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Post by Derby Monkey on Jan 23, 2010 19:11:40 GMT -6
Man… the sawdust and graphite was flying today. The Derby Monkey Workshop helped over 100 folks today including scouts, moms and dads from three different packs. Today’s workshop, from 9:00am to 4:00pm, was 7 fun filled action packed hours of pinewood derby car building. The workshop served a tremendous local need today. We helped many fathers with little or no building skills to single moms who had no clue how to get started. Some dads had the skills but no tools or shop to work. We served the kids free popcorn, donuts and Kool-Aid (tanked’em up on sugar and sent’em home with mom and dad). The old folks had all the coffee they could drink. The cubs and their siblings watched Speed Racer, Down & Derby and Little Cars when they took a break from building. Our 42” screen doubles as a race management score board as well as a DVD player to entertain the kids. Several adults watched and loved Down & Derby. This makes our fourth workshop this season and has another scheduled for next Saturday. When this is all over I will take well deserved rest. My wife Erin serving popcorn
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Post by mwdpwdracing on Jan 23, 2010 19:47:04 GMT -6
Thanks Derby Monkey for sharing your facility and talent with people who need it. This is a great way to enrich childrens lives, and to spread the pinewood racing bug.
MWD
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Post by ScoutMom on Jan 23, 2010 19:47:39 GMT -6
That is awesome, Steve! You are doing a great job!!! Oh, and please tell Landry that Ethan says hello. I have some pictures that I need to send to you.
Teresa
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Post by fatdaddy on Jan 23, 2010 19:51:17 GMT -6
Man Steve, that place looks awesome. I wish we lived in TX. Derby Monkey garage, and I could finally show Teresa how much better my brisket is than hers. SPARTANS! PREPARE FOR GLORY!
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Post by ScoutMom on Jan 23, 2010 20:25:31 GMT -6
Dave<
In no way am I intimidated by a man who uses MESQUITE on his brisket! You come on down here to Texas and we will send you back to Yankee Land with your tail between your legs. LOL! Actually, your rub sounds pretty good... but I guarantee my marinade is better AND I have sense enough to smoke with hickory on my beef!
Sorry, Steve. I guess us PWD folks are competitive by nature and we will argue about anything! LOL! I can not believe that you worked with 100 kids today! You, my friend, definitely deserve a big old brisket dinner (at the least!). I will have to bring you some next time we are down in Tyler at Derby Monkey!
Teresa
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Post by fatdaddy on Jan 23, 2010 20:37:33 GMT -6
Haha, I love this board
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Post by beakerboysracing on Jan 24, 2010 16:55:12 GMT -6
Man… the sawdust and graphite was flying today. The Derby Monkey Workshop helped over 100 folks today including scouts, moms and dads from three different packs. Today’s workshop, from 9:00am to 4:00pm, was 7 fun filled action packed hours of pinewood derby car building. The workshop served a tremendous local need today. We helped many fathers with little or no building skills to single moms who had no clue how to get started. Some dads had the skills but no tools or shop to work. We served the kids free popcorn, donuts and Kool-Aid (tanked’em up on sugar and sent’em home with mom and dad). The old folks had all the coffee they could drink. The cubs and their siblings watched Speed Racer, Down & Derby and Little Cars when they took a break from building. Our 42” screen doubles as a race management score board as well as a DVD player to entertain the kids. Several adults watched and loved Down & Derby. This makes our fourth workshop this season and has another scheduled for next Saturday. When this is all over I will take well deserved rest. My wife Erin serving popcorn From looking at the pics, I only see one scout wearing eye protecting with the rest of the parents and scouts either wearing none, or having their safety glasses on top of their heads, which doesn't afford much protection to the eyes. I would stress no one should be working with power tools without eye protecting. Unless you want to get sued.
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Post by Derby Monkey on Jan 24, 2010 22:53:12 GMT -6
From looking at the pics, I only see one scout wearing eye protecting with the rest of the parents and scouts either wearing none, or having their safety glasses on top of their heads, which doesn't afford much protection to the eyes. I would stress no one should be working with power tools without eye protecting. Unless you want to get sued. Are we looking at the same pics? Both boys in the top photo are wearing safety glasses. The dad at the band saw is wearing them. The dad sanding the car does have his on his head but he is sanding a car... not operating power equipment. Two of the three boys (that we can see) in the second pic is wearing them. It does look like one is not... but he does not appear to be operating anything.... I certainly hope not. The other two pics are inside the store where there is no equipment and no safety glass requirements. The safety glasses that we provide are clear all over except for the black temple tips so they are a little hard to see. Now, we stress the wearing of safety glasses during the workshops. When den/pack leaders schedule a workshop... we stress this as a must and that we will provide safety glasses for anyone who does not have any. When the group arrives at the shop we go over that again and pass out safety glasses. We call for the parents to set a good example by wearing theirs and to police their own child. Then, I spend a lot of my time policing the wearing of safety glasses and overall safety procedures. That’s not always easy to do when I'm cutting a body or polishing axles. No doubt there will be an occasional boy who violates the safety glass rule... usually by accident. I take the safety of children very seriously... especially while working at our shop. We have parents/guardian to sign a release that also serves as a list of safety rules and regulations. We have workshop rules and regulations posted in several places around the workshop. I appreciate and understand your concerns. I think we're doing a good job at keeping our kids safe. Thanks, Steve
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Post by beakerboysracing on Jan 25, 2010 5:20:35 GMT -6
From looking at the pics, I only see one scout wearing eye protecting with the rest of the parents and scouts either wearing none, or having their safety glasses on top of their heads, which doesn't afford much protection to the eyes. I would stress no one should be working with power tools without eye protecting. Unless you want to get sued. Are we looking at the same pics? Both boys in the top photo are wearing safety glasses. The dad at the band saw is wearing them. The dad sanding the car does have his on his head but he is sanding a car... not operating power equipment. Two of the three boys (that we can see) in the second pic is wearing them. It does look like one is not... but he does not appear to be operating anything.... I certainly hope not. The other two pics are inside the store where there is no equipment and no safety glass requirements. The safety glasses that we provide are clear all over except for the black temple tips so they are a little hard to see. Now, we stress the wearing of safety glasses during the workshops. When den/pack leaders schedule a workshop... we stress this as a must and that we will provide safety glasses for anyone who does not have any. When the group arrives at the shop we go over that again and pass out safety glasses. We call for the parents to set a good example by wearing theirs and to police their own child. Then, I spend a lot of my time policing the wearing of safety glasses and overall safety procedures. That’s not always easy to do when I'm cutting a body or polishing axles. No doubt there will be an occasional boy who violates the safety glass rule... usually by accident. I take the safety of children very seriously... especially while working at our shop. We have parents/guardian to sign a release that also serves as a list of safety rules and regulations. We have workshop rules and regulations posted in several places around the workshop. I appreciate and understand your concerns. I think we're doing a good job at keeping our kids safe. Thanks, Steve I was only giving constructive criticism, as it would be horrible for anyone to lose an eye doing something that suppose to be fun. Plus the implications you would have to deal with if someone did get hurt in your establishment. Don't take it personal, that was not my intent. At first glance, I don't see the the safety glasses, may just be me and my old age and waining eyesight or the poor resolution of my computer screen. Sounds like you got it covered. Keep up the good work.
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Post by Derby Monkey on Jan 25, 2010 6:11:03 GMT -6
I was only giving constructive criticism, as it would be horrible for anyone to lose an eye doing something that suppose to be fun. Plus the implications you would have to deal with if someone did get hurt in your establishment. Don't take it personal, that was not my intent. At first glance, I don't see the the safety glasses, may just be me and my old age and waining eyesight or the poor resolution of my computer screen. Sounds like you got it covered. Keep up the good work. I understand... And I truly wish all of the dads that come to our workshop were as concerned as you are. Some dads just don't seem to take all the precautions to keep their son, and themselves, safe. Policing safety is a full time job at some of our busiest events. The biggest problem we have is horseplay. We get that many cubs and siblings in one place... they sometimes go nuts. We have to constantly stop that and ask parents to take control. I think I'm doing all I can but I am always open to suggestions and ideas to keep the kids safe. Thanks, Steve
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Post by beakerboysracing on Jan 25, 2010 7:32:49 GMT -6
I was only giving constructive criticism, as it would be horrible for anyone to lose an eye doing something that suppose to be fun. Plus the implications you would have to deal with if someone did get hurt in your establishment. Don't take it personal, that was not my intent. At first glance, I don't see the the safety glasses, may just be me and my old age and waining eyesight or the poor resolution of my computer screen. Sounds like you got it covered. Keep up the good work. I understand... And I truly wish all of the dads that come to our workshop were as concerned as you are. Some dads just don't seem to take all the precautions to keep their son, and themselves, safe. Policing safety is a full time job at some of our busiest events. The biggest problem we have is horseplay. We get that many cubs and siblings in one place... they sometimes go nuts. We have to constantly stop that and ask parents to take control. I think I'm doing all I can but I am always open to suggestions and ideas to keep the kids safe. Thanks, Steve Yeah, the horseplay is a problem. Here is what I do to try to reduce that problem. Prior to my workshops, I give a presentation to the scout pack( parents and scouts). In that presentation I emphasize the following: 1.Building a PWD car is a Father/partner- son activity. The scout is to build as much of the car as their skills will allow with parental guidance and help. Try to keep the scout as involved in the complete building process. Teach them how to do each of the steps will help to keep their attention. I tell them to come ready to WORK. I also go over each the tools that we will be using and the materials they will be handling and point out the dangers and cautions that need to be taken. Remember, especially for Tigers, this may be their first exposure to using tools, and many fathers are not in the picture sadly, so sometimes it is up to mom who may have never used a drill or bandsaw or any hand tool before in her life. I don't do this to scare anyone, just a heads up to those parents that may not have a clue as to what they are going to be doing at these workshops. 2.No scout is to be dropped off for a workshop. Again, this is a partnership activity. By having parents there to help police their child's behavior, hopefully allot of the horseplay can be cut down on. And, they can help the workshop run more smoothly by getting them involved in teaching the kids. One method of teaching for my son may not work for another child. Those parents know best how their child learns and what they are capable of doing. Use that knowledge to your favor. 3. I ask the leaders of the pack dens to also be present at the workshops when their respective dens are there. They can also help in control of the behavior of the scouts. The more eyes you got watching, the more control you will have. You can also take these den leaders and set them up at a particular station and teach them that part of the building process. Put them to work. 4. You and all leaders should be wearing safety glasses properly at all times to give an example. When you see a scout or parent without protection, point to your glasses and them hand them a pair. 5. I personally don't like using bandsaws. They are rather unforgiving and can cut a finger off before you know it. I prefer a scroll saw, though it can be dangerous, is IMO easier for scouts to use and for parents not familiar with power saws to use. I never let a scout use a power tool without an adult there with their hands on the block of wood. Same goes with a belt sander, great tool for the scout to use, but not without parental supervision. I also have all my power drills mounted to the table with clamps. That way the scout has their hand free to polish axles without having to try and hold the drill as well. Randy sells those as well as Home Depot or Lowes. I also use a drill press for drilling weight holes with a drill press vise. You can mount the block in the press that is secured to the table on the drill press. Makes for a safer way to drill holes. Dremel tools also make a great tool that the scout can handle to carve on their car. A quick clamp to a table to hold the car down makes it much easier for the scout to handle. 6. I never melt lead. The fumes are toxic, and the hot lead can leave a really nasty burn. There are too many alternatives out there that can be used more safely. I prefer the round stick lead that someone like Max V sells. It can be cut easily with some side cutters and easily put in the car with a 25/64 brad point drill bit for wieght holes. Then super glue in and cover with bondo or wood putty. I also provide latex gloves for the parents and scout to wear when handling the lead. And a place for them to wash their hands after handling it. Again, melting lead is dangerous. 7. Finally, if you have a particular scout disrupting the workshop, and neither you or the parent or anyone else helping you police cannot seem to correct the situation, ask them to leave. I got no problem asking someone to leave if there is a chance of someone getting hurt as a result of that unruly scout's behavior. I would approach the workshops and you opening up your establishment to the scouts as a privilege, and if they break the rules, that privilege should be taken away. Not trying to be a butt about it, but my primary goal in my workshops is to keep everyone safe, secondly comes the building of the cars. Hope this helps.
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