8 or 9? Why wait til they're half grown? A well mannered, well behaved youngster is certainly capable of handling appropriately sized firearms and power tools. And firecrackers.
I still haven't gotten over the do-gooders banning firecrackers and bottle rockets. They only sting for a little while if they go off in your hand. The secret is NEVER wrap your fingers around one, always throw with an open palm. And of course, be careful, they'll put your eye out as fast as a poke with a sharp pencil.
I guess the world has changed. Now they start kids off on T-ball instead of throwing them the hard stuff and letting them learn to hit it. Okay, so they get hit by the pitch a few times, it doesn't hurt that much.
John