A 10-year-old Canadian boy who put together a string of woodworking how-to videos on YouTube has become a minor celebrity in his small town in coastal Newfoundland where he’s garnering praise, and some free tools, from many corners of the woodworking world.

Matthew Agate, of Placentia, starred in his first home-made video in February, in which he used a coping saw and some 1/4 in. plywood—at the time, his only equipment—to make a small-scale version of a rocking horse based on a plan from the Wood Whisperer. When that site’s founder, Marc Spagnoulo, caught wind of the video, he posted it on the site and Agate’s web fame quickly grew as it made the rounds in woodworking forums.

Now, his teachers have shown Agate’s videos in class, he’s been written up in the local paper, and other woodworking websites have prominently featured his online tutorials. A social activism site, Koodooz, has named Agate one of its “100 Kids of Change”, is putting together a mini-profile of the boy and has plans to showcase him and his videos to youth groups over the summer, said Michael Agate, the boy’s father. 

The overnight success has also attracted the attention of a several tool companies who have sent along a tablesaw and other machinery and equipment for the youngster to outfit his shop. Agate’s videos, available at thenewfoundlandwoodworker.com, include a sharpening demonstration as well as several projects.

Agate’s father said his son wants to use his celebrity to increase interest in woodworking, but he’s also trying to do some good in his community by auctioning off a shop-made rocking horse as a benefit for Janeway, a local children’s hospital.

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