2020 GEC #62 Easy Pocket Congress and Pocket Carver Thread

Well I done did it ! Liked my smooth white bone pocket carver so much I just ordered one from the same dealer In Cocobolo. If it’s half as nice as my white bone I’ll be a happy camper. You know I’m late to the pocket carver party because I have to admit the pictures and blade configuration just wasn’t appealing to me. But after getting one in my hand and seeing its beauty and realizing what it was intended for I fell in love. It’s a solid knife that feels really good in hand. Figure I better get another since the pickings are getting slim :thumbsup:
 
A client has asked me to carve him a hill Billy walking stick topper out of cedar for him. My little people are typically 4 inches tall. As you can see he has not afforded me that much material. (Piece to the right) Therefore I am doing some prototype work this evening. Got a short Billy there.:D Guy to the left is standard.
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TheFactor said:
What types of wood are you guys using when whittling and What’s a good beginner wood to start with that’s easier to work with? All this beautiful craftsmanship/ whittling has really peaked my interest. I might have to look online for a beginners how to book:thumbsup:
I’m itching to put my beautiful smooth white pocket carver to work !
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I agree... basswood is the best for carving. I bought some off the bay, and I also found some at a local woodworking supply store. We have two different companies around here.... Rockler and Woodcraft... if I'm not supposed to mention retailers names, I'll delete them... I found good pieces of basswood at Rockler, and it's cheaper than the online places. Haven't tried Woodcraft yet.

Doug Linker has stated that a good, clear "select" pine would work, as well. I have noticed that some pieces of basswood are harder than others.. some of it cuts like butter, and some of it needs extra "ooomph" to cut.

Linker is my "go to" video instructor, but there are others. Gene Messer is a good one, and he's the one that got Linker started in carving/whittling. Sharon My Art is another good one.
 
TheFactor said:
hornetguy hornetguy Thanks so much for the very helpful tips and info. I’m looking forward to getting educated about whittling and getting my feet wet. Should be fun regardless of my skill level.
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I'm finding that there is no substitute for just jumping in and doing it. Follow a video for the first two or three, get your cut techniques down, and just do a bunch of them. That's been my problem, lack of time for just repetitive whittling.... that's where expertise comes in.... just look at Jiki's work...
 
TheFactor said:
What types of wood are you guys using when whittling and What’s a good beginner wood to start with that’s easier to work with?
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Honestly so much of whittling is just doing it! I recommend going and finding a stick first, and put a point on it. Then round the point and shave that sucker down until it’s a straight chopstick. Then go get another stick and do that again. Then order some take out Chinese food and enjoy what you’ve created.
 
EngrSorenson said:
Honestly so much of whittling is just doing it! I recommend going and finding a stick first, and put a point on it. Then round the point and shave that sucker down until it’s a straight chopstick. Then go get another stick and do that again. Then order some take out Chinese food and enjoy what you’ve created.
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Thanks but now you’ve made me hungry !
Think I’ve found some wood below :D
 
That skull is fantastic! GREAT job...
I showed my 7yr old grandaughter some of my amateurish stuff, and she has decided I can whittle anything. She asked me to carve her a monkey... so, I tried, and it came out looking, well, pretty silly. I told her the second one would hopefully be better (I set the bar pretty low with the first one)... and this is the result. I just coated it with linseed oil, and we will attempt to paint it tomorrow afternoon. More practice is sorely needed... but at least this one looks a little like a monkey... a sort of Frankenstein-ish monkey. Maybe if I try to carve Frankenstein, it'll look like a monkey? There's a thought...
Full disclosure... I used a Flexcut detail knife for most of it, and worked the smaller areas with the white bone pocket carver...

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