My name is Chuck and I'm 64. I have wanted toget a mini metal lathe for years but never did. This past week I had an opportunity to trade some items I no longer used for a real nice Craftsman lathe I believe it's the 109 with a box full of all kinds of goodies for it. I was a jet engine mechanic in the late 60's and early 70's on Huey Hellicopters as well as a chrew chief and gunner so I do have some mechanical ability. I retired in 04 and have not found the time to do all the things i have wanted while working, playing with a lathe was one of them, so now the time has come. The problem is….what do I do with it now that I have it. I have been searching the net for small projects but I have not seen anything  on an entry level. I did not get the manual with it so I don't know how to even set it up. I found this site and hopefully you can help mel.

I have 3 grand daughters that I have taught to make  things like bird house and small wood projects even a doll house and small wooden fruniture. I taught them how to use small hand tools. Their ages are 4, 8, and 10. They have  used a coping saw, wood rasp and even a drill press (with my supervision of course) So now like a kid I proudly showed them my new little lathe and they said, Poppy, what can we make with it" I told them a lot of things, and the first thing that came to my mind was a little milk bottle for their doll houses, but when I told them, one said, "Poppy milk doesn't come in a bottle it comes in a jug. I new right then I had a big problem and need Help Fast.

Chuck

Hi Tyler,

Thanks for the reply. The Top is a great starting project, glade you thought of it. I'm a retired OSHA corporate compliance director who represented some large companies so if you saw my grand kids when we work on projects you would be happier than they are with all their safety equipment on. The drill press requires not only them were their own pair of safety glasses but a safety face shield along with rolled up sleeves hair under the hat, work secured and stabilized or clamped down,  and were only drilling into soft wood making holes following a line drawing they put on the wood. Of course we have to hang it also so a drill is used….ha-ha  I'm somewhat anal but I remember growing up and our neighbor had a complete workshop garage and he taught me everything from making a bow and arro from specfic type of trees to helping him build a speed boat for the Hudson rive. His son, who was about my fathers age at the time was a ham radio operator and so I got that exposure also, and eventually got my licenses too. If I ever sent them home with even a little scratch I would be in big trouble not only with their mom & dad but worse yet, their Grandmother, my wife. They do get bored quickly though so after I start a small project they want it completed in like 2 minutes or less.So trying to teach them to do a prep drawing ….well it was tough. I'm like Mr. Wizzard to them, "Poppy can fix anything", that's a tough title to hold on too.

Again thanks for the suggestions.

Chuck