Author Topic: Christmas gifts for my grandson  (Read 14567 times)

Offline DICKEYBIRD

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Christmas gifts for my grandson
« on: December 23, 2009, 07:17:37 AM »
I try to make birthday & Christmas gifts for my grandson in the shop so he will grow up with at least some knowledge of craftsmanship and making things.  When he comes over, the 1st place he wants to go is to my shop so he can drill holes in scrapwood, pound nails into soft pine & saw up small scraps with my little Exacto saw.  He loves it so I think there's hope for him!

This year I made him a little slide whistle from Walter Yetman's article in the Oct/Nov issue of Machinist Workshop magazine. I made it an inch longer than the plans and changed the slide handle shape a bit. To add a personal touch, I engraved a nameplate on my little CNC router and soldered it on. It whistles with very little effort and has a full octave range.  My wife thought it was very cool when I was testing it by doing wolf whistles over & over.  She kept saying "Thank you dear" over & over.




I also made a nifty case for it out of an old Cross pen box I hung onto.  You never know what you'll end up doing with stuff!  I engraved some .015" brass plate and polished it up on the buffer I made from an old pool pump motor.





For Christmas last year I made him this pop gun.  His Mom REALLY like that one.  It shoots one of those synthetic wine corks with unbelievable energy.





Milton in Tennesee

"Accuracy is the sum total of your compensating mistakes."

Offline Bernd

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2009, 09:51:09 AM »
Very nice Dickeybird.

I'm sure he'll remember these presents well into the future.

More grandpa's should be showing there grandson's what can be done in the shop to entertain them.  :mmr:

And a couple of  :ddb:  :ddb:  :ddb:  :ddb: for your effort.

Merry Christmas

Bernd
Route of the Black Diamonds

Offline CrewCab

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2009, 04:11:59 PM »
First Class  :bow:

As Bernd rightly says, we need to pass on the knowledge and the skills as you are demonstrating DB  :thumbup:

CC

Offline ieezitin

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #3 on: December 24, 2009, 02:31:56 PM »
Great !!!!!1111 Well done sir those pieces will stay with him for life.  Enjoy your Christmas.
If you cant fix it, get another hobby.

Offline Divided he ad

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #4 on: December 26, 2009, 09:40:57 PM »
Hey Milton :wave:


Now there are some top gifts  :thumbup:  What a pair of corkers!! (Oops... pun!)



I know I'd have had to tie the cork to the gun..... Else my sister would be throttling my nephew within minutes   :lol:

Then again.... I'd probably have to build a silencer for the whistle too!  :)





Thanks for sharing those.... Stored for next time I need gift ideas  :thumbup:



Ralph.
I know what I know and need to know more!!!

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2009, 04:32:40 AM »
Milton,

Wonderful work!  :clap:

You`ve got me inspired..... I`m going to be a Grandad for the first time, in January.....  :ddb: :ddb:

David D
David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline DICKEYBIRD

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2009, 06:44:33 AM »
Ralph, the pop-gun pics were taken before I installed the tether cord.  I was still thinking about how to install it.  I had to think about it a while before coming up with a solution.  I punctured the cork with an icepick, glued the end of a length of nylon cord inside the end of a piece of small brass tubing, placed the other end onto the icepick tip and pushed it back through the cork.  A big ol' granny knot on the end kept it from pulling back through.

Congratulations David, being a grandad is a wonderful thing!  Young Cade is 3 1/2 yrs. old now and finally showing signs of having the "build stuff" gene.  His Dad is a sports/football fan and hasn't done much in the "work with your hands" area.  When he gets a bit older, I'll dust off some of my r/c model airplane stuff and get him some quality stick time.
Milton in Tennesee

"Accuracy is the sum total of your compensating mistakes."

Offline NickG

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2010, 04:29:34 PM »
Dickeybird,

Really nice gifts there. How does the gun work?!

That's what I loved about going to my grandad's house when I was little. I was allowed to get my hands dirty - I remember playing in the garage with grindstones, vices and whatever else I could get my hands on, in the greenhouse with an axe and collecting coal from the bunker - health and safety just wouldn't allow it these days, I think my mum went spare even back then!

I'm looking at a present he made me now. For some reason I really wanted a brass paperweight - I asked for a lump of brass, I remember I kept ringing him and asking if he'd finished but instead of a lump of brass he me this lighthouse and mounted it on a piece of rock:



My point is that these are the sorts of presents that are really thoughtful and appreciated and will stay in the family for generations to come, so good on you, I hope I can make similar things for my children and one day maybe grandchildren!

Congratulations David!

Nick

Location: County Durham (North East England)

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2010, 04:02:24 AM »
Thanks for your congratulations Chaps.

Not here, yet....... BUT, I now know the baby`s a boy.........  :thumbup:  :ddb:

David D
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Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #9 on: January 17, 2010, 09:57:50 AM »
Thanks for your congratulations Chaps.

Not here, yet....... BUT, I now know the baby`s a boy.........  :thumbup:  :ddb:

David D

Well....... That was a bit of a shock to all concerned.......  :bugeye:

From 7.00 this morning, I`m now a very confused Grandad, to a little girl called Mia........  :scratch:

They really don`t know it all...... Do they!  ::)


Guess I can scrap the traction engine plans, and start on a dolls house!  :thumbup:

David D

David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline DICKEYBIRD

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #10 on: January 17, 2010, 10:04:33 AM »
Congrats David!   :clap:  You might hang on to the engine plans for a bit.  My youngest was quite the tomboy 'til she grew up & got married.  Now she's got her own on the way....and they say it's a girl. ::)
Milton in Tennesee

"Accuracy is the sum total of your compensating mistakes."

Offline NickG

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #11 on: January 17, 2010, 04:33:44 PM »
Wow, congratulations David! I don't think they often get it wrong but there's always that insy bit of doubt! Stick to the traction engine that's what I say!  :thumbup:
Location: County Durham (North East England)

Offline Darren

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #12 on: January 17, 2010, 07:19:42 PM »
congratulations David! :clap:

Well they do say the roles are reversing ....
You will find it a distinct help… if you know and look as if you know what you are doing. (IRS training manual)

Offline CrewCab

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #13 on: January 27, 2010, 05:16:32 PM »
Congrat's to you all SD,  :bow:

Give it time, she might just love making chips with Granddad  :thumbup:

CC

Offline andyf

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #14 on: January 27, 2010, 05:28:58 PM »
Quote
David: Guess I can scrap the traction engine plans, and start on a dolls house! 

A traction engine painted pink could look quite attractive.  :)

Andy

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I've cut the end off it twice, but it's still too short

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #15 on: January 28, 2010, 04:27:09 AM »
Thanks Fellas!  :thumbup:


She`s got me working already....... Only been home 2 days! ::)


The young lady requires a 60mm high, wooden widget. To securely raise the head end of her rocking crib.......

Great innit!  :D

David D




« Last Edit: January 28, 2010, 04:28:48 AM by Stilldrillin »
David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline 75Plus

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #16 on: January 28, 2010, 10:58:24 AM »
Back in the 60's I knew a Model Railroader that had started raising a daughter and building a 1 ft. gauge locomotive at about the same time. Before the locomotive was finished the daughter was running a lathe and Bridgeport making parts for it.

Hang in there David, help may be on the way!!

Joe

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Christmas gifts for my grandson
« Reply #17 on: January 28, 2010, 12:17:16 PM »
Back in the 60's I knew a Model Railroader that had started raising a daughter and building a 1 ft. gauge locomotive at about the same time. Before the locomotive was finished the daughter was running a lathe and Bridgeport making parts for it.

Hang in there David, help may be on the way!!

Joe

Nice one Joe!  :thumbup:

Just hope I live long enough.......  :D

David D
David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!