Wood Carving Merit Badge at Summer Camp

from Scouts-L mail list

Date: Mon, 27 Jun 1994 08:56:36 CST
From: Haluska Ed <edh@MAILS.IMED.COM>
Subject: Wood Carving @ Summer Camp

The purpose of this posting is to help Scouts (BSA Scouts in particular) get the most out of a Wood Carving merit badge at summer camp.

I am a wood carving merit badge counselor, and for the past few years I have been volunteering to help with the wood carving merit badge course at whatever camp my troop is attending. Here are some common problem areas I have observed:

  1. Scouts constantly cut themselves, often very badly. At least one Scout has required stiches each year.
  2. Little or no wood carving equipment is available. The Scout is expected to complete the requirements using a pocket knife.
  3. Related to the above, most pocket knives have extremely hard stainless steel blades. The hardness of these blades make them almost impossible to get them sharp enough to cleanly cut across the grain. Most projects look like they have been created by a gnawing rat. I have given up trying to sharpen stainless steel blades without using motorized sharpening wheels.
  4. Most of the kerchief slide projects available in the trading post are far to intricate for first time carvers.
  5. Most courses are not staffed by a woodcarver.

The net result is that the Scouts are often frustrated and disappointed in the carvings they produce. Here are a few things you can do to improve the situation:

  1. The wounds are almost always on the hand that is _not_ holding the knife. Have the Scout wear a safety glove on that hand. A thick leather work glove will do. Better still is one made out of Kelvar. If you can't find any locally, call Woodcraft at 1-800-225-1153 to place a credit card order. To determine glove size, measure around the fullest part of your hand (without your thumb).

    06I64 Extra Small, 3"-5"
    06I61 Small, 5"-7"
    06I62 Medium, 7"-9"
    06I63 Large, 9"-11"

    All sizes are $23.95. The medium is a good all-around compromise size.
  2. Have the Scout (or your troop) purchase a real fixed-blade wood carving knife and take it with you to Summer camp. The following are good beginners knives from Woodcraft:

    15U21 Wood Craft Carving Knife - $9.95
    05Z11 Swiss Made Carving Knife - $11.75
    18S22 Rick Butz Carving Knife - $12.50

    I have all three of these knives. They are listed in order of increasing hardness. The Wood Craft knife is best for beginners because its softness makes it the easiest to sharpen (but it still holds its edge very well in soft woods). I listed the others just in case Woodcraft is out. (Disclaimer: no personal association with Woodcraft, there are also several other good supply companies and several other good brands of knives).
  3. The "slip stick" described in the wood carving merit badge book is an excellent sharpening system, and is considerably less expensive than the alternatives. Almost all of the hard-core carvers in my local wood carving club use it. Making a slip-stick is a merit-badge requirement, but this requirement is frequently skipped at summer camp. The camps I have been to don't even have a demonstration slip stick available. So have the Scout either: 1) make one ahead of time, or 2) at least bring the materials needed with him to camp and make it there. You will also need a buffing compound to polish the knife on the leather. A stick of jeweler's rouge from a hardware store will do.
  4. Advise Scouts _against_ using the Eagle, Indian, Lumberjack, and the rest of the slide projects that have a lot of detail. If the Scout is going to use a slide project, I recommend the owl, the Scout Sign, or the comic crow.
  5. Suggest to the camp's program director that he get in touch with the nearest wood carving club. A high percentage of the members of these clubs are often retired folks who may be talked into volunteering (many of them are also ex-Scouters). This may not help for this year, but plant the seed of the idea.

Now, if anyone up at BSA National is paying attention (or if any of you have some connections...) here are a few other points:

  1. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF CROSS-BLOOD CONTAMINATION AT SUMMER CAMP WOOD CARVING COURSES. When a Scout cuts himself badly, he often slings blood all over the place, including the knives that are in use. If a second Scout then cuts himself with a contaminated knife.... I recommend that it be required that a mild bleach solution or other viricide be available to decontaminate knives and gouges after a bleeding incident.
  2. The wood-carving merit badge book should be up-dated to include the use of safety gloves, and possibly include an explicit warning on blood contamination.
  3. Develop a slip-stick kit that can be sold in the trading post and through the Scout catalog.

Scout On,
Edward A. Haluksa
61O5 Deer Run
Angleton, Texas 77515
edh@mails.imed.com

Woodcarving Merit Badge Solutions

Date: Sat, 1 Apr 1995 03:57:24 -0500
From: Ed Henderson <BigEdBSA@AOL.COM>
Subject: Handicraft Solutions

Anyone who has taught Woodcarving Merit Badge to scouts either at Summer Camp or at the troop level must have felt the same frustration I have about those darn "Official BSA Neickerchief Wood Carving Sets."

Those things are made out of difficult to carve Pine Wood, are way over priced, and they have a limited selection of topics. To address this problem one wonderful Camp Program Director in Colorado, Paul McClain, decided to do something about it. He has made over 40 BASSWOOD slides with complete instructions and the back bar already attached. The topics include Order of the Arrow, Scout Sign, all of the Woodbadge Patrols, and a host of other popular topics. The best part is the price which is only $1.75 each! (Compare that with Supply Division's price!). Since Paul is a scouter he understands the requirements and has been one of my favorite suppliers last year.

In 1993 we had 43 people complete Woodcarving Merit Badge, in 1994 with the addition of Basswood, X-Acto Woodcarving Sets and a revamped "Department of Fine Arts & Technology" that number climbed to more than 530 scouts!

Paul has also recently started to tackle other Handicraft problem areas like the lack of any craft item for Metalworks Merit Badge. He now has a line of products which cheaply yet completely meet the requirements for this badge.

Campmasters's Note:

I checked with Paul, and he is still making woodcarving and slidemaking materials available. In addition, he has leathercraft, plastic lace metal work, basketry and Indian lore materials and kit available. Give  a look at:
        http://www.paulsslides.com/

Steve, very nice of you to check. Yes, I am still out there with lots of new handicraft kits, not just for woodcarving. The new woodcarving MB has some good pointers. Sadly they no longer require the slip stick (too bad since it actually does work, as you know). All of my slides are listed in three levels from green - beginner to red - advanced carver. I primarily provided slides to summer camps around the US, but now and then I get a call from a troop looking for basswood slides for the off season. I am in the process of making a fork and a spoon blank so that Scouts who want something different from a slide (and those where it is just too hot in the summer to wear a scarf) will fund a fun woodcarving project. Thanks for including my items in your source list. I would be happy to have more Scouts try carving. 

     Paul

Last edited: February 22, 2004
The NetWoods Virtual Campsite, Steve Tobin, Campmaster