Slide of the Month Extra Extra- Philmont Arrowhead

September 2019

Time to make: 3 hours

Finishing: 1 hour

Original design:  Philmont / Bill Macfarlane

Days till PhilmontCountdown

One of the most recognizable symbols of Philmont is the Arrowhead with the Tooth of Time on it.  First issued in 1957, the Arrowhead patch is awarded to each participant who compleats a 7 or 12-day trek and service project. I look forward to earning this award.

Carved from white oak using reclaimed scrap wood from a broken pallet, this wood is an interesting carvable hardwood. It's softer than maple, my favorite, yet hard enough to hold fine details.   The Tooth of Time is raised off the arrowhead and the slide is painted with craft paints. The lettering is done with an inkjet printer, water slide decal paper, and clear acrylic spray finish. Once the lettering was in place, the slide is finished off with the same acrylic spray finish and a wooden neckerchief loop

Slide of the Month extra - Philmont

September 2019

Time to make: 3 hours

Finishing: 1 hour

Original design:  Philmont / Bill Macfarlane

Days till PhilmontCountdown

Yes, I'm headed to Philmont as a part of a Council Continent and I thought I would come up with a series of Philmont inspired neckerchief slides. Depending on how of these I decided to make, I may be posting more "extra" slides during the days leading up to leaving for Philmont.

So one of the most recognizable images of Philmont is the Philmont name itself and the special font used. What better place to start this series! While I'm not a fan of carving letters, this Philmont font just screamed out to use maple for this slide. Working slowly and carefully, I was able to come up with my best attempt of replicating the font. The slide is painted with hobby paints and finished with a couple of coats of poly.

Slide of the Month - Cartoon Fish

September 2019

Time to make: 2 hours

Boys Life "Slide of the Month"

Oct. 1994, page 65

Original design:  Jeff Springer






Of course, when I think of cartoon fish I can't help but think of the yellow submarine in the sea of green. 



An odd design for a slide I think but also an odd bit of satisfaction to carve. I really like how the tail and top fin came out. Made of maple, painted with hobby paints, and sealed with 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.

#HonorOurPast

Why Google why?

WW II History week by week

While I don't normally get involved in different movements, I find the recent censorship by Google and YouTube of historical channels repulsive. Please share by using the hashtag #HonorOurPast

Slide of the Month - Puzzler's Cube

August 2019

Time to carve: 1 hour

Finishing: .5 hour

Boy's Life -October 1981, page 51

Design: Tell and Don Gubler






When I first became an Assistant Scoutmaster in Central Bridge NY, the Rubiks cube was all the rage.  I always marveled on how many Scouts could solve the puzzle in a couple of minutes when it took me hours to do. Fun fact, you can frustrate one of these whiz kids by exchanging a couple colors labels before handing them a mixed up cube to solve.

Made from a square piece of maple with a 3/4 in hole drilled through the middle. The lines are v-cuts which have been sanded smooth. The sides and lines are painted using paint pens.

Slide of the Month Extra - School Spirit

June/July 2019

Time to make: None (This is a no brainer)

Original Design: Bill Macfarlane(ish)

So a funny thing happened when I went to post this month's extra slide, I realized last month's never got published so this is a two for one month and it involves school spirit in the form of mascots.

My son recently graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology which is an excellent University; majors like Engineering, Computer Science, Digital Media and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf to name a few. (Hey who knew Packaging Science was a degree one could earn.) They also have a D1 hockey team with amazing fans (Yes, I'm looking at you Corner Crew). You see their mascot's image RITchie all over campus. But pay no mind to the "new" (smiling) mascot (whose unofficial's nickname is Tony duh tiger)  as no one likes him and we are convinced the stole the dots out of RIT.

My daughter goes to Champlain College which, while smaller, gives my daughter the chance to excel and follow her own path. Currently, a double major (and maybe a minor too?) with a specialization to boot. That's a lot of work but I'm so proud of her for making it her own. From International Business to Game Design there is a lot going on there. Also of note, the college's sports teams remain undefeated at home (inside joke).  The college's mascot is Chauncey T. Beaver. (Hey Woodbadge beavers, you can get him here.)

Ok, these slides couldn't have been easier to make. Both of these were key chains and I simply removed the key chain part. Each has a velcro sweater on that has some give to it so the neckerchief passes between the sweater and the mascot. Easy peasy