This weekend spent with son teaching him how to run the LT40 HD. He is 14 and likes to do it. It is better than hauling lumber. I was a nervous wreck, just new he would hit iron. I stood behind him the whole time telling him what button or lever to work. All in all he did a good job. Might let him go solo next week. ::)
Best he hit iron while you are not there. The terrible sound and the ruined blade will be a great education. Will make him paranoid for a while and it should be a good bit before he hits it again.
I bet he will do a fine job. Youngsters have a way of learning those things.
If he acts like he is genuinely interested, then most likely he'll do just fine.
Of course you're more nervous than he is! ;)
If you really want to get nervous, try teaching a 13 y/o grandson to run a chainsaw. That was me yesterday. :o
I did the chainsaw thing with my son, he was 14 or 15 at the time. Best lesson you can show them is that YOU
put on your safety gear every time, before you start.
Best DGDrls
Nothing to do with sawmills or chain saws ,but I got pretty nervous when when the instructor teaching my son to fly in our cesna150,got out of the plane (with my Son only having 6 hrs of training and 16 years old )and he took off by himself air_plane smiley_sweat_drop smiley_sweat_drop smiley_sweat_drop smiley_sweat_drop
I spend a lot of time in the woodshop with my boys (now 8 and 10). I just show them my scares and remind them that saws cut flesh a lot easier than wood. I also remind them the cost of everything and relate that to how many video games that would buy, that's what really got through to them
14 ? Not bad. My son is 9 and I show him a few things every now and then. By the time he's 16, I hope he'll be able to stand behind me and tell me what buttons and levers to use. :D :D :D :D :D
Anything with a joy stick and the kids will do fine.Its the hardest thing for a sawyer, especially a circular sawyer,to watch someone else run his mill, kinda like a strange man with your wife. Frank C.
Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on February 20, 2012, 05:49:11 PM
14 ? Not bad. My son is 9 and I show him a few things every now and then. By the time he's 16, I hope he'll be able to stand behind me and tell me what buttons and levers to use. :D :D :D :D :D
:) for some reason we are a lot a like in ways but for now I'll not have but one button to push photo quickset 8)
Quote from: Bogue Chitto on February 20, 2012, 10:11:58 AM
.... I was a nervous wreck, just new he would hit iron. ...
When I first hired Mary, my part time helper, I put her in the Cat loader, showed her how the controls worked, and told her to drive it around the log yard. After she had some fun doing that, I coached her in the principles of picking up logs safely and told her to move a few of the shorter logs around. When she was done I had a little talk with her ...
Me: "Mary, I'm afraid I'm going to have to give you heck."
Mary (confused):"Why? What for?"
Me: "For knocking over that pile of lumber."
Mary (looking all around the yard): "I didn't knock over any pile of lumber."
Me: "No, but you will. So now that I've already given you heck for it, you don't have to worry about it anymore."
She turned out to be a DanG fine helper and a very good equipment operator. And, yes, she did eventually knock over a pile of lumber, and restacked it all when she thought I wasn't looking ;).
I like that one Brucer. smiley_swinging_board
b
I taught my 21 year old daughter to mill with our LT40HD & she does a pretty good job. The only problem is she wears me out ;) now that I have to off load the lumber & sticker & stack. Careful what you teach your kids.
jim
I remember when Dad and I got the LT-15. We got a lot of practice changing blades the first month. I think we each hit iron at least twice, but none since then. It's gonna happen, so go easy on him when it does :D.
I will go easy on him D L . I know we all hit iron when we first start out. :)
Gentlemen:
I must be a slow learner. In 7 years I hit the first log stop 3 times.
That was 3 blades I did not have to make a decision on whether to resharpen or not.
Remember if you don't do nothing you won't break anything. Won't get much accomplished either.
GAB
It is not your mill till you hit iron and run the log offen the wrong side :D :D
Friend of mine,, hangs out here,, schoolteacher,,, wants me to saw out cabin for him . helps around mill when sawin blockin. told him the other day to go ahead n saw some,,,,hadda walk away ,,or he wouldnt of got anything done. did ok too,,,no metal,,,,yet ;D
I hit the steel upright once with my homebuilt bandmill,fissed me off so I modified the back band guide.I made a piece that will hit the upright before the band and ether stop the carriage or push the upright down enough to pass.Tip, on your bandmill make a mark on your gauge strip where you can safely pass over the uprights,before you make a cut glance at the pointer if your over the mark your safe,if not check. Frank C.
8) man that awesome as you can see from my picture my son is 7 and i let him run the mill with me standing there watching him. he really done a great job. i am glad to see so many dads on here spending time and passing there knowledge on to there sons. GREAT JOB.
Been there done that with heavy equipment and machinery as I had grown up did the same with my children. Be mindful of state child labor laws can find yourself in court do to anyone reporting you. It turns real serious and a problem in a blink be mindful of any pictures net posted and verbiage that could put you in a legal battle with child services. To people that have no clue we can be seen as unfit and abusive. Just a heads up.
I watched my dad saw for years on our circle mill. I was the dedicated off bearer. One day he got hurt (not related to sawmilling) and I took over. We were off and running day 1. 8 years of watching him and it was like second nature.
Bert
You had all the sights and sounds under your belt (and in your head) which is a big leg up when running the sawmill (or about any machine for that matter).
The sound of a circle mill is hard to beat. ;)
Now that I'm over the hill (50) and my Grandfather (wonderful Man past now) had me on a tractor since I was 5 yr's old Guess that's why I had no problem buying a sawmill now that I have grand children that I hope to be just as Grand to !!! 8)
52 is the new 42. You're not over the hill. :)
Well I must admit I've really enjoyed Life, and plan on the rest being family time and working with the simpler side of things 8) and yes I can still dance LOL I think :-\