Summer Dad/Kid project ideas

I was in college and 19 or 20 years old, but for my birthday that year dad got me about 12' of scrap 1/4" wall 18" ID pipe, some bar grating, and expanded metal. A buddy gave me a 3500# trailer axle with springs. Over spring break that year, dad and I built an offset fire box, L shaped grill/smoker trailer. Grandma got me permanent trailer tags for it. :grinpimp:

That was a fun father-son project.
 
My very first thought was go carts (s) as in (x3)
you, the kid, and the other kid
end of the summer you have a showdown


also
get some dang property so your kids can be kids
 
I was going to say ESTES model rockets but it sounds like they are beyond that. However, there are amateur rocket clubs that take that to the next level - think sounding rocket altitudes whereby the club has to phone up the FAA and NASA for launch window clearances.

Also a +1 for HAM but that is more like an after dinner/rainy day activity because it's (generally) indoors. Studying for the exam itself is a lot of fun if approached as to the Physics of how the electromagnetic spectrum works and how we've harnessed a bit of it.

Small engine repair was mentioned on bikes/quads, but everyone needs a lawnmower tuned, log-splitter recarbed, weedwacker flushed.

Not sure of location but "pet-sitting" is a thing here. When families go away for summer vacays, they can take the dog, but the fish tank, guinea pigs, chickens, cats, goats, sheep, what-evs, all need looking after. I know this is not a dad/kid project but it will fill time and earn some funds.

Kites/sail-carts?

Also a +1 for forging steel. Start making various goofy blends and learn how to make blanks for knife making. This is a huge youtube/internet rabbit hole. Learn how to sharpen a knife on a whetstone.

ETA: you said you had a decent machine shop. Does that include a Bridgeport mill (or similar)? Learning basics on a knee-mill (or any kind) is invaluable. Being able to make something from nothing is a very fast dying art. Learning mechanical drafting/CAD oldschool and combining with tolerances and ability to machine to them is almost a superpower now.

ETA#2: Instead of only you feeding them ideas - engage them and ask what they want to accomplish or attempt to learn about (I am sure you are already doing this so no shade). Scratch, saw you already are engaging them on what they want to do.

ETA#3: Bushcraft/woodsmanship/survival prep. Making and assembling an Altoids sized survival kit is another deep rabbit hole. Train on the ability to use it and then go use it in the backyard - make a shelter, a fire. Get lost (not really lost) and ask them how to navigate out; USGS orienteering and geo-caching, can also be added as extensions.
 
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Anything involving welding.... Got my 15y/o grand kid started two years ago. He is now in to doing some really cool projects . Wants to be a mechanical engineer.
 
Lots of cool ideas guys, thanks a ton!

Junior is already scheming on a trebuchet...
 
billdacat said:
Anything involving welding.... Got my 15y/o grand kid started two years ago. He is now in to doing some really cool projects . Wants to be a mechanical engineer.
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that is impossible
I thought that engineers dont touch the tools, they only calculate how they think it is done
 
billdacat said:
Anything involving welding.... Got my 15y/o grand kid started two years ago. He is now in to doing some really cool projects . Wants to be a mechanical engineer.
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Mech engineer here. Never touched a welder at work, they won't let me. Literally thought the same thing. If he's hands on there is Mechanical Engineering Technology degrees at colleges that will have more hands on learning than book stuff.

It's a good avenue to testing engineer jobs and more hands on stuff. I'm an MET and the path hasn't put me hands on. Job searches for the real world would be test engineering, industrial engineer, Product Development engineer etc.

ME job searches are usually for design / CAD work. Which he should learn anyway. A thorn in my side is that I've been slogging through learning CAD on my own for years. They were just rolling it out when I was in school and I never locked into it. Should have.

Holler if you have any more questions
 
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