Slide of the Month Extra Extra - Philmont Gateway

November 2019

Time to make: 3 hours

Finishing: 1 hour

Original design:  Philmont / Bill Macfarlane

Days till PhilmontCountdown

The gateway is another great symbol of Philmont and one I can't wait to see. (Though I don't know if you will see my boots hanging from it.)

Carved from white oak, this is also a side with many levels. The Tooth of Time in the background and the near hills on the next level. Finishing up with the Gateway and close area on the top level. I've used craft paints for most of the slide with a green wash on the mountain.  The lettering was done with water slide paper and the slide was finished off using acrylic spray.

My only regret is not being able to create the hanging boots for the gateway. 

Slide of the Month Extra - Philmont Training Center

November 2019

Time to make: 3 hours

Finishing: 1 hour

Original design:  Philmont / Bill Macfarlane

Days till PhilmontCountdown





As Philmont backcountry is the "Scouting Paradise", the Training Center is the Shangrila of  Scouter (and Scout) training centers.  If you ever have the chance, take a course there!

Wow, what a mix of levels to this slide. Carved from pallet wood, the top (where the Scout symbol is) is slightly domed against the Zia. The yellow disk sits below the Zia and above the outside ring. The lettering was done with water slide paper and the slide was finished off using acrlic spray

As Philmont backcountry is the "Scouting Paradise", the Training Center is the Shangrila of  Scouter (and Scout) training centers.  If you ever have the chance, take a course there!

Wow, what a mix of levels to this slide. Carved from pallet wood, the top (where the Scout symbol is) is slightly domed against the Zia. The yellow disk sits below the Zia and above the outside ring. The lettering was done with water slide paper and the slide was finished off using hobby paints and acrlic spray

Slide of the Month - Seagull

November 2019

Time to make: 2 hours

Boys Life "Slide of the Month"

January 1981, page 50

Original design: Wayne Mason









I love seeing seagulls off the coast of New England but I can help thinking of this scene from Finding Nemo.  (mine, mine, mine...)

 The pier is made from a piece of ceder and the ends have been hit several times with a hammer to give it the look of being pounded into the ground. The rope is some hemp string tied in the back and held the ceder together when I was gluing them together. The body of the seagull is craved from maple and the leg is a paper clip. The seagull is painted with the hobby paint and it is finished up with a couple coats of poly.

Slide of the Month Extra - Stormbreaker

August 2019

Time to forge 1 hour

Sanding and filing 1 hour

Time to carve: 1 hour

Finishing: .5 hour

Design: Brainfoo

Modified as a slide: Bill Macfarlane







Made from mystic Uru metal on the neutron star Nidavellir, homeworld of the Dwarves, the Strombreaker was wielded by Thor in the battle against Thanos. (At least that is my understanding of Infinity War in the Marvel universe as I'm more of a DC comics guy.)

I had a great time making the Bowie Knife slide and decided I try my hand at making another miniature sharp implement of destruction. Enter Brainfoo's YouTube video for making the Strombreaker and in short order, I was off to the hardware store to buy a large bolt.  I heated the bolt with a propane torch and began to shape it with a hammer on a small steel anvil. Once I a got the basic shape, it was off to the sander to finish roughing out the shape. Next, I used a file to make the edge of the ax, the back of the hammer, and round the edges. The line down the center was made using an abrasive disk on a rotary tool. Fine sanding with fine sandpaper and then I used polishing disks to give the ax head a great shine.

The Strombreaker's handle was next and I carved it from scrap maple. Once I got it to the shape I wanted with a slot for the ax head, I left it in rough unsanded shape for a realistic look.  I stained the ax handle with some wood stain and when it was dry, it was time to attach the ax head. Using some hemp twine, the ax head was lashed to the handle and hide the top neckerchief slide loop attachement. The lower loop attachment was also hidden by the middle knot of twine and the final knot at the bottom of the ax.

To finish off the slide, I used a couple of coats of CA glue (super glue) to seal the wood and secure the knots.

Slide of the month - Wood Canteen

April 2019

Time to carve: 2 hours

Finishing:  1.5 hour

Boy's Life - August 1975

Design: Wayne Mason

I do apologize that I don't have great pictures of this slide so here is one with and without a flash.

Coming off making the wooden bucket slide, I knew I wanted to use Oak so the grain would make the canteen look weathered. Lots of v-cuts in this slide! The spout is made from an un-crimped pop rivet and some UV glue (to keep the chain in place). The chain is from a cheep jewelry necklace and it is anchored on the other side with a wire loop. Two additional loops are in place for the leather strap.  The wire bands (not shown) are beading wire. The wood is stained with dark walnut and the metal pieces are painted with a black paint pen. The only metal not painted black was the chain since it was an antique brass already. U.S was also painted on the canteen with the black paint pen. Poly seals the canteen. The shoulder strap is made from a scrap golf glove of really thin leather.

Slide of the Month - Rainbow Loom slide

February 2018

Time to make: 15 minutes

Original design: A. C.













This design was created by one of my Scouts (who's name I can't use because he is under 18). Back story, it was memorial day and we were gathering before the parade. A.C. came to the parade wearing a slide like this one. Being a slide guy, I was fascinated by the slide and had given him several compliments about it. He admitted to me he had built it about 10 minutes before having to leave for the parade. I asked how he made it and he told me about his sisters Rainbow Loom. A few years latter, after the fad had died down, I was able to find a few deals on a loom and supplies.

This literally took about 15 minutes to learn and I had a slide ready to go. Made from dark grey, dark green and white bands, I made the strip and then tied the ends together. Quick and easy! With so many colors out there, this could be a great Cub Scout project.

Slide of the Month extra Bowie knife

October 2018

Time to make: 3 hours

Original design: Bobby Duke Arts 


Modified version: Bill Macfarlane











I happened on to Bobby Duke Arts You Tube channel and how he made a small knife from a stainless steel bolt. Hmmm...I think I could do that.

First a word of warning, stainless steel has chromium, molybdenum or both in it and if you want to try this slide, do it outside were the fumes are dissipated. Please do not do the forging in a closed area.

Following the video, I used a 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch stainless steel bolt and ground off the head of the bolt.  Using a propane torch and vice grips to hole the bolt, I heated the bolt to a cherry red color.  Using a hand sledge and a small anvil I began to pound the the bolt flat. Once I got it to a 1/8 inch thickness I smoothed the surfaces to remove the hammer marks. Next I found a picture of the legionaries Bowie knife and printed it out. Using an xacto knife, I carefully cutout the knife for a pattern. After the pattern was glued to the bolt, I used a permanent marker to trace around the pattern and when the marker was dry, I removed the pattern. Instead of using an  angle grinder to cut the shape, I used a dremel tool with a cutting wheel. Lots of time sanding with the dremel and file work to get the shape and bevels right. I chose black walnut for the handle, epoxied the wood to the knife and drilled the holes for the brass pins - also glued in place. More sanding to shape the handle then finally to a polishing wheel to finish the knife. The sheath is made some scrap leather and I added a leg loop so I could add a lower loop for the neckerchief.

It came out really well and turns heads when others see it. To answer the question I often get, yes it is sharp ... really really sharp.