tools. Everything he gets from day 1 have been "real tools" rather than toys, but restricted to supervised use in the shop. He is now past that stage and able to run his little CNC router far better than I can. Our 7YO has started to come into the shop but not as ********* as big bro. Our grandkids also get exposed to farm and construction equipment, starting with being assigned tasks of loading, towing offloading trailers behind 25HP lawn/garden tractor. Eldest can run an excavator as well as his Mother.

You never know what direction a kid's interests and skills are going to go, but what is 100% guarantee is you can and should expose them to as many options as you can - and find out which ones take hold. You are competing with a world full of peers who worship screen time with an army of babbling idiots who would like to turn them into nothing more than clicking consumers, so you need ever tool in you bag to do so. Our 11YO no interest in shop but comes over to cook with Grammie every Saturday. You never know until you try.

 

[rust in the eye]

Yes, my toddler likes to play with my tools but I think it’s more of a “oooo shiny trinket!” appeal for her. Hopefully this set will help her understand that tools can be used to accomplish some larger goal

That goes on a lot around here too.
@ OP A three year old is just going to get hurt with any real tools.
Flashlight was suggested and that's about as much of a tool as I'd put in a three year olds hands.

 

[NHtoolguy]

Our neighbor donated a dead Ford Falcon for me to explore when I became mechanically curious. Dad put it out behind the workshop and let me dismantle it as much as I could. When I finished the Falcon and we had hauled it's remains to the dump, he towed home an old hump backed Volvo and let me repeat the process. A little more intriguing than the lawn mowers I had been playing with.

My father let me dismantle his dead 1963 Falcon, so I had a similar experience. I didn't have enough tools to tear into the engine, but I had fun taking apart the fuel and electrical systems. When I had finished, it went to the bone yard. Previously, my mother bought an old TV and let me dissect it in the living room. Their encouragement of my curiosity (and tolerance) helped shape my future in technical work.

 

[rust in the eye]

My father let me dismantle his dead 1963 Falcon, so I had a similar experience. I didn't have enough tools to tear into the engine, but I had fun taking apart the fuel and electrical systems. When I had finished, it went to the bone yard. Previously, my mother bought an old TV and let me dissect it in the living room. Their encouragement of my curiosity (and tolerance) helped shape my future in technical work.

Aren't there potentially dangerous charges lurking in capacitors?

 

[Sbusmech]

Great idea! Just like others have already mentioned, just add a decent socket set with 1/4" & 3/8" drive and wrenches. You can debate metric or standard up to you, but with these you can do almost all the repairs except major driveline components.

 

[dscheidt]

Aren't there potentially dangerous charges lurking in capacitors?

yes, but caps bleed charge, and so a broken set that hasn't been plugged in isn't going to be dangerous. the real danger from CRT stuff is the high voltage that drives the tube.

 

[Kscardsfan]

My 3 year old has an absolute blast running around with a tape measure and “measuring” everything in the house. Also great for a very young kid is a plastic torpedo level. Mostly a toy now, but basically indestructible and should work fine until she’s ready for “real tools”

I bought mine the John Deere tool belt for her first Christmas (she was almost a year old at the time), and she has spent the last 2-3 years hammering, measuring, and screwdriving anything around the house. Someday she'll be there helping me with stuff.

 

[loganb]

If you're getting metal tools, my 2 cents is to also mark them via engraving, laser, electric etch etc with name and year. Dad got both my brother and I pretty complete small toolbox sets from Craftsman..screwdriver, pliers, 1/4" drive ratchet and sockets etc and they're all still in my toolbox, used and I smile every time I see that year etched in there. Just used some of the sockets over the weekend...think the year is '89 but still work and look great.

 

[Kscardsfan]

If you're getting metal tools, my 2 cents is to also mark them via engraving, laser, electric etch etc with name and year. Dad got both my brother and I pretty complete small toolbox sets from Craftsman..screwdriver, pliers, 1/4" drive ratchet and sockets etc and they're all still in my toolbox, used and I smile every time I see that year etched in there. Just used some of the sockets over the weekend...think the year is '89 but still work and look great.

I'm currently replacing the sockets and stuff I lost using my dads tools over the years. I know he doesn't care, but I still feel guilty about it when I'm over at my folks house helping dad out.

 

[fishwatcher]

Kennedy model 220

Great idea! A Toyo or one of those HF mini toolboxes would be a more appropriate for little ones. But this Kennedy box would be sweet!

 

[rick carpenter]

Great idea! A Toyo or one of those HF mini toolboxes would be a more appropriate for little ones. But this Kennedy box would be sweet!

The boxes I have for the kids are T-320s. Just the right size for starter kits.

 

[njc41980]

Picked this up for my 11 year old son last week on a sale I couldn't resist.



Can't wait to give it to him.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My first "tool set" (mid 60s) was a Craftsman 1/4" and 3/8" socket set. No metric sizes. I did upgrade over many years with extensions, universals and 3/8" deep. Obviously added metrics. Best feature was the 1/4" hand driver with female 1/4" on top. Who needs nut drivers !

I still use that set today !

 

[bobg03]

In addition to tools, give them something they can take apart using the tools.

Or they'll find something to take apart and fix, I did...

 

[rust in the eye]

Or they'll find something to take apart and fix, I did...

AND FIX being the operative words in this phrase

 

[NUTTSGT]

3 or 30 is the same answer.

a basic tool set should include combo wrenches and a 3/8 socket set that covers all sizes up to 3/4 and 19 mm.

no woodworking tools on your list but a claw hammer, wonder bar, small square and tape measure fit minimum requirements as well.

accessories like a magnetic tray, scribe and telescoping magnet are also good starts.

Whoa stranger, been a while.


Good advice.

I would suggest start picking up pieces as you catch them on sale or like BF sales. Decent screwdriver set or pliers sets. Nothing high dollars but will get them by for the first few years.

Stuff like this.



Either 7 pc set at Menard's for $4.49 with a $4.49 mail in reabte.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I remember is my very young youth swearing a lot a short Allen wrenches. I was much happier when I found a generic set of long handles ones in a red vinyl pouch.

 

[engineer2]

Good to teach them young! I know people who didn't start working on stuff until they were in their 20's and they struggle with basics like diagnosing problems logically and using proper "feel" when tightening, loosening, sawing, filing, bending, etc.
Give them some unwanted items like broken small appliances to take apart so they learn how stuff is made.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

I remembered I had seen this thread when I took this picture for another thread. IMHO these are great to teach kids how to start a screw without frustration or get small holes in wood, plastic and some composites. 17$ for a pack of 7 in different sizes & they last.

Steel twist gimlets. ( https://garrettwade.com/product/set-of-seven-steel-twist-gimlets )




Kind regards,
Olli

 

[NUTTSGT]

I remember is my very young youth swearing a lot a short Allen wrenches. I was much happier when I found a generic set of long handles ones in a red vinyl pouch.

I totally get that. My post was more of a buy as you go and add to the tool box as you find stuff on sale. That was just an example of something cheap and on sale.

If you didn't notice, they were $4.49 each and a rebate of $4.49 each. Send in the rebate form and get purchase price back in the form of a rebate. . . then buy more tools with the rebate.