Versatile and safe wood-working machine?

MichaelR

Hello,

My son, age 12, is interested in woodworking. He has access to a saw and a simple handheld Dremel tool, but he clearly wants to do more than what these tools allow.

I wonder what kind of machine, probably of a stationary kind, could be acquired so he can do various things with wood but would not be risking life and limb. (He can learn the minimal precautions but I would be very worried letting him work with an open circular saw).

cletus

MichaelR wrote: »

Hello,

My son, age 12, is interested in woodworking. He has access to a saw and a simple handheld Dremel tool, but he clearly wants to do more than what these tools allow.

I wonder what kind of machine, probably of a stationary kind, could be acquired so he can do various things with wood but would not be risking life and limb. (He can learn the minimal precautions but I would be very worried letting him work with an open circular saw).

Pretty much all electric machinery is dangerous.

Why don't you buy him more hand tools, you could get him chisels, couple of different saws (coping, mitre etc) cordless drill, maybe a vise for the workbench, and let him start learning the techniques associated with these tools. He could start working on his jointing.

Once you are happy that he is using all necessary precautions with the hand tools, a jigsaw is probably the safest of the electric tools to begin with, and very versatile

phelixoflaherty

The hand tool route is the way. Get a book on basic wood working.
Vice ,saw,chisel,square would be a start.
Most timber would be square so don't really need a plane to begin with