Project ideas for a 13yo

[SupressYourself]

Little update: We went ahead with the deer blind idea. We've been building it in the garage, an hour or two here and there. We went with a 6x6 octagon shape, which is a bit of a pain, but I think it will be really useful. I have 1/4 inch clear acrylic to cut for the windows.
Little guy is not always excited to work on it, but it's been a good project, and he's learned some things, whether he admits it or not.
Now, I'm in IT guy, not a carpenter, so it's not perfect, but it's going really well.

 

[guywhofishes]

Very good design. Basically the ShadowHunter design, which is top notch.

 

[Kurtr]

Little update: We went ahead with the deer blind idea. We've been building it in the garage, an hour or two here and there. We went with a 6x6 octagon shape, which is a bit of a pain, but I think it will be really useful. I have 1/4 inch clear acrylic to cut for the windows.
Little guy is not always excited to work on it, but it's been a good project, and he's learned some things, whether he admits it or not.
Now, I'm in IT guy, not a carpenter, so it's not perfect, but it's going really well.

I just had some experience cutting that 1/4 acrylic go really slow or it cracks and pisses you right off

 

[SupressYourself]

I just had some experience cutting that 1/4 acrylic go really slow or it cracks and pisses you right off

What did you cut it with? I was planning on using a jigsaw with fine metal blade.

 

[LBrandt]

Tablesaw with a real fine blade and ssslllooowww. the less vibration the better. LB

 

[riverview]

i cut 1/2 inch acrylic with a skill saw and plywood blade, biggest problem is it melts and clogs the blade.

 

[risingsun]

I have always used utility knife, score it many times then just break it off.

 

[grumster]

I've had success cutting it with a roto-zip, just be sure it's supported.

 

[Kurtr]

What did you cut it with? I was planning on using a jigsaw with fine metal blade.

I used a jig saw with the reverse cut blade. Make sure it has alot of support on it. If i went nice and slow no problem but as soon as i got in a hurry it cracked

 

[guywhofishes]

Scoring knife.

And consider polycarbonate rather than acrylic. (1/8" Amerilux at Menards or whatever)

Cleaning bug poop and dirt will scratch acrylic pretty fast.

 

[svnmag]

Project idea ------ GIRLS

That's probably a lot with the phone. I'm glad I had a lot of Sheldon Cooper in me until in the Farce.

 

[svnmag]

Ohh and building slingshot rifles, they are the real deal .

That was going to be my post mentioning you.

 

[Jm1986]

This is a great post. I’ve been trying to think of something for my son and I to do when he gets a bit older. I’m thinking of getting a trailer and building our own homemade fish house some day. That we can obviously use and he can get exposed to real world skills such as building, wiring, etc. Until that happens he’s Lucky enough that he has a grandpa that runs a ranching operation and there’s always something to do out there.

 

[Davey Crockett]

Slingshot rifles are finicky but once you get them dialed in they are as accurate as a 22 .
Happiness is shooting a greedy, strawberry stealing chipmunk at 30 feet with a glass marble. I didn't know they could die that fast or fly that far.

 

[mikef]

You’re a good dad and this is a great thread. I ordered the “ crayfish” book
Does he like mechanical things?
Bought a John Deere hit and miss engine for a winter rebuild and restoration. Plan on adding an ice cream maker to it

 

[luvcatchingbass]

Slingshot rifles are finicky but once you get them dialed in they are as accurate as a 22 .
Happiness is shooting a greedy, strawberry stealing chipmunk at 30 feet with a glass marble. I didn't know they could die that fast or fly that far.

Pigion off the barn loaftrafter with hand cast 45cal lead bullet is a winner too. Apparently they don't fly well when you add that into their body cavity

 

[luvcatchingbass]

Little update: We went ahead with the deer blind idea. We've been building it in the garage, an hour or two here and there. We went with a 6x6 octagon shape, which is a bit of a pain, but I think it will be really useful. I have 1/4 inch clear acrylic to cut for the windows.
Little guy is not always excited to work on it, but it's been a good project, and he's learned some things, whether he admits it or not.
Now, I'm in IT guy, not a carpenter, so it's not perfect, but it's going really well.

That is great. What are you using for plans? I'm working on a design in my head to build a couple that I can move around with the tractor and bale fork. Never thought about making 8 sides but now that I see it I like it.

 

[luvcatchingbass]

For not being a carpenter you got me fooled SY

 

[SupressYourself]

That is great. What are you using for plans? I'm working on a design in my head to build a couple that I can move around with the tractor and bale fork. Never thought about making 8 sides but now that I see it I like it.

I was mostly going off of what this guy did, but I did the roof (and therefore the studs and sides) differently:

 

[SupressYourself]

For not being a carpenter you got me fooled SY

Well, I did grow up on a farm, so I'm marginally adequate at just about everything.