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This is a badge bit (BB) that is part of the PEA curriculum. Completing this BB is part of getting the sand badge in Metalworking.

In this Badge Bit you will make 6 sturdy plant labels.  These will be able to live outdoors for 10 years and still identify a plant.



Minimum requirements:
  - Make 6 plant labels
  - The “post” must be metal and hold the “message” at least four inches off the soil
  - The “message” does not move in the wind
  - The wording must be able to last at least ten years outside, possibilities include
       -Stamping
       -Legible chiseling
       -Deep, legible engraving
       -A second layer of metal (ie gold leaf or solder)
  - Could be
       -An old spoon, flattened and metal stamped
       -A piece of copper tube with one end flattened and stamped
       -Cast aluminum
       -Denting metal with a ballpoint pen
       -Jeweller’s saw to cut out the letters

Provide proof of the following as pictures or video (<2 mins):
  - Materials you're starting with
  - Project underway
  - Finished plant labels
COMMENTS:
 
pollinator
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1) Buy a two dollar piece of Aluminium from Home Depot



2) Mark every six inches to create six labels



3) Write herb names in pencil



4) Etch names with Dremel



5) Cut labels with hacksaw



6) Chamfer edges and round corners with Dremel



7) Labels finished and ready for ‘planting’



I’ll be making a lot more of these.
Staff note :

Rejected:  The bottom of the words need to still be 4" off the ground when it's inserted in the soil

 
Edward Norton
pollinator
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Round two. I decided to use a length of half inch copper pipe. I cut a five foot length into six, ten inch sections with a hacksaw.



I flattened one end for the writing and then the other end to make it easier to stick in the ground.



I wrote the names using a dremmel



Here are the final plant labels next showing that they are ten inches long allowing for four inches between dirt and words.



In use

Staff note (Mike Haasl) :

I hereby certify this BB complete!

 
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Approved submission
In SKIP scouts, we pounded spoons to make plant labels. Then we used a power tool to carve the words. Then I put them in my GAMCOD garden. Pounding was the funnest part.
IMG_20250705_195400.jpg
The 6 spoons i started with
The 6 spoons i started with
IMG_20250705_195356.jpg
Me using the power tool on a spoon what I clamped to the table
Me using the power tool on a spoon what I clamped to the table
IMG_20250705_195351.jpg
Finished spoons. I chose these plants: taters, wheat, corn, turnip, beans, pumpkin
Finished spoons. I chose these plants: taters, wheat, corn, turnip, beans, pumpkin
IMG_20250705_195338.jpg
They are 4 inches tall.
They are 4 inches tall.
Staff note (gir bot) :

Someone approved this submission.
Note: Nice spoons!

 
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