Constructing a Pueblo with an Off-Grid Knife: Part 1

Styrofoam, Spray Paint and a Knife ... Sounds Like Tons of Fun!

When my daughters have a school project, they run to my wife for help in writing the report, but they come to Daddy to help build whatever masterpiece of diorama or poster art goes with it.

My youngest daughter, who just turned 8, has to hand in a report about the Puebla Indians at the end of this week, with the report she has to build a small version of one of their dwellings, also called Puebla.

On past school projects, I have had the tendency to take over and "help" as if I were getting the grade. We have even received teacher comments about how unusually sophisticated and mature our daughters' projects are, with a subtle hint to allow our girls to do the work themselves.

So with Project Puebla, I need plausible deniability... if I let the 8 year old do the project completely on her own, it will look like it, but if I act like a contractor and my daughter is the subcontractor, it could work.

The plan is to build the Puebla out of styrofoam and coat it with sandy textured spray paint. With sheets of foam ready for the build, cut lines measured and drawn, I concluded this would be the perfect opportunity for my little one to get some supervised cutting time in, so I pulled out one of the thinnest sharpest blades I have, the Off-Grid Cleaver V2 and went to work.

I did the first cut myself to see how the blade tracked through the material, then turned the job over to my daughter. I taught her to stand to the side, hold the ruler down firmly (which I helped with), then pull the blade through the foam while pushing down. 

She did great. She is a rare child that only needs to see or hear something once and she gets it. I wish I were like that...

Stay tuned for Part 2: The Completed Puebla!

Bob

By the way (shameless plug) … if you want your own Off-Grid Cleaver V2 — or any other Off-Grid Knife — I’d love it if you considered using my affiliate link: www.theknifejunkie.com/offgrid. Thanks!

The Knife Junkie Podcast (Episode 375)

Army vet Chris Stroup of Stroup Knives joined me for Episode 375 of The Knife Junkie Podcast. Chris is an awesome knife maker who has been in business since 2017, currently offering six different models of fixed blade knives, from EDC to tactical to camp, all in 1095 High Carbon Steel with a variety of handle materials. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one. Watch or listen above.

And if you’re still trying to decide on what knife or knives you’re going to give for Christmas presents to friends and family, check out my mid-week supplemental podcast coming out on Wednesday. I’ll go over ten great gift knives covering a range of budgets for everyone.

If you’re not subscribed to the podcast, visit www.theknifejunkie.com/subscribe and subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Thursday Night Knives

No “Thursday Night Knives” this week, but Jim and I will be back on Dec. 22. Look forward to seeing you then!