[Woodcarver] Request for help

[jancarves3 at rogers.com]

In MHO  a six year old is too young 
they’re attention span is too short and secondly but most important 6 year old should NOT use a knife  
I have been teaching wood carving for 25 years (adults AND kids)and most kids under ten do not well with knives 

From: Dennis F Bell 
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2016 9:47 AM
To: [Woodcarver] 
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Request for help

I wouldn’t give a 6 year old a knife.  We have classes for anyone over 10 years old and find that some of them are not capable of using it properly.  Better to stick with the soap and sweet potatoes! 

Dennis F Bell
www.cedarstump.us






On Mar 1, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Rick Johnson, n1wgk <n1wgk at comcast.net> wrote:

All,

I have reached out to you in the past for a couple young ladies and you guys really came through for me. (incidentally, they are both STILL carving off and on, so thank you!!!) This time, I am trying to help out a 6 year old boy that wants to be a "whittler". I would like to get him a couple tools that he can learn woodcarving with. His name is Braydon. He lives in California but I live in Connecticut, so I only have contact with him through his Mom.

So far, I have given him a hand whittled name tag and a couple of soap carving "knives" I made from a dowel. I have an extra knife I could give him, but I am afraid that the blade may be a bit too long for his first knife (it's about 1.25"). I am reaching out to you folks for help getting him set up with a basic "kit".

He is 6, but his mom would be helping him (and learning at the same time).

I am looking for (at least) the following:

  Information on a woodcarving club and/or mentor in the El Sobrante, CA 94803 area (I have no idea where in CA that is)
  A safety glove that might fit a small hand, maybe a woman sized safety glove?
  A strop for sharpening his knife (I can provide this if needed)
  A knife, preferably with a shorter blade than what I currently have, but I can provide if needed
  Any other ideas? Maybe a book on carving for kids?


Once again, thank you all so much! I am trying to help encourage a young person to help keep our hobby alive for generations to come. Thank you!

Rick "Papa Elf" Johnson


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