I don't like the placement of his left hand, and he's leaning into it. I am sure you gave a safety lecture and told him to let the splitter do the work, resist the temptation to help it by grabbing the wood and pulling at it, etc. (Maybe I'm just over reacting) It is good that he helps out and is interested, right?
Great that he is interested. I let the neighbors son and daughter help by working the lever only. I place the buck on the splitter and everyone's hands and body are kept safe that way.
That's awesome, looks like he's having fun! While I have no problems letting my 7 (well, 8 as of last weekend) daughter shoot a handgun by herself and drive the garden tractor around the yard, I still am not sure about letting her run the splitter. I'm sure she'll keep her own fingers out of the way, but I'm more concerned about me getting my fingers in the wrong spot while she's controlling the lever!
My FIL has a crooked finger from a splitter accident. He and his 2 sons were working quickly assembly line like, one loads, one pulls the lever, and the last picks up splits. Someone was a split second slower than the pace, and another a split second too fast on the lever.
Right, she might drive that splitter over someone or into the side of a building or into a car or ....
That's exactly what I'm worried about! If by some slip-up I have my hand or finger in the wrong place at the wrong time, I'm worried she'll freak out and instead of releasing the lever she'll continue to push it and shear off my hand!
I like it when young folks are interested in helping and learning. The only thing I would be concerned with would depend upon what type of wood is being split. Soft maple is one that can split and the splits will shoot out to the side really fast and can hurt. But with most woods, that is not a problem. I'd have my young one at that age helping for sure.
Teach 'em to respect the danger of the equipment and they will be fine. Good stuff, I have pics holding both kids around age 3 and having them run the valve.
