Who knew you could do so much with a Swiss Army Knife? This book is packed full of fun projects that you can do with minimal tools and just a little time.
The author has done a lot of whittling and it shows in the quality of the pieces he creates for this book. Each creation is unique and each one shows his skill! If you want to learn to make similar creations, there are detailed directions provided for each. The projects start out easy and work up to the more difficult ones. That gives the reader a chance to gain skill in working with the Swiss Army Knife and the more simple cuts, then build on those skills to take on more challenging projects. The projects are also very cute, so you will be making something that will bring someone else joy. My favorites were the owl and the egret.
Throughout the text, there is also a neat history of the Swiss Army Knife and the company that makes it. It was interesting to learn that this company has been in business for so long and has been making these quality tools exclusively. The history section includes photos of some of the early models, and they look similar to the familiar ones we still use today.
These projects use branches from a variety of species of trees. The author gives you recommendations on types of wood, and how to choose your wood and the particular shape of branch that will make your project most successful. He even recommends how dry or moist the wood should be when beginning each project. Copious high-quality photos illustrate how to make the cuts and trim the wood down to make whatever project is being featured. There are tips to make the work go more smoothly and to help you get through making some of the more delicate cuts. The author shows you how to preserve the wood too, so that those delicate features of your carving won’t fall off once they dry out.
The author uses a slightly modified blade for his carvings and he shares directions on how to modify yours, should you want to try it. He also gives you plenty of tips on how to take care of the blade and the tool itself, so it will last you a long time. There are many models of Swiss Army Knife to choose from and the author gives you some recommendations on which models work best for whittling.
I was amazed at the variety of things you can make with just a Swiss Army Knife. Not only are these useful items, but they are decorative too, and conversation starters. Whittling is an underappreciated art form. After reading this book, I want to try to make some of these projects. Although I have no experience at all, I think the directions given here are good enough that I could make something!
I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy I received in exchange for my honest review.
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