[Woodcarver] Request for help

[Dennis F Bell]

Sometimes when a family comes to our carving class they have younger siblings with them.  We offer clay for them to play with or carve with wooden tools and it keeps them happy and busy for the duration of the 2 hour session.  There is always a supply of patterns and pictures for them to choose a project from in with the clay.

Dennis F Bell
www.cedarstump.us





On Mar 1, 2016, at 10:32 AM, Rick Johnson, n1wgk <n1wgk at comcast.net> wrote:

Thank you all for your suggestions. I have never done any carving with kids that young, so I wasn't sure what the protocols were. I did, however, have a pocket knife of my own at around that age, but that was quite a number of years ago now...so I wasn't sure.

Anyway, I passed on all of your suggestions, including those given directly to me, and the mom understands. I think they will continue with soap for now and maybe try potatoes. I also suggested working with clay (like Sculpy), we shall see what they come up with for ideas.

I followed up with a message to mom that if he's still interested at 10 or so, to reach out again and we can see what we can do for them.

Rick "Papa Elf" Johnson


On 3/1/2016 11:25 AM, jancarves3 at rogers.com <mailto:jancarves3 at rogers.com> wrote:
> I  do NOT take any kids under 10
> Had a lot of home schooled kids over the years  10 and over as MOST kids do not have the strength to carve with a knife
>  
> From: Rick Johnson, n1wgk <mailto:n1wgk at comcast.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2016 10:31 AM
> To: woodcarver at carverscompanion.com <mailto:woodcarver at carverscompanion.com>
> Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Request for help
>  
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> On 3/1/2016 10:12 AM, Coach Doug Evans wrote:
>> Knowing Jan, do you have some handcrafted substitute tools for the little guys ??
>> 
>> Doug E
>> 
>> On Mar 1, 2016 10:10 AM, < <mailto:jancarves3 at rogers.com>jancarves3 at rogers.com <mailto:jancarves3 at rogers.com>> wrote:
>> 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 <mailto:denny at cedarstump.us>
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2016 9:47 AM
>> To: [Woodcarver] <mailto:woodcarver at carverscompanion.com>
>> 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
>>  <http://www.cedarstump.us/>www.cedarstump.us <http://www.cedarstump.us/>
>>  
>>  
>> 
>> 
>>  
>> On Mar 1, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Rick Johnson, n1wgk < <mailto:n1wgk at comcast.net>n1wgk at comcast.net <mailto: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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