This was one of my favorite merit badges as a scout. Back in the day at Lakeview Middle School in Sanford, they had “Shop” classes for Woodworking and Mechanics. We did 1/2 year in each. I did the Woodworking MB during that class, we had to use manual tools and electric tools during the class. Band saws, planers, clamps, drill press, squares, measuring tapes, etc.
I built a wall mount letter holder for in-bound/out-bound mail that my sister used for decades, she still may use it. I remember working on a butcher-block cutting board but don’t remember who ended up with it.
This helped me for my Eagle Project which was to build the signage for Central Florida Council’s newest property in Lake Helen in 1976. We made directional signs, no swimming, restrooms, not potable (water), parking, etc. The big part was the entrance sign made with the aluminum signs you see on the interstate. We used reflective tape with the orange informational color base, mounted on two telephone style poles.
Back then, boys did shop classes while girls did home economics. I took summer school shop class (not because of bad grades) because of what we were doing. We all worked to find side shaft lawnmower/edger engines that people were discarding. We all pitched in and bought 6-8 mini-bike frames and wheels, plus the clutch and drive chain. We picked the best engines and dismantled completely and rebuilt them with new gaskets and any new parts that may have been needed. Rebuilt the carburetors too. We would pull parts from some of the other spare engines to have no cost parts to get one built out. We then installed on the mini-bikes, added the clutch and chain, hooked the throttle cable up to the speed control lever on the engine. We tested them and then ran timing races through the school parking lot. Then learned about tuning, etc to get the most out of the engines.
This type of experience has helped me over the next 40 years to handle most small engine repairs where I could. Changed the carburetor out on our generator and pressure washer that had the gas lines left open while they sat unused which gums up the carb.
So yes, the merit badges can be beneficial for many life skills.
We will be doing the woodworking merit badge at Camp Lanoche utilizing the Chris Burns Vocational Trades Center. Chris is one of our Eagles who passed away and using donated funds in Chris’s honor, Troop 787 did a project to refurbish the Quartermaster Hut at Lanoche and turn it into the trades center. We purchased 3 shipping containers and made them into the new quartermaster facility and then tore down walls, etc leaving the framing and rough plus a little of the original walls. We then built new walls, and created four classrooms for: woodworking, plumbing, welding and home repair. Painted it and dedicated during summer camp 2019.
YIS
Duane Fogg
Scoutmaster