Wood Working Project Sitemap

Preface - The manuscript for Scrap Wood Fun for Kids is based on ten years' experience of the author as a camp counselor, of which the past five seasons have been devoted exclusively to developing a wood shop program for a day camp serving boys and girls five to twelve years of age. This material has been carefully designed to meet the needs of recreational groups seeking simple wood projects to be built from inexpensive materials that use ordinary household tools and require a minimum of working time.

Acknowledgments - Grateful acknowledgment is made to the Evanston, Illinois, YMCA and Camp Echo, where the roots of the author's campcraft experience are firmly planted, and to Mr. Douglas Monahan and Mr. Neil Featherstone for their support and encouragement in the preparation of this manuscript.

01. Fun with Wood - The material in this book is intended to give children the rewarding experience of successfully constructing articles of wood that are consistent with their abilities and interests. The purpose is really twofold: introducing the child to the pleasure and satisfaction which he may achieve by building a useful article himself, and, at the same time, developing the child's confidence in his own ability so that he will be encouraged to apply his skill to more advanced and original woodcraft projects.

02. Selecting Project - It would be difficult to estimate which is more vital to the success of a shop program—an appealing project, or stimulating leadership. Here we shall deal with some of the more important factors which should be considered in selecting or developing a wood shop project for children. How these factors rank in importance will be determined by the size and character of the group to be served.

03. Materials + Equipment - Basic Materials. The basic materials of construction for the projects in this book include ½-inch white pine, ¾-inch white pine, and ¼- or 1/8-inch plywood. In some cases crate wood may be substituted for the ¼-inch plywood, but its use is limited to parts of projects which are not likely to be subjected to great stress. Occasional uses will be found for heavier grades of plywood 3/8, ½, or ¾ inch in thickness.

04. Useful Techniques - The leader in a wood working project needs to be able to explain to children the various techniques that will be called for in making these simple projects—such matters as how to enlarge or reduce a pattern, how to trace it properly, how to handle a coping saw or a jigsaw, how to shape and sand the article, how to put its parts together, and what to use in painting and finishing the project.

05. Finishing Touches - There are numerous techniques and materials which may be employed to add character and individuality to these scrap wood projects. The possibilities are limited only by the interest and ability of the group and the working time available. We shall consider several of these methods which can be readily adapted to individual or group shop programs.

06. Simple Cut-Out - The pattern selected for the letter opener should be traced on a piece of 1/8-inch plywood or masonite. If heavier stock is used, it will be necessary to bevel the tip and edges of the blade.

After the letter opener is cut out, it should be sanded thoroughly and the markings applied with a dark crayon or paint. Then the opener may be given a coat of shellac or clear varnish.

07. Simple Nailing - The younger girls seem to have a great deal of fun assembling doll house furniture from pre-cut blocks.

Several l½-inch blocks of l¼-inch stock and some assorted pieces of masonite are all that is required to outfit a doll house with chairs, tables, beds, sofas, and other articles of furniture which the children can design.

08. Intermediate - This flexible spine alligator is made by fastening small blocks of wood to a strip of leather.

The two halves of the head are cut from ½-inch white pine or other soft wood. The markings are outlined with dark crayon, ink, or paint.

The body and tail of the alligator consist of a strip of thin leather to which blocks of screen molding have been glued. Cut two pieces of ¾-inch screen molding to correspond to the length of each of the numbered bands along the pattern for the tail strip.

09. Novelty Projects - The two end pieces and the bottom of the sewing case are cut from ½ -inch pine. The smaller rectangular piece outlined on the opposite page is the pattern for the bottom of the sewing case. The end pieces are cut from the pattern in the center of the page.

THE END