HearthSong Cool Tool Multi-Function 4-in-1 Woodworking Wood Shop Tool Kit for Kids

This is my favorite order so far, the machine is easy to handle and my daughter loved it. Quality family time assured.

I was surprised at the quality of this. This specific set was manufactured in Austria and the stereotype of German/Austrian engineering holds up. My 8 year old had a lot of fun using the lathe and it seems safe enough for kids around age 7+ to use unattended after a few instructional sessions and a safety primer from parents. The jigsaw blade is definitely sharp enough to cut through softer woods. It's not impossible to cut yourself with the blade, but it's such a fine tooth blade that the occasional finger slip won't result in a trip to the Emergency Room. If you force your finger against the blade it WILL cut, but you would have to be intentionally negligent. The company included a catalog with the product that showcases some much higher quality (and not young child-safe) multi function tool setups so I recommend checking out this manufacturers entire lineup if you are looking for something for a kid a little older, around 12 or 13. Overall I thought I got my money's worth. Time will tell, though. I suspect there are cheap knockoffs of this product out there for cheaper but for just over $100 USD this was worth the price.

it is very light-weight so moves around a lot when in use. needs a clamp / vise to hold it still.

This is the second machine we have purchased. The first lasted 6 years of projects before we burned out the motor. When they say this is safe, they are correct. We purchased the first one when our first child was 5, so he could create his own projects. It comes with everything you need to get started initially, but we purchased extra 1/4” basswood for additional projects. My son’s favorite thing to do was draw pictures on the wood and use the saw to cut them out. (I also tested the sharpness of the blade while moving...they are not kidding when they say it will not break your skin. The blade did nothing to my skin, yet still cut the wood...the sanding disk left a mark on my kids finger, but did not break skin either.) Now, we have 4 boys that use it, ages 5-12. The 10+ group are more into the large effect, but the youngest loves the saw. You are going to want a place to either clamp it to a table, or screw it into the table. The red portions in the picture are all plastic, so it is definitely for kids, but with the clamps, they can create some really cool things!

We bought the 4-in-1 Workshop for our strong willed 10 year old son to see if he would enjoy this type of woodworking before purchasing more expensive equipment. He’s quite independent and prefers projects that he can learn to do on his own. He tried whittling, but found it frustrating and difficult. However, this tool is a game changer! Three days later and he’s shaping the rods, drilling holes, drawing patterns in the wooden sheets and cutting them out with the saw. He used the sander, but prefers to use a handheld sanding sheet/block on the rods to smooth them while they’re spinning after he’s shaped them. (We did discuss safety concerns about this if it were a more powerful lathe.) As a mom, the thing I like most about this item is that he can learn to do these projects independently without me worrying about him losing fingers. It’s a hands-on, life skill he can continue and advance. He loves it and said it was the best gift he’s ever received! He is proud of what he’s accomplishing and is already coming up with a business plan. He shaped some rods for his friends and is in the process of shaping more for his teachers. This is exactly what we needed! I highly recommend it. *The saw was tricky at first. It has to align perfectly with the bobbing/spinning mechanism that moves it and has to be flush with the adjoining piece to work properly. *Use slower motions with the saw or the blade will bend/break. It is a made for the sheets to move in a singular direction. *When using the lathe, you can hear the motor strain if pressing too hard. So, pointing out the sounds of the machine is helpful for longevity. *The drill doesn’t go very deep, but it teaches the basic concept. *We will purchase a small, cheap table to mount the base and a flexible lamp for better lighting. *The wooden sheets break easily near the end of the cuts when using the saw. Slower movements and applying less pressure helps.

Man, was I nervous to do this test, but anything for my little boy! I purposefully tried to cut my thumb on the saw to ensure it was safe for my 3 year old. It was cutting the wood moments before, but my thumb didn't get cut when placed on the blade. We've only used the saw attachment so far and it works well, although purposefully not a powerful saw, its perfect for kids learning to use "real" tools. All the directions are visual only, which can make trouble shooting a bit challenging, and you have to completely disassemble and reassemble to use it as a different function. We have set up the lathe and saw so far. Overall, great SAFE product for kids. My son is OVER THE MOON excited to have a "real saw"!