Scrolling with my GRANDCHILDREN

[OPi]

What safety precautions would you take if you are introducing your young grandchildren to the joys of scrolling? What suggestions do you have to help make this a successful endeavor? Pattern suggestions or better yet, examples???? Wood, what variety, what thickness??? All suggestions and advice will be appreciated. 

I have two granddaughters, Heidi is 7 and Ava is 5. Just for the record, I also have two grandsons aged 2 (Ian) and 4 (Johnny), probably just a little too young, but not for long.

One neat thing about these two little darlings is that their names have a line of symmetry so that every side of the compound cut blocks shows their names. No backward letters - every side is the front.

 

[Scrappile]

When our Grandson stayed with us for a week last summer we did these.  I did most the cutting but I did let him do some on the saw.  He picked the subject from images on the internet.  We printer them glued them to the wood and cut.  I left the patterns on and let him color the one that is not all black.  He had a great time and displays them proudly in his bedroom.  He was just here last weekend for a visit and first thing he wanted to do was print out some more characters to scroll.  Unfortunately it didn't happen.  We had a big wind storm and I had to get my huge Blue Spruce out of my neighbors grapes......

Edited February 22, 2018 by Scrappile

[Dan]

Well Wayne, that is cool that the names worked out that way. For the young ones I'd slow the blade down a bit at first, use 1/4" stock, and give a simple outline to follow. Once you feel they are ready have them cut the letters of their name. Then ask them to come up with some ideas. You may want to help guide their hands at first so they get use to a comfortable speed. If you still have it you may want to put the hold-down back on the saw. 

[lawson56]

So Sorry to here and see what happened Scrappile.My Granddaughter like to Scroll.I let her cut when she comes for a visit,I started her out on a slow speed,and held her hands guided here as she went along,now she is 13 and when she is here she's on her own.

[Phantom Scroller]

I like this idea mind are 4 and 1 perhaps when it warms up I might do what Bobby does and guide them through first. Roly

[Blaughn]

Wayne, you asked about safety.  Dust mask and eye protection.  Beyond that, 1/4" poplar - a simple pattern and let them at it.  I found with my grandkids that if I tell them to think about the line on the pattern as "food" for the blade and their job is to keep feeding the line into the "mouth" of the blade.  This helped them to recognize how to manipulate the pattern. 

As for mastering corners, I drilled a pilot hole and had them practice turning the workpiece 360 degrees with slight pressure on the back of the blade.  This helped them understand how sharp corners are made.

Bruce

[OPi]

Thanks for all the great advice. I get to see one set of grandkids this next weekend and will see how it goes. One problem is that I've got to carry my saw with me. I will give ya'll a full report.

That Blue Spruce sure makes me sad. 

[Woodmaster1]

Simple puzzles would be a good project. Maybe put their picture on a piece of 1/4" wood and have them make a puzzle out of themselves.

[OCtoolguy]

On 2/23/2018 at 8:51 AM, Blaughn said:

Wayne, you asked about safety.  Dust mask and eye protection.  Beyond that, 1/4" poplar - a simple pattern and let them at it.  I found with my grandkids that if I tell them to think about the line on the pattern as "food" for the blade and their job is to keep feeding the line into the "mouth" of the blade.  This helped them to recognize how to manipulate the pattern. 

As for mastering corners, I drilled a pilot hole and had them practice turning the workpiece 360 degrees with slight pressure on the back of the blade.  This helped them understand how sharp corners are made.

Bruce

That sounds like a great idea for any of us just starting out. Thanks.

R

[OPi]

Lots of good advice and suggestions from all ya'll about scrolling with my grandkids. I was supposed to happen this past weekend. Well, other things happened. The parents bought a playscape so instead of scrolling, we assembled the playscape. Could have been worse. At least I didn't have  to get my huge Blue Spruce out of my neighbors grapes....

I will get another chance in about two or three weeks. If it happens, I'll share the results.

[WayneMahler]

I'm jealous. Mine haven't expressed interest and it breaks my heart. They love what comes out but ......

Hopefully someday I will have a place to leave this to someone who has enough interest to carry on.

[Adam_Leslie]

My oldest son is almost 7 and I just started teaching him to scroll.  So far he has done a couple projects on 1/2" poplar and 1/4" Baltic birch.  I stand behind him and mostly just help hold the wood down and let him guide it (help correct his cuts if needed but he's getting the hang of it.)  He wants to work on a puzzle next, but wants to get the hang of cutting curves and circles first.

[tgiro]

Practice pattern that I got from here -- https://suncatcherstudio.com/practice-patterns-scroll-band-saw/

He, also, has some free, simple patterns of animals, birds, flowers, etc, for kids to cut once you are happy with their practice patterns.

Both, my grandson (10 - started at 8) and his little sister (now 8) started this was and have progressed since. They don't come over often, but when they do there is a trip to the shop in the works.

The safety goggles, I have for visitors, while big, work for them, and we tie a bandanna around their faces to take care of dust. I was going to get children's masks for them from Amazon, but they would grow out of them in a year. The boy is, already. to big for them.