Slide of the Month Extra - Philmont Siliver Dollar

January 2020

Time to make: 3 hours

Finishing: 1 hour

Original design:  Philmont / Bill Macfarlane

Days till PhilmontCountdown

Loosely based on the Silver Dollar ("P" or "Dollar" if you prefer) patch, this patch and the segments ringing the patch (NOT SHOWN HERE) were the crowning gems of Scouts attending Philmont from 1942 to 1956. There was an interesting article in the Nov/Dec 2010 issue of Scouter magazine, page 14) about this patch.

Carved from southern yellow pine, this slide is carved in layers with the P being the top level and followed by the Tooth of Time and the other layers. I painted it with hobby paints and lettered the outside ring using water slide paper. A couple coats of poly finish it off.

Side of the Month - Baden Powell hat

January 2019

Time to carve: 1 hour

Finishing: .5 hour

Boy's Life -July 1992, page 71

Design: James C. Hansen Sr.







I've always been fascinated with the Scouting Campaign hat but alas, I've never owned one. It seemed to me, as a Scout, that most of the old Scouters had both one of these and a red wool jacket. These guys seemed to know every Scout skill and had some of the best Scouting stories around the campfire. Come to think about, a lot of folks in authority wear a similar style hat (i.e. Conservation Officers, State Policemen, drill Sargent's just to name a few)

Carved from Basswood, I love to say this is perfectly round but it's not. The brim has a taper and the indentations in the hat were carved in a v pattern cut.  The hat cord is some nylon string and the ends are made from a dowel with a very small hole drilled through them. The cord is held in place using superglue.  It's painted with craft paints and finished with a couple of coats of poly.

Slide of the Month Extra - Philmont Bull and Zia

September 2019

Time to make: 3 hours

Finishing: 1 hour

Original design:  Philmont / Bill Macfarlane

Days till PhilmontCountdown

Yes, it is a logo I saw on a bottle opener on the Tooth of Time Traders site but I thought it was so cool that I had to make it as a slide.


Made from white oak, this slide was the combination of some Philmont slides I've already done. It's painted with hobby paints and finished off with a couple of poly.

Slide of the Month - Holiday Wreath

December 2019

Time to make: 2 hours

Boys Life "Slide of the Month"

Nov. 1990, page 59

Original design: Terry Gilbert













Well, its time of the year again (and maybe I'll post it in time) for a holiday-themed slide.

A bit prep work with this slide by drilling a hole in the center and cutting the outside diameter of this piece of maple with copping saw. The next step was to lower the level of the wreath to allow for carving the bow. After completing the bow, it was time to chip cut the wreath. Although the hobby paints don't show it, there is a texture to the slide to make it look like a wreath. A couple of coats of poly finish it off. Happy Holidays all!

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.