Doing something constructive
Jan 7th, 2008 by lapazfarm
Superboy is all about tools right now. One of the top items on his Christmas list was a tool belt. Big surprise, right? After all, he is a 12yo boy.
I am a big fan of allowing kids to use the tools with which they have proven themselves competent and safe. Superboy has long been given the freedom to use many handtools and over the past few years has been working his way up to using a few power tools, including a weed-eater, power sander, drill, and most recently a jigsaw. He loves it!
This love of tools and endless pre-teen energy can come in really handy, as evidenced in his pre-Christmas project, a surprise for his dad:
completely scraping, sanding (using the power sander)
and painting the front porch!Great work!
But it also can be a lot of good, old-fashioned fun. Superboy started a trebuchet-building project with his brother, Cityboy, during the Christmas break. Unfortunately the weather turned nasty and they were unable to finish it together. They had completed only the rough framework before Cityboy had to return to school. That left Superboy to finish up on his own, which was fine with him!
Here he is finishing up the framework (using the cordless drill):
Working on the throwing arm (using the jigsaw):
Ready for assembly (note the tool belt):
Then after designing, making, and testing the sling, designing and adding a release mechanism, loading up with his projectiles (black walnuts), LOTS AND LOTS of fiddling and testing, during which time he acquired a fascinated audience…
… it is finally ready to fire!
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/5FPfPc1Asek" width="425" height="350"/]
You can’t tell from the video, but it threw the walnut about 50 yards. Not too shabby! Tomorrow he plans to take the thing out in the field and fiddle with it some more to see how far he can get it to throw.
And I am sure more tools will be required.
Wow! That’s amazing! I’m impressed at his dedication. And his skills with the tools and problem solving abilities. Great work!!!
Sweet!
That trebuchet is smooth.
Yes, that trebuchet turned out very well. My son will love this. Thanks for sharing.
Totally cool.
That is so cool! I don’t know if they do it in Alaska, but Pumkin Chuckin is a big deal here in Yankee Country! Scout’s troop did a team compitition last year the week after Halloween, and had a blast shooting pumpkins across the field on trebuchets they built themselves!
Fantastic! This left my 7yo boy drooling. I’ve written about your trebuchet here:
http://www.restorationplace.typepad.com/restoration_place/2008/01/trebuchet.html
Thanks for the inspiration!!
He is such an amazing boy!!!!!
Oh. my. goodness.
How very cool!!! My dh is a carpenter and I have three boys. They would absolutely love this!!
~Heather
As I promised, I’m announcing that we have tabletop trebuchet success! I’ve posted about it if you’re interested in taking a peek. Now that dh and son have gotten the “bug” they’re already planning the next project…something with enough gumption to hurl oranges.
Thanks again so very much for sharing about Superboy’s trebuchet and inspiring us to explore the world of trebuchets!