Kids and Carving

[Tom-H]

I've been teaching some kids some simple lessons in whittling/carving. I got them good kid carving gloves, thumb guards and good smaller knives. After lots of safety and demonstrations I started them off by cutting the notches in a Basswood 1/4 inch stick, to make a "Whammie Doodle". At first I made the Stop Cuts, and they cut down to the stop cuts.

One of the first things that I learned was that kids, no matter how old/big, Do not have the hand and wrist strength that the rest of us experienced whittlers and carvers have. They are only good for about 10 to 15 minutes, then need rest - maybe over night.

Tom H

[ajcoholic]

A family friend's son is at the age where he is interested and old enough in my opinion to start some simple carving and whittling.

What type of projects would you recommend? I'd like to see if I could work with him, and maybe get a few more of the neighbourhood kids I know interested.

AJC

[carvingbarn]

I is great that you give your time and talent to the kids. I have worked with the Cub Scouts a few times. Mostly soap carving. I made carving knives for the soap out of ice-cream sticks. It is fun working with kids when they want to learn.

[Tom-H]

AJC, I start them with some soap carving if they're real young. The first wood project is a WHAMMY DOODLE. A 12 inch 1/4 x 1/4 inch stick with stop cuts at 3/8th inch. They are to use a push cut up to each stop cut and remove the chip. I have the propeller cut, drilled, with a pin in it ready to insert into the 1/4 inch stick. The second project is the 5 minute owl.

[Nomad]

Great photos Tom! I had a lot of fun as a kid with one of those propeller sticks. It's great to see kids carving. Fine work you are doing.

[Midnight Carver]

I've been keeping up with your blog about teaching the kids. It's very cool for you to take the time to teach them. Looks like they do some nice work

Eric

[BeaverDon]

I work with Boy Scouts doing Woodcarving Merit Badge. I find the safest thing to do is give them a set of sharp palm gouges and a bench hook and let them start on a low relief project. This combination of tools help keep their hands safe. I also insist they only work at a table when I'm there. Even though I'm carving, I can keep an eye on them and remind them of safety when they start to forget. Later they work on a very simple round carving, like a spoon or wooden knife (letter opener). I insist they use a glove and proper technique (push cuts and paring cuts).

[Tom-H]

Don, You are absolutely right. I am "teaching/coaching" two at a time, one on each side of me. So far I haven't felt like I can be carving while watching the kids. I will at a later date. Since these photos I have purchased leather childrens gloves. They use the left handed one on their left hand, and I have cut the fingers out of the other glove for thumb guards.....I plan on low relief with a bench hook as soon as I can purchase some V tools that they can add to their tool kits..

Tom H

[uvawyo]

Good show, Tom. Working with kids is fun, Kinda scarey, but fun and rewarding

[schwert]

Kids really like to make stuff that is quick and easy but fun too. The propeller toy is super. I found they also really like these Spikketrollets.




Here is my post on demonstrating this at the local elementary school.

Spikketrollets for School Demo