Iain Westland
Member
- Messages
- 1,115
- Location
- Bury
sparks should not be too much of a problem, welding small stuff and I think that just being able to watch from 6-7 foot away should be more than satisfying for him.
- Messages
- 23,046
- Location
- Birmingham
If you do want to glaze a box / screen try amari plastics for the window material, we use it on the welding cells at work
Only for Pete's sake don't buy it from them! I got quoted a hundred and fifty quid for a bit of plastic from them that I eventually bought from another supplier for sixty. I was told there was no possibility of negotiating the price on their engineering plastics either.
N
naughtyboy
Guest
got no worries about sparks on his head.
hes pinched my welding cap making me buy new one.
putting extra shed in garden in spring so will put screen in instead of window with a seat and shelf for his cup of coffee.
hes pinched my welding cap making me buy new one.
putting extra shed in garden in spring so will put screen in instead of window with a seat and shelf for his cup of coffee.
I personally think 2 1/2 is a bit young, at that age they havent started to learn any sort of control or good sense so you have to be that for them and as others have pointed out, while your nose down welding your attention will be elsewhere...
My lads five, and when we're fixing stuff he gets the tools out the box (i tell him what size and he returns with it) etc, although anything really dangerous (jcb/lifting something awkward, tractor on rough ground, lathe/mill/welding etc) and he knows he has to stand away to stay safe. Even then youve got to be careful as in the moment of excitement any sense thats started to be instilled in them will go out the window (quite a lot of adults too! maybe they didnt learn early enough) and you could have a situation so at that point I make sure his mum is with him or I can watch him and make sure he maintains a secure distance, which is dodgy as it takes your focus away from the job in hand. It will also push their development along too, he can count, measure things and do some maths and is now learing to read (can already write...) so he can read the manuals we have for various things and send people emails. And he thinks its perfectly normal to make a tool to do a job with, or when something breaks to fix it rather than throwing it in the bin and just being a consumer. We have these conversations where he says "when I grow up and Im building my house" as if its just something everyone must do...
The trick is to juggle your impatience to sample the wonder of teaching them everything against the chance of them not growing up with the full compliment of fingers or swarf stuck somewhere nasty or arc eye etc. And you have to give them time to be kids too rather than filling them full of turning into adults prematurely. Fine balance, but enjoyable challenge...
My lads five, and when we're fixing stuff he gets the tools out the box (i tell him what size and he returns with it) etc, although anything really dangerous (jcb/lifting something awkward, tractor on rough ground, lathe/mill/welding etc) and he knows he has to stand away to stay safe. Even then youve got to be careful as in the moment of excitement any sense thats started to be instilled in them will go out the window (quite a lot of adults too! maybe they didnt learn early enough) and you could have a situation so at that point I make sure his mum is with him or I can watch him and make sure he maintains a secure distance, which is dodgy as it takes your focus away from the job in hand. It will also push their development along too, he can count, measure things and do some maths and is now learing to read (can already write...) so he can read the manuals we have for various things and send people emails. And he thinks its perfectly normal to make a tool to do a job with, or when something breaks to fix it rather than throwing it in the bin and just being a consumer. We have these conversations where he says "when I grow up and Im building my house" as if its just something everyone must do...
The trick is to juggle your impatience to sample the wonder of teaching them everything against the chance of them not growing up with the full compliment of fingers or swarf stuck somewhere nasty or arc eye etc. And you have to give them time to be kids too rather than filling them full of turning into adults prematurely. Fine balance, but enjoyable challenge...
NTwoO
More skill with grinder than welder
- Messages
- 489
My little one is now 3 1/2. He enjoys helping me with work. I don't trust him to hold the "looking helmet" yet. My "looking helmet" is an 11 glass taped onto a beer pallet. This is used for people who want to look. If you know of a welding shop where you can become friendly with, then you can use such a "helmet" to watch together. Then it is easier to keep tabs that he does not get hurt. And yes, get yourself a good auto helmet to tack (and weld) with. He is absolutely correct.
I think every kids different really, as long as the dad is aware what there own kids behaviour is like then it'll be fine. I like the idea of the plywood frame, quick and easy to make. if you hinge the sides it'll tuck away neatly too.
A good mate of mine is a digger driver and he often takes his little lad who's now 3 out with him on small jobs. He sits in the back of the cab, knows not to touch anything or jump out if the engines running and although he's always being watched he's well aware of the diggers movements and tells us adults off if we walk towards it if its in use
My little lads only just 2 and last time I took him up the yard for a run around he posted 2 draws of my toolbox under the seat of the sprinter van, then proceeded to hide screwdrivers randomly around the place. At the moment I wouldnt have him near me when im welding because he doesnt really understand whats going on and theres no way he'd keep the mask on. He'll have to be content with his handy manny tools and chasing the dog for the time being.
As for me I was always in the garage with my dad from as far back as I remember, helping build engines and passing tools, I definatly know I used to use chisels and hammers before my 8th birthday at my nan and grandads house, I never really injured myself playing with tools though. If you dont want your kids to get hurt give them a tool box when there young and keep them away from football and mountain bikes
Rich
A good mate of mine is a digger driver and he often takes his little lad who's now 3 out with him on small jobs. He sits in the back of the cab, knows not to touch anything or jump out if the engines running and although he's always being watched he's well aware of the diggers movements and tells us adults off if we walk towards it if its in use
My little lads only just 2 and last time I took him up the yard for a run around he posted 2 draws of my toolbox under the seat of the sprinter van, then proceeded to hide screwdrivers randomly around the place. At the moment I wouldnt have him near me when im welding because he doesnt really understand whats going on and theres no way he'd keep the mask on. He'll have to be content with his handy manny tools and chasing the dog for the time being.
As for me I was always in the garage with my dad from as far back as I remember, helping build engines and passing tools, I definatly know I used to use chisels and hammers before my 8th birthday at my nan and grandads house, I never really injured myself playing with tools though. If you dont want your kids to get hurt give them a tool box when there young and keep them away from football and mountain bikes
Rich
As for me I was always in the garage with my dad from as far back as I remember, helping build engines and passing tools, I definatly know I used to use chisels and hammers before my 8th birthday at my nan and grandads house, I never really injured myself playing with tools though. If you dont want your kids to get hurt give them a tool box when there young and keep them away from football and mountain bikes
Rich
i was the same had tools from a young age always out in the workshop making things out of wood never done any harm to me now 15 with welder,landrover to work on and alot of tools and know how to use them all safely i think it is good that kids learn if they have an intrest
N
naughtyboy
Guest
he knows about working on landy's as helped paint my new chassiss and his coat will never let water and stands up on its own.
must admit it was brill having him help me with it.
he knows dif between spanners screwdrivers and pliers.
must admit it was brill having him help me with it.
he knows dif between spanners screwdrivers and pliers.
