age to start a kid chip carving?

[iclark]

Lee Valley has an interesting chip carving kit for Christmas ornaments
here

I have an 8yo great nephew who is really good at assembling advance lego vehicles, but I have not spent any time with him in the shop.

Any thoughts on age-appropriate guidance for chip carving. The family members around him have all done some woodworking (largely turning) but none of them have experience at carving.

Alternatively, I also have a copy of the Swiss Army Knife book on whittling for when one of the great-nephews gets old enough and shows some interest.

I am 800mi away and have little personal experience at carving or whittling.

thanks for your thoughts.

[Timberwolf]

Lee Valley has an interesting chip carving kit for Christmas ornaments
here

I have an 8yo great nephew who is really good at assembling advance lego vehicles, but I have not spent any time with him in the shop.

Any thoughts on age-appropriate guidance for chip carving. The family members around him have all done some woodworking (largely turning) but none of them have experience at carving.

Alternatively, I also have a copy of the Swiss Army Knife book on whittling for when one of the great-nephews gets old enough and shows some interest.

I am 800mi away and have little personal experience at carving or whittling.

thanks for your thoughts.

................
I think I would check with his parents and get their "feel" for it, Ivan...because I have never met a woodcarver who hasn't gotten cut with one of their knives..His mom might panic at the thought of her son being hurt with an extremely sharp knife...I have used knives almost all my life and I remember one cut on my thumb taking ten stitches to close the wound.

[branchacctg]

If you do get the carving set, also get those gloves that prevent cuts (maybe it is in the set).

[msweig]

I think I'd be a bit leery. I haven't done chip carving, but some of those photos show holding the work while pulling the knife towards you. That takes both strength and coordination, and I don't think an 8 yo would be there yet.

Yes, you could get a small pair of the cut gloves, but I don't know how much of the feedback they would inhibit. I know when I use those gloves sometimes when doing small scale stuff in the kitchen I have a tendency to use them on my non-dominate hand only.

At least with whittling you are generally cutting away from yourself. Might be a better place to start to work on fine motor control.

[iclark]

thanks for the inputs. lots of good points raised.

His mom is a pediatric nurse practitioner who I have no desire to get mad at me.

I wouldn't give it to him without consulting his parents first, but I asked here first. I wanted y'all's input before bringing it up with them.

The chip carving discussion will wait. I will discuss pocket knives and whittling with the parents when I get a chance.