Hobby Hows

An easy meal for camping

An easy meal for camping: Wrap a hamburger patty, some frozen peas and diced potatoes in foil and place in your campfire until cooked.

-- Submitted by Sarah T., Fairhope, Ala. » Permalink | | Read 26 comments

Keep your peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich

Keep your peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich from getting soggy by spreading peanut butter on both pieces of bread and then spreading the jelly in the middle.

-- Submitted by Zachary W., Croswell, Mich. » Permalink | | Read 11 comments

When I go on camping trips

When I go on camping trips, there are always some boys who stay up late and are really loud. I always bring foam earplugs so I can get a good night’s sleep. They also work great as bobbers the next day when we go fishing.

-- Submitted by Ethan P., Las Vegas, Nev. » Permalink | | Read 15 comments

If you are into LEGO Bionicles

If you are into LEGO Bionicles, try not to take them apart unless you have to. I’ve taken pieces apart and broken several.

-- Submitted by Joseph M., Tampa, Fla. » Permalink | | Read 63 comments

Keep the number stickers on your derby racecar

Keep the number stickers on your derby racecar by putting clear nail polish over the stickers after you put them on your car.

-- Submitted by Jonathan G., Remsen, NY » Permalink | | Read 2 comments

Use the clips that hold old socks together

Use the clips that hold old socks together as a money clip.

-- Submitted by Anthony K., Arvada, CO » Permalink | | Read 3 comments

For perfectly round pancakes

For perfectly round pancakes, put the batter in a turkey baster and squeeze it onto the griddle.

-- Submitted by Phillip B., Falls Church, Va. » Permalink | | Read 6 comments

When you are modeling with clay

When you are modeling with clay, put it in a bag with a damp paper towel so it won’t dry out.

-- Submitted by Kyle D., Hibbing, Minn » Permalink | | Read 6 comments

For a Klondike derby

For a Klondike derby, always bring extra rope. A lot of extra rope.

-- Submitted by Ryan D., Whippany, N.J. » Permalink | | Read 9 comments

If you have a good baseball card

If you have a good baseball card that you want to keep in mint condition, put it in an individual plastic case instead of a binder with sheets. Cases keep cards in much better condition.

-- Submitted by Austin W., Basking Ridge, N.J. » Permalink | | Read 15 comments

Tape four or five air-pump needles

Tape four or five air-pump needles together on a thin strip of duct tape. This makes them easy to find in your junk drawer.

-- Submitted by Garrity M., San Pedro, CA
» Permalink | | Read 4 comments

Whenever you are doing a hobby that involves measuring

Whenever you are doing a hobby that involves measuring, make sure you measure, then double-check the measurement before you do anything else with it.

-- Submitted by Matthew M., Leonia, NJ
» Permalink | | Read 3 comments

When collecting tree leaves

When collecting tree leaves, dip them in vegetable oil and cover with wax paper. This will preserve them for a long time. They will not dry out and tear.

-- Submitted by John David R., Pittsburgh, PA
» Permalink | | Read 5 comments

Shooting in daylight

For all photographers: When shooting in daylight, stand with your back to the sun, if possible.

-- Submitted by John K., Plymouth, Mich.
» Permalink | | Read 27 comments

Save empty Altoids tins

Save empty Altoids tins. They make a great place to store small parts, such as the gas pedal for model cars, that might get lost if put in a big box.

-- Submitted by David R., Avondale, Pa.
» Permalink | | Read 17 comments

Use canning rings to cook eggs

Use canning rings to cook eggs for sandwiches made with English muffins or hamburger buns.

-- Submitted by Shelby H., Sophia, N.C.
» Permalink | | Read 11 comments

Dent in a plastic part

If you put a dent in a plastic part of a model, mix wood glue and sawdust together, place in the dent and sand down. When you paint it, it will look as good as new.

-- Submitted by Stephen P., Estill Springs, Tenn.
» Permalink | | Read 6 comments

To keep your neckerchief slide from falling off

To keep your neckerchief slide from falling off on the go, wrap a rubber band around the middle of the neckerchief below the slide. The rubber band will stop it from coming off.

-- Submitted by Christian D., Eagle, Idaho
» Permalink | | Read 16 comments

Tired of playing a super-slow game of air hockey?

Tired of playing a super-slow game of air hockey? Use some boat wax to coat the surface of the table to get the game flowing at top speed!

-- Submitted by Ryan C., Fairfax Station, Va.
» Permalink | | Read 14 comments

Use old wooden clothespins

Use old wooden clothespins to clamp the small pieces of your wood-frame model when glueing. The clothespins have just the right amount of pressure.

-- Submitted by Josh S., Nevada City, Calif.
» Permalink | | Read 7 comments

Bringing trekking poles on a plane

If you are going on a plane and bringing trekking poles, put them in a PVC or map tube.

-- Submitted by Aaron L., North Haven, Conn.
» Permalink | | Read 7 comments

Save the shavings

Whenever you skin a walking stick or carve something, save the shavings for campfire tinder. Put the shavings in a plastic bag and put it with your Scout gear for your next camp-out. Save a lot because you will need it.

-- Submitted by Philip G., Ukiah, Calif.
» Permalink | | Read 9 comments

All wired up

ALL WIRED UP Antennas, small gun barrels, flagstaffs and other fine details look clumsy on plastic models. Substitute thin wire to make your project look better. Beading or jewelry wire works well. Find it in craft stores. This wire comes in gauges from 22 (the size of a pencil lead) to 32 (hair). Snip it [...]

» Permalink | | Read 2 comments

Always forgetting things to take?

Always forgetting to take stuff to school? Just put it smack in front of your bedroom door before going to bed so you’ll trip over it in the morning as a reminder!

-- Submitted by Christie C., Plano, Tex.
» Permalink | | Read 3 comments

Storing LEGO pieces

Use clear plastic storage containers with dividers to store small Lego pieces. It’s much easier to find them when I’m building something, instead of searching for them in my larger storage containers.

-- Submitted by David B., Two Rivers, Wis.
» Permalink | | Read 3 comments

Baby powder and model rockets

Add baby powder to the inside of the parachute of your model rocket. This will help you see whether or not the parachute deployed.

-- Submitted by Roberto G., Sunny Isles Beach, Fla.
» Permalink | | Add a comment

Pine needles for campfires

Before camping trips, my troop collects pine needles for our campfires. We let them dry for a week, and they work perfectly.

-- Submitted by Howard H., Muscatine, Iowa
» Permalink | | Add a comment

Waterproofing matches

Put wax over the heads of matches to keep them waterproof. All you have to do to use them is crack and pull the wax off.

-- Submitted by Ariel W., Corvallis, Ore.
» Permalink | | Add a comment

Keeping your feet warm while camping

During a camping trip, make sure to change your socks before going to bed. If you wear the socks you wore all day, the sweat in them will make you much colder.

-- Submitted by Maxwell B., Long Beach, Calif.
» Permalink | | Read 1 comment

Removing a broken light bulb without getting hurt

How do you take out a broken light bulb from a lamp socket without cutting yourself? Just put a potato through the two metal pieces inside the bulb and twist counterclockwise!

-- Submitted by Frank P., Torrance, Calif.
» Permalink | | Read 4 comments

MAGIC IN A MINUTE

Fun magic tricks and jokes to amaze your friends

Most of us don't need a magic trick to make money vanish.

For those who do, here is a great one you can do with just a quarter and a bandana.

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>> See more Magic in a Minute

HOBBY HOWS

Hobby ideas and tips contributed by readers

From photography to fishing to coin collecting, Boys' Life readers share their hobby secrets. Here are the most recent:

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YOUR PHOTOS

Post your Pinewood Derby pictures

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COLLECTING

Readers tell us about their collections

If it exists, Boys' Life readers probably collect it. Here are some of the interesting, unusual and just plain cool collections that you've sent us.

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