Cub Scout Whittling

[Guest]

I need to introduce some kids to whittling wood with a pocket knife. They're a little past soap carving and I've been told cedar and Basswood are both soft to carve. What type of wood would you recommend for beginning kids using pocket knives and what type of piece/pattern would you recommend for them to carve?

[Guest]

Re: Cub Scout Whittling

Hi DeAnna,

You might want to look at these pages.

http://www.oldjoe.org/BeginnerProjects.html

http://www.woodcarvers.org/project.htm

Hope these help.

Good whittlin, Cliff
Charles City, Iowa
http://cliffordparker.tripod.com

[woodenleg]

Re: Cub Scout Whittling

I think animals are also good since they can be done stylistically and you still have a nice piece.

Recently in our carving club, we had a beginner project that was a little pig. Very cute, no tough lines, and nice piece when we finished. I don't have a picture, but they are pretty easy to draw.

[FatEddy]

Re: Cub Scout Whittling

Having carved both cedar and basswood, I would recommend basswood for beginning carvers. It has a more consistant grain than does cedar which makes it not only easier to carve, but safer.

As for what to carve, might I suggest 'A Beginner's Book of Carving Neckerchief Slides, Pins & Magnets' by Robert Reitmeyer published by 'Fox Chapel.' Actually, you can buy it right on this board, just slide over to BUY BOOKS when your done with this.

[AlArchie]

Re: Cub Scout Whittling

Here's an easy one! www.carvingpatterns.com/images/fishdecoy-lg.jpg


Give me a couple minutes an I'll get ya a couple more.
Al

[AlArchie]

Re: Cub Scout Whittling

Or try this one http://members.tripod.com/~cubclub/slidemon.html

Hope this one works, it's good

Al

[makenchips]

Re: Cub Scout Whittling

I would also recommend Bob Reitmeyers book. I know the man personnally and he is a very skilled carver and teacher. I think he also sell kits to Boyscout troops. Let me know if you want more information and I'll see what I can do.

[AlArchie]

Re: Cub Scout Whittling

You'll find reitmeyer's stuff at http://www.getasite.com/whittler.htm

and Makenchips is right, he's got a lot of good Scout Stuff and sells slide kits and supplies.

Al

[dotty]

Re: Cub Scout Whittling

I am looking for something for my scouts as we begin our Whittlin Chip requirements. Any suggestions?

[Clifford_Parker]

Re: Cub Scout Whittling

Dotty,
I had mine do a simple snowman ornament. Get some 1X1X10 basswood sticks and have them carve the ends into snowmen, christmas trees, etc..

Cut off the whittled end, paint, and add a small eye screw for hanging.

[Claude]

Re: Cub Scout Whittling

Since today's children are products of the visual arts (boob-tube junkies), I'd suggest one of Gene Messer's YouTube carvings. He shows the pattern and process as well.

Claude

[Joseph Slive]

Re: Cub Scout Whittling

Hope I am not being repetitious but Bob Reitmeyer's correct website is Welcome to Whittler Bob's Website: For Beginning Woodcarvers and Boy Scout Woodcarvers

Hope this helps.

[LMiller]

Re: Cub Scout Whittling

My nephew cut his finger (3 stitches worth) at a scout camp while earning his wood carving merit badge and was a little nervous about taking out a knife again. His Mom told him about my carving and he expressed enough interest to come over to Uncle's for carving time.

We carved Bolo ties for him to wear at Jamboree. I had a blast. He was quite proud of his accomplishment. And, I am happy to report, while he is still ultra careful for his age, he is thumbing catalogs looking for a carving glove and knife of his own!

Bolo ties aren't as quick and simple as some of the other beginners' projects, but they do allow scouts to finish something they can use.

[ferrari]

Re: Cub Scout Whittling

try this
http://laserkerf.com/sky_hook.pdf

[peter]

Re: Cub Scout Whittling

i was asked to do something with cub scouts. they wanted to carve soap. we ended up carving sweet potatoes. we carved wood spirit type faces. we used xacto knives, which i brought, and i had a few small gouges and v tools available so parents could help put on some details. things went well and at the end of the evening, you could tell that they were supposed to be faces, mostly. and now, 5 months later, they have dried and shriveled down to half the size they were and they look really nice. tom wolfe has a book on yam carving.