[Shop-talk] kids tool bench

[nick brearley]

Mark Andy wrote:
> Howdy,
>
> Can anyone recommend a fun kids tool bench / kids tools?
>
>   
Mark,

We went to see a cousin of mine the other day who has several grandsons 
3yrs and up. I was very impressed with a simple work bench he'd made for 
them with a joiner's vice (not engineers). He gave them corks (ex wine 
bottles) for materials so they could cut them with a junior hacksaw, the 
fine teeth being less likely to damage small hands and the frame is 
better suited. The corks took nails easily so they could make up models 
in a very impressive way. Learning to handle tools confidently and 
safely at a young age is the key and this seemed to work very well.

Wish I'd thought of that with my son, I bought him his own socket set 
and a screwdriver. Which he promptly used to tunnel into a wall to 
investigate the wiring on a power outlet. The socket set was speedily 
swapped for small Massey Ferguson overalls and he was encouraged to play 
outside well away from any power supplies...

Nick Brearley