2020 GEC #62 Easy Pocket Congress and Pocket Carver Thread

I’m
nyrico said:
Wow are these pocket carvers well made. I receive a F&F today to add to my white bone pocket carver and they are both exceptional with regards to fit and finish. After seeing everyones pics I have ordered some Bass wood and heeded the warning and order gloves as well, I guess I'll try my hand at whittlin' during my social distancing.

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not one for tattoos, but that picture should be a tattoo. Beautiful. Mine gets here tomorrow.
 
Jiki said:
PSA.
There are a lot of new whittlers coming about because of the new pocket carvers.
WOOD BREAKS!
Wear a cut resistant glove.
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I was wondering about that and found some after seeing this...great advice!
 
lzeplin said:
Dad's really enjoying his new pocket carver, will post pics when finished.
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HOLY COW.... how long has he been carving? 60-70 years? Great detail.... does he do all that with a pocket carver, or does he use carving tools as well?
 
hornetguy said:
HOLY COW.... how long has he been carving? 60-70 years? Great detail.... does he do all that with a pocket carver, or does he use carving tools as well?
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Well he's 68 been carving off and on since he was a kid. He hasn't carved anything In over a year, got this new knife and wanted to try it out. He does it all by hand, he roughed it with flexcut chisels and gouges then does the detail with a knife. He's done this in a day and a half. I barley can sharpen a pencil! It's really amazing to watch him..
 
lzeplin said:
Well he's 68 been carving off and on since he was a kid. He hasn't carved anything In over a year, got this new knife and wanted to try it out. He does it all by hand, he roughed it with flexcut chisels and gouges then does the detail with a knife. He's done this in a day and a half. I barley can sharpen a pencil! It's really amazing to watch him..
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well, he's certainly got it figured out!
 
hornetguy said:
I used my white bone carver quite a bit last night. Now my left thumb is too tender to do anything... too many push cuts....:(
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there’s finesse you can put on some of your push cuts that might help! Some folks just push the blade through like a wedge (and sometimes in tight spots you have to). The easiest cutting is done by the knife having a saw-like motion as you slice through each cut; you allow the edge to separate the fibers this way. Push with your free hand thumb, and draw the blade to the side with your tool hand.

Think of Mike Latham’s knife opening technique. As long as his thumb doesn’t slip along the blade he doesn’t get cut. In light pressure situations the movement along the blade can sever. However, if you were to drive the blade into his thumb with enough force it would cut his thumb anyway.

This advice won’t cure an already bruised and sore thumb, but it might alleviate some of that in the future.

(also using blades with thick spines for heavy cuts helps, too! It disperses the force over a larger area making it more comfortable. It’s a fine feature of the pocket carver’s main blade.)
 
I was trying to remove wood along a stick, much like a rabbet cut with a router.... removing a 90 degree section of wood. I did stop cuts along the two axes, then was cutting out the material. I was doing a push cut, but more like a scooping cut.. starting downward, then flattening out before I went too deep, if that makes sense... it's a small stick, approx 5/8 diameter, so I was using one of the small blades on the pocket carver. I have several blades available, Case swayback, a couple of different lambfoot, a seahorse whittler, etc... I'm just sort of figuring it out as I go.. painfully, as it seems....:rolleyes: Thanks for the advice... I'll "give it a go"...
 
hornetguy said:
I was trying to remove wood along a stick, much like a rabbet cut with a router.... removing a 90 degree section of wood. I did stop cuts along the two axes, then was cutting out the material. I was doing a push cut, but more like a scooping cut.. starting downward, then flattening out before I went too deep, if that makes sense... it's a small stick, approx 5/8 diameter, so I was using one of the small blades on the pocket carver. I have several blades available, Case swayback, a couple of different lambfoot, a seahorse whittler, etc... I'm just sort of figuring it out as I go.. painfully, as it seems....:rolleyes: Thanks for the advice... I'll "give it a go"...
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You did a remarkable job of describing that, in fact. I believe you’re talking about a “V” cut, which is notoriously tricky for a host of reasons. In that case try two things-
1) trail the point behind the knife cut whenever possible. Like woodturners using a skew chisel, you’re presenting a slenderer bevel to the wood.
2) cut long slim ribbons as opposed to “gouging” out material.

sounds like you’re on your way- no mere pointed stick whittling for you! No sir. Keep it up, and snag a picture of it for us when you get a moment! (Kudos on using a stick for raw material!)
 
lzeplin said:
Well he's 68 been carving off and on since he was a kid. He hasn't carved anything In over a year, got this new knife and wanted to try it out. He does it all by hand, he roughed it with flexcut chisels and gouges then does the detail with a knife. He's done this in a day and a half. I barley can sharpen a pencil! It's really amazing to watch him..
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Maybe you ought to ask for tips. Would be a great way to share some time and some 'long time ago stories'?
 
Jolipapa said:
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: That black & red micarta is a hit! Let's hope we see it again and again! :)
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I agree it looks exceptional, especially as a Shadow pattern:thumbsup::thumbsup: I'm not really interested in the Carvers as a knife, as I'm incompetent at whittling :eek::D:D But that Shadow really temps me:cool: If somebody wants to throw theirs away...I'll take it ;)
 
I have to say- I'm almost sorry I didn't just double down on this Farm and Field version. It's gorgeous and feels great in the hand.
For those who were wondering about handle thicknesses (as in the case of the fat #21 and #71), i've included a side-by-side with my Tidioute. Looks like it's almost the same to my eye (without getting calipers). the red and black linen combined with the brass is just striking. Can't wait to put my edges on it and put it to task. I almost never buy two of the same knife, but GEC out did themselves with the #93 and now the #62.
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