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Post by beakerboysracing on Feb 16, 2009 10:33:07 GMT -6
Gots some pics today of our workshop. Overall had 43 scouts and parents come and build cars. I though that was pretty good for my first attempt. I had two rooms in the basement set up, a clean room for axles and wheel prepp, and a dirty room for all the woodworking. Here's some of the action: The scroll saw: Mrs. Beaker doing what she does best, entertaining: Sanding: You can't see it but CougarDog is off camera telling pinewood derby secrets: A woman after Mr. Slicks own heart, she built a 6 wheel truck! And painted it PINK! CougarDog and a Tiger parent showing the scout how to use a power drill: Lunch beak! Me on the drill press: He sanded on that car all day! Axle prep station: Not real sure what he's doing but must have worked, he came in first Webelos 2: Father son working together: Another father son team: The most used tool at the workshop, the Beltsander: Here I am explaining the basics to a tiger dad: Axle station stayed busy all day: Here I am lubing some wheels while giving advise to a dad: Drawing out a design: CYA Scott Beakerboys
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Post by sappingtonr on Feb 16, 2009 15:44:30 GMT -6
;D Scott, I have to tell you, that was an absolutely classic post. I love it. ;D
Favorite two slides were the dad that sanded all day on thing. He had sawdust all over himself.
and
The boys eating corndogs with ketchup & mustard! Gosh, I hope they have those next year at the Blue Grass Open.
Seriously, thanks for taking the time to load all of those pics and narrate each one. It's a lot of work to do, but, very enjoyable for us all to see.
Sapp
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Post by gpraceman on Feb 16, 2009 17:04:13 GMT -6
Scott, Maybe the photos are not fully representative of the work performed at the workshop, but a couple of things stood out to me. I see much more of the adults working on the cars than the kids. Maybe part of that is that all of the benchtop tools seem rather high up on workbenches. Would it be possible for you to put these on lower tables when you do workshops or maybe provide platforms or short step ladders for the kids? The other thing I noticed was many people not using safety glasses when working with the power tools. That is for your protection (liability wise) as well as theirs. I am not trying to pick on you. I just wanted to point out a couple of observations. I think it is great that you opened up your home, tools and expertise for this workshop. BTW - Nice Car Inspection Go/No-Go Gauge
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Post by beakerboysracing on Feb 16, 2009 21:40:17 GMT -6
Scott, Maybe the photos are not fully representative of the work performed at the workshop, but a couple of things stood out to me. I see much more of the adults working on the cars than the kids. Maybe part of that is that all of the benchtop tools seem rather high up on workbenches. Would it be possible for you to put these on lower tables when you do workshops or maybe provide platforms or short step ladders for the kids? The other thing I noticed was many people not using safety glasses when working with the power tools. That is for your protection (liability wise) as well as theirs. I am not trying to pick on you. I just wanted to point out a couple of observations. I think it is great that you opened up your home, tools and expertise for this workshop. BTW - Nice Car Inspection Go/No-Go Gauge Valid point about the safety glasses. I had not noticed that until you pointed it out and went back and looked at the pics. They were provided, appears I didn't do a good enough job of enforcing. My father and I built those benches a week before the workshops, and yes they are extremely tall. They are good for me ( 6' tall), didn't dawn on me they wouldn't work well for our vertically challenged workshop attendants. I did have stools for the small guys and a couple of step stools. Every car built had the axle holes drilled by a scout, weight holes by a scout, scroll saws by adults, belt sander by adults, axle and wheel prep by both parent and scout, graphite by adult, and bondo by adult. Paint was done at home and tuning was done on the track by me and the scout the week before the race. Of course with 6 year olds, it's hard to keep their attention for 6 hours. I tried to get as much of their involvement as I could, just didn't have time to babysit as it was me and 12 to 15 scouts and parents per workshop. I did get allot of parents trained in the building process so hopefully next year, I can get some more help so it's not so overwelming. You are right, the pics are not totally representative of what went on, next time I'll get my photographer to get more pics of the kids. Scott Beakerboys
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Post by A1nogoslo on Feb 17, 2009 0:16:08 GMT -6
That's allot of fun there Beaker helping people out isn't it... Looks like you were set up pretty good and had fun doing it... 40+ people thats allot to manage all at once. Looks like the kids had fun as well. Even Moms chipped in... Thats great.
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Post by gpraceman on Feb 17, 2009 9:49:42 GMT -6
Valid point about the safety glasses. I had not noticed that until you pointed it out and went back and looked at the pics. They were provided, appears I didn't do a good enough job of enforcing. Being the safety enforcer is definitely the least fun part of putting on a workshop. My wife wants me to start having people sign liability waivers if they are to participate in one of the workshops that we host. I don't know that I want to get quite that paranoid about things, but I do try to stress about the safety glasses, loose clothing, long hair, and how to operate the tools. On the safety glasses, usually handing a pair of glasses to someone working without them gets the point across. I also find that it helps if I wear my glasses around, even if not working with any tools at the time. Any tools that I don't want people (especially the kids) messing with, I either put away or disable (remove the safety key), like my table saw. I noticed that you had your bandsaw unplugged an on the floor, so it wouldn't be used. Thumbs up on that. My father and I built those benches a week before the workshops, and yes they are extremely tall. They are good for me ( 6' tall), didn't dawn on me they wouldn't work well for our vertically challenged workshop attendants. I did have stools for the small guys and a couple of step stools. It might help with the drill press and the sander to move them to a shorter table. That may not work so well with the scroll saw, since you generally need to have them secured to the work table so they don't move around. Especially with the sander, the kids love to make sawdust! Every car built had the axle holes drilled by a scout, weight holes by a scout, scroll saws by adults, belt sander by adults, axle and wheel prep by both parent and scout, graphite by adult, and bondo by adult. That is why I started off my original post as I did. I had a feeling that the photos were not telling the full story of the boy's participation. Some of those tasks you listed, the adults can work the boys into, of course, depending on their attention span and maturity level (the kid's that is -- well, maybe the adults too lol). Paint was done at home and tuning was done on the track by me and the scout the week before the race. I think it is great that you give them an opportunity to tune their cars on a track. Of course with 6 year olds, it's hard to keep their attention for 6 hours. I tried to get as much of their involvement as I could, just didn't have time to babysit as it was me and 12 to 15 scouts and parents per workshop. I did get allot of parents trained in the building process so hopefully next year, I can get some more help so it's not so overwelming. It seems like there was just the one workshop. If possible, I do find it a bit easier to manage my workshops when I offer at least two dates. I'll get some people coming to both, but many only come to one, which makes things a bit more manageable (especially since we host two packs at the same workshops). Fortunately, my bride is a big help at the workshops. She works with the kids in the kitchen to help them select a design from a stack of templates (if they don't already have a design in mind) and transfer it onto the block. That frees me up more to be out in the workshop. Again, I applaud your efforts in opening up your home, your workshop as well as your building knowledge.
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Post by fatboy on Feb 17, 2009 10:18:00 GMT -6
WOW !
nice workshop there scott !!
very organized, looks like there was some real bonding with parents and kids. looks as though there were probably some new friends made as well.
good job !!
hard to believe some one would look at those pics of fun and start picking away at them !!
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Post by gpraceman on Feb 17, 2009 10:25:10 GMT -6
hard to believe some one would look at those pics of fun and start picking away at them !! It is hard to believe that some people would take my posts here for anything other than what they were intended as, which is constructive feedback.
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Post by fatboy on Feb 17, 2009 11:03:18 GMT -6
This comment was edited out as it provided nothing to the information exchange. -- Mr. Slick
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Post by ProQuest on Feb 17, 2009 11:33:23 GMT -6
Gentlemen,
Mr. Lisano's comments should not be taken as criticisms, they should be taken as they were intended: Merely as suggestions for conducting a safer more kid-friendly workshop. We can all stand to be reminded from time to time that precautions should always be taken when working with power tools, and that the kids should do as much of the work as possible when building for Cub Scout races. I do not believe that Mr. Lisano's observations were meant as criticisms, merely observations and suggestions offered with the best to intentions. Such are always welcome here at PWDR.
Steve H.
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Post by beakerboysracing on Feb 17, 2009 11:59:31 GMT -6
Randy, Acutually had 5 workshops from right before Christmas to the weekend before the race. I had each age group scheduled for a different Saturday. I then had test and tune the week before the race and had each age group come in on a different night. The problem I had was say when a tiger couldn't come on their day and showed up on another, making for a crowded situation.
I had a couple of goals in mind by putting these workshops on. Since workshops have never been made available for our pack in the capacity that I have done, I wanted to # 1 give each and every scout the same information and access to tools and knowledge so that the race would be exciting and fair. I didn't want to have any scouts show up to the race with a car that wouldn't finish the track as I have seen in the past. This I think I accomplished as we only had two cars that ended up like this and the rest of the cars were all very close. No one could tell who won after each division because the racing was so close. Kinda added to the excitment of the whole thing.
The 2nd thing I wanted to accomplish was what Don Murphy intended the Pinewood derby the be. A father son building project that would promote sportsmanship thru compitetion and a chance for those father son team to relationship build. I also wanted to get the parents involved so that next year when they come to the workshop, they will know what to do and I will be a little more hands off and take on more of a supervisory role. I am pleased with the results.
Though not perfect, I think my first attempt was a success. I do appreciate all the input and adaboys and will take and suggestions to help make the workshops better for next year.
David, Mood, Sappington, Fat Boy, and Randy, thanks for you comments.
Scott
Beakerboys
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Post by CougarDog on Feb 17, 2009 21:19:49 GMT -6
Hey Beak, I thought the workshops turned out GREAT! Our input was directly related to the competency of the individual. Everybody got something different. Which was exactly what they needed. On the lighter side...I only have one question. Why is it that you are "explaining the basics" or "giving advise" but I seem to be "telling pinewood derby secrets"? What are you trying to say? You can't see it but CougarDog is off camera telling pinewood derby secrets: Here I am explaining the basics to a tiger dad: Here I am giving advise to a dad: See you Sat. If not sooner. $
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Post by DerbyDoc.com on Feb 17, 2009 23:55:12 GMT -6
Hey Beaker. Those pictures are great. It shows that your pack did the PWD in the best way that Ive seen in a long time. Tons of fun for parents, and the scouts is what makes this thing grow. Awesome job!!!!!
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Post by jayjayrocketman on Feb 18, 2009 12:22:24 GMT -6
nice set-up. I try to put on little help sessions here also but usually much smaller sessions. STEEPSLOPE24 and I also take certain items with us to the church basement to help all kids out. makes it more fun for all. gives everyone a much more fair advantage. hats off to you. ps if i wear contacts do i still have to wear safety glasses. just kidding. great job.
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