1st whittling project

12Bravo

12Bravo

Joined
Jul 6, 2006
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I have been really getting into traditional knives lately. I love the functionality and beauty of traditional knives. After seeing a few threads on whittling I have been wanting to have a go at it.

Here is my first attempt.

IMG_0883.jpg


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That's very, very good for a first whittling project. You have made your Case peanut proud. Looks like you two are a good team. - Ed
 
Thanks Ed. The peanut makes a nice detail knife. I used a Case sway back jack to score and cut the borders out when I penciled out the pattern. CV works pretty well on Basswood.

Maybe I'll try a chain next.
 
That's very good considering that's your first whittling project. I hope mine turns out as well. What wood are you using?

- Christian
 
that looks amazing, great work. I hope to start my first project in the next few weeks.
 
Hi 12Bravo -

That is sweet!

So, I have seen several of these types of art; can anyone describe briefly how you go about carving a captive ball like that?

I certainly have the knives to do it, just lacking the know-how and likely the talent, but willing to try....

Congrats on your achievement.

best regards -

mqqn
 
Very traditional looks nice, looks like Basswood, a good choice for a first attempt. :thumbup:
 
Wow!...that is a very, very good first attempt at whittling!..I can only hope my first attempt will be half that good :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
You did a good job. A few others have posted those, and the chains in the past, and I always thought I would try it. I just never seem to get around to it...


Your Peanut looks perrty proud sitting on it :D
 
Very nicely done. I've always wanted to try something like that, but my attempts at whittling usually result in just turning big sticks into smaller sticks.
 
Great Job! :eek::eek: My first whittling project was putting a point on a stick! ;) You got me beat by a mile. :thumbup:
 
Nicely done! :thumbup:

If my first looked that good, I'd show it off too. Right now I'm on par with Psychopomp. :D
 
Thanks for the kind words.
The wood I used was a 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" x 36 Basswood square dowel from Home Depot.

When I first began thinking of whittling I tried to sample carve a treated 4x4. The 4x4 proved to be too hard and grainy. The basswood was like butter compared to the 4x4.

Most ball in cages I'd seen were always rectangular and never knew why. I thought that a nice cube would be kind of neat and symmetrical. I quickly found out why most caged balls are rectangular. The reason is that it makes carving easier, you want to try and minimize as much cross grain cutting as possible (on flats especially). Most caged balls I've seen always leave the two cross grain ends closed, making for easier craving and truth be told, a stronger design.

Below are two links I found useful.

http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/cache/articles/t2/bic.htm

http://www.littleshavers.com/Whimseys.html

I'd love to see some other 1st projects.
 
12Bravo said:
Thanks for the kind words.
The wood I used was a 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" x 36 Basswood square dowel from Home Depot.

When I first began thinking of whittling I tried to sample carve a treated 4x4. The 4x4 proved to be too hard and grainy. The basswood was like butter compared to the 4x4.

Most ball in cages I'd seen were always rectangular and never knew why. I thought that a nice cube would be kind of neat and symmetrical. I quickly found out why most caged balls are rectangular. The reason is that it makes carving easier, you want to try and minimize as much cross grain cutting as possible (on flats especially). Most caged balls I've seen always leave the two cross grain ends closed, making for easier craving and truth be told, a stronger design.

Below are two links I found useful.

http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/cache/articles/t2/bic.htm

http://www.littleshavers.com/Whimseys.html

I'd love to see some other 1st projects.
Click to expand...

Hi 12Bravo -

Thanks for the links - I'll get me some basswood and give it a shot!

I have a couple of nice traditional knives that I need to get some whittling time using them.

Thanks again -

best regards -

mqqn
 
12Bravo said:
...
Most ball in cages I'd seen were always rectangular and never knew why.
Click to expand...

I always thought it was so you could watch the ball roll from one end to the other when you're bored. :)

Good job, it looks great. These are my only attempts so far.

IMG_4221-1.jpg
 
I always thought it was so you could watch the ball roll from one end to the other when you're bored.

Good job, it looks great. These are my only attempts so far.
Click to expand...

That does make sense :)

Those are some great looking spheres. Looks like you took some time to sand those, they almost look like they came off a lathe.

Nice work!
 
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