Information Booklet 1

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Marcus Skinner
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1 NOTES:-. Information Booklet 1 Axe & Saws Compiled For Cambridgeshire Scouts August 2013

2 Parts of an Axe and SAFETY RULES An axe is a good servant but a bad master. No Scout plays or fools with an axe because he knows that it is an excellent tool but one that can be very dangerous unless handled properly. Below the parts of the axe are shown :- LESSON 6 Putting It All Together (30 Minutes)..Putting it all together. A great way to finish any practical session (or series of sessions) is to introduce some sort of challenge for the group to complete that uses all the skills they have learned. Remember that all good challenges have a reward at the end! The challenge could be very specific, or more open. For example, you could ask groups to take a fallen tree branch and turn it into 10 wooden house bricks, using a hand axe to limb the fallen pieces, a saw to cut rounds and a hand axe to split them into the correct size/shape. Alternatively, ask them to create a sculpture that demonstrates their skills with each of the three techniques. FOR FUTURE TRAINING... You could create lessons to cover some of the following topics: Safety guidelines:- Axes and large saws can be difficult and dangerous to handle if they are too big for you to control effectively. Use a tool of a size and weight that is suited to the job and your level of ability. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear, avoiding scarves, lanyards or any loose items that could be snared. Boots should be worn rather than trainers. Tie long hair back. Inspect tools before use. Check for damage and ensure that the parts are aligned and held together securely. Never use a blunt axe or saw, which is likely to slip or bounce on impact. Do not use axes or saws after dark or when tired. Crouch or kneel on one knee when using small axes and saws to avoid risk of injury. Always use a chopping block when splitting firewood. Chop directly over the block, positioning the wood on the far side of the block. Using a felling axe Using an axe to carve wood Sharpening and maintaining an axe/saw Using a bucksaw Using an axe and saw to fell a tree.

will be coaching them to help them follow the demonstration you gave, and the third will be in charge of making sure none of the safety rules are broken. The trio rotates as necessary.

3 will be coaching them to help them follow the demonstration you gave, and the third will be in charge of making sure none of the safety rules are broken. The trio rotates as necessary. As this section progresses you can move around the groups offering tips and advice. Ensure you are always in a position where you can supervise those using tools make sure you can see all the participants. SUMMARISE What? How an axe can be used to cut logs and its limitations. How? Ask the group to tell the story of using an axe to cut wood from entering the safety area to leaving it again. Each member will give one line of the story before moving on to the next person. This can also be played in teams, where one team can buzz out the other if they make a mistake, and take over the story themselves. LESSON 4 Going With The Grain (30 Minutes) Carry axes cradled upside down in your hand with your arm by your side. Make sure the axe bit is facing forward, keeping fingers out of the way. Pass tools to others carefully and safely; axes should be passed head first. Support the head with your free hand. Following a similar structure to the previous lesson, explain how an axe is used to split small rounds or pre-cut sections of wood. A good training activity for this skill is to ask the group to split the wood until the entire log can be passed through a letter box. Marking the split line with chalk can also help participants to aim at the correct place. When demonstrating this skill, make sure that you also cover how to free a stuck axe from the round, as this is a common problem for beginners. LESSON 5 We came, We saw, We sawed some more (30 Minutes) Again, use a similar structure as the previous lessons to teach the group how a saw is used to cut timber into shorter lengths. Key points for this lesson include the size of the timber being cut, using the full length of the blade to cut, and the difference between green wood and dead wood saws (which have blades with raker teeth). When teaching beginners to use a bow saw, ensure they pass their hand through the bow to hold the wood that way, if the saw jumps out of the kerf (groove) only the back (blunt side) of the blade can make contact. Once the blade is fully in the timber, the user moves their hand to cover the kerf with their thumb. Again, if the user slips, this will prevent the blade jumping out of the kerf and cutting them.

4 GOOD PRACTICE Fit masks or sheaths to axe heads and saw blades, which should fit securely. Do not plant the head in the ground. An axe can be masked temporarily in the chopping block but make sure that the blade is securely wedged in the grain of the wood and that the haft does not pose a trip hazard. Saws are usually supplied with plastic clip-on masks that fit over the blade. Alternatively, make a mask from a split length of hosepipe. Keep axes and saws dry, and never leave them out overnight. Keep them in a stores tent in a locked box. Maintain axes by sharpening them regularly, ideally after use and before putting them in storage. Saw blades are relatively cheap and can generally be replaced rather than sharpened. Treat axe heads and saw blades with gun oil or camellia oil to prevent rusting. Protect wooden handles by rubbing them with boiled linseed oil. How? Ask the group to set up a safety area and put their rules into practice where possible (e.g. putting on boots etc). For less tangible rules, such as not using an axe when tired, they could create a rules board to be displayed at the entrance to the safety area. SUMMARISE What? Check how much the group has understood by revisiting the rules they created. How? Perform a role play to show someone using an axe/saw incorrectly and ask the group to stop you each time you break a rule. Then get them to explain why they have stopped you. LESSON 3 It Cuts Two ways: Cutting Across The Grain (30 Minutes) What? That axes can be used to cut small diameter pieces of wood to shorter lengths, on order to make them more manageable around the camp. How? Use a selection of props (e.g. long and short logs) to show the group why it might be necessary to use an axe to cut up firewood. DEMONSTRATE What? How to use an axe to cut a long piece of wood into two pieces. How? Good demonstrations allow people to learn visually, without vocal distractions, by clearly showing the different steps involved. Using slow, deliberate movements, cut the log in half. If needed, over-emphasize your movements to ensure they are clear. EXPLAIN What? Now that the group has seen the skill in action, repeat it with a verbal explanation of how it is performed. How? Repeat the demonstration you gave before, but this time, explain what you re doing at each stage of the process. Avoid telling participants what not to do it might be the only thing they remember! Instead, save this information for coaching individuals later on APPLY What? Give the group an opportunity to practise the skill you have just taught. How? Split the group into threes and allow them to practice cutting a piece of wood in half. One member of the team will be using the tool. One

5 APPLY What? This is an opportunity to embed learning from earlier in the session. How? Use an active game. This could be anything from a relay race to label a diagram, to creating a 30 second instructional video on the parts of an axe/saw. SUMMARISE What? This is your chance to check understanding of the session so far, and to reinforce the key learning points. How? In pairs, ask the group come up with quick-fire questions about the session then take turns in the hot seat to answer each other s questions. LESSON 2 Safety First (20Minutes) USING A BOW SAW 1. Ensure that your work piece is held firmly, ideally in a sawhorse, and wear heavy duty gloves. Position the wood so that its weight naturally opens the cut, rather than closing it around the blade. If you need to hold the wood, the safest way is to pass your free arm through the saw, grasping the wood firmly until the cut is deep enough for the saw not to bounce out. This way, if the saw jumps out, only the blunt side of the blade can make contact with the hand or arm. 2. Saw by slowly pulling the blade towards you until it bites into the wood. Then push and pull steadily, using the entire length of the blade. What? Tools can be dangerous if used incorrectly, so it is important to have clear safety rules when using any sort of tool. How? Ask the group to think about an activity they are already familiar with and consider the rules that apply to it (e.g. a popular Scouting game). This will help them to link the rules to the dangers of the activity. Alternatively, for participants who have a good knowledge of risk assessments, swap dangers for hazards, and rules for control measures. DEMONSTRATE What? Consider the potential hazards of using axes and saws. How? This could be achieved through role play, using props or miming the unsafe use of tools, or by watching a video. The group should then produce a list of potential hazards. EXPLAIN What? How each of the hazards can be controlled by sticking to clear rules. How? Use some of the hazards the group came up with before to create a set of sensible rules. Model this first with some of the more obvious hazards (e.g. not using tools in the dark!), then ask the group to create the rest of the rules including the concept of a safety area. APPLY What? Use an activity to reinforce the safety considerations for using tools.

6 Care of Axes and Knives Use a round carborundum stone for sharpening. Make sure the axe head is free of dirt or resin, and move the stone in small circles towards or away from the bit, applying light pressure and keeping fingers clear. Change sides and sharpening angles often until the edge has a smooth and even surface. If the edge becomes too thin and fragile you can work against the bit, to give a wider cutting angle and a stronger edge. From time to time you should rub wooden handles with Linseed oil. TRAINING OTHERS This provides practical ideas to help teach other volunteers and young people how to use axes and saws. Training might take place informally on camp, or more formally as part of a skills workshop or training course. OBJECTIVES By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Identify the main parts of an axe and a saw 2. State the safety rules for using axes and saws 3. Demonstrate the safe use of a hand axe to cut small logs. 4. Demonstrate the safe use of a hand axe to split small timber rounds 5. Demonstrate the safe use of a bow saw to cut small logs. EQUIPMENT Hand axes or hatchets, bow saws Different types of wood for cutting and chopping, including dry wood and green sticks. Also source types of wood common to the local area Resources for running training activities as required. LESSON 1 What's in a Name? Axes & Saws (20 Minutes) Storage. In camp keep all Knives and Axes dry. Never leave them out overnight. Fit the mask or sheath and put them away safely in the store tent. In your Scout Headquarters Always store them in your Patrol Boxes or in your Quartermasters stores - Never leave them lying around What? Introduce the tools to the group. Use this as an opportunity to assess prior knowledge and ensure the group understands what the tools are for. How? Use open questioning e.g. Name 10 things you could use this item for? DEMONSTRATE What? Show the group the tools and very briefly demonstrate what they do. How? Pass the tools around so the group can study and explore them (set some rules!) You can then give a quick demonstration e.g. split a piece of wood to grab the group s attention. EXPLAIN What? Explain the different parts of the tools, what each part does and how it might vary from one example to another. This will help the group understand what you re talking about later on. How? Ensure that key words are prewritten on post-it notes. Explain what each word means in turn, and ask the group to place the post-it on the tool in the place they think matches your explanation.

WOODS TOOLS AWARD GUIDE. Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln

WOODS TOOLS AWARD GUIDE. Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln WOODS TOOLS AWARD GUIDE Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln REQUIREMENTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 Identify the parts of a knife, ax, and saw. Name