The Whittling Corner

[mpt]

Thanks.
When I come back to a project after a long time and I don't remember what I intended to do I just go with something new that initially fits the shape

 

[WhittlinAway]

This one’s getting ready for liftoff:

What are other folks working on?

 

[5K Qs]

Cool rocket, Greg!
One of the first projects I tried several years ago started as a rocket; that's just what I thought was imprisoned in the wood. But somehow it ended up as a congress pocket knife (or, more accurately, some kind of single-bladed swayback):

But I'd like to do a "transportation series" someday with trains, planes, and automobiles (and ships of both sea and space persuasion). I have a canoe in progress (and have had for years), and I did a rudimentary car/bus that I gave to a girl who used to wait at the same bus stops I did and expressed some interest in my whittling.

- GT

 

[WhittlinAway]

Thanks GT!

It's interesting how the wood sometimes wants to be something else than you want it to be. I've never had a rocket turn into a knife, but I've certainly made significant changes in plans when the wood was telling me that what I had in mind just wasn't what it was interested in doing.

I'd love to see a transportation series of yours. Maybe it's time to dust off the canoe and get back to work? I really enjoyed the tool series you shared a couple of years ago. That looked like such a fun project!

BTW, the rocket ship is ready for flight:

The smoke plume is an unattached base made by gluing all of the project's shavings together with diluted white glue.

 

[mpt]

Wow, looks great! This will be my next project. I think my kids will like it as well.

In the mean time I started a "pocket knife" project. Well, now it will have to wait.

EDIT:
Finally had some time and started to work on the rocket:

Dried birch-tree - I'm sure it will take a while.

 

[WhittlinAway]

I was on an extended walk with our puppy yesterday and got an idea for a little piece to whittle and how I wanted to go about making it. Fortunately, I had a bit of free time and was able to dive in when we got home.

I started with a piece of basswood and gave it a hexagonal cross section:

Making shapes like this is great practice and is one of the skill building exercises described in E. J. Tangerman’s classic Whittling and Woodcarving. I used a compass to draw a circle on each end and then adjusted it to step out and mark six evenly spaced points along the circle’s circumference. I connected those points with straight lines to draw a hexagon.

Carving the hexagon is more challenging than you might initially expect. It takes some work to get all of the sides even and the edges straight throughout. If you look closely, you’ll see that mine is not perfect. It’s great practice, though, and I enjoyed the process of refining it bit by bit. I recommend giving it a try.

I used the Mora 120 shown above because its wide flat bevels help with carving the long flat facets on the sides of the hexagon. I’ll often start a piece using a slöjd knife like this 120 for bulk removal and rough shaping and switch to a smaller, thinner knife for the rest of the work. In this case I decided to use the 120 for the entire piece to see what I could do with it.

A while later, I had what I was after, the little tree that was hidden inside that hexagon:

 

[black mamba]

Beautifully done! Are you gonna put a finish on it, maybe paint it?

 

[WhittlinAway]

Beautifully done! Are you gonna put a finish on it, maybe paint it?

Thank you! I’m gonna leave it as is. I usually finish with a mineral oil and beeswax wood balm, but I don’t think that’ll work well with the curls. I thought about finishing it before carving the curls, but decided to just press on and leave it quick and fun.

 

[OLd_gUY]

Very nice job and inspiring. I think I'll have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing.

 

[5K Qs]

That's an inspired project, and marvelously executed, Greg!! Very cool and impressive!

- GT

 

[WhittlinAway]

Thank you very much for the kind words OLd_gUY and 5K Qs . I’m glad you enjoyed it.

OG, I’m glad you’re inspired to give it a try. I hope you have fun with it.

 

[onojoe]

Those spoons have inspired me... what kind of wood would you suggest starting with

 

[WhittlinAway]

Those spoons have inspired me... what kind of wood would you suggest starting with

A little more information would be helpful. Do you plan to eat and/or cook with it? What tools do you want to use to carve it?

There are several folks who have participated in this thread that may have opinions and advice once we know a little more about what you want to do.

 

[WhittlinAway]

I realized that every pocketknife that I frequently use for whittling is no longer in production. Further, many of them are from companies that no longer exist.

That’s a problem when someone asks me for recommendations. I want to be able to point them to something they can buy new today.

A couple of options do come to mind, but I’m wondering about the experiences of other whittlers here. What current-production and readily available pocketknives do you personally like for whittling?

I’m not trying to find the best one–that’ll vary from person to person–just ones that have worked well for you.

 

[Trout Hound]

I realized that every pocketknife that I frequently use for whittling is no longer in production. Further, many of them are from companies that no longer exist.

That’s a problem when someone asks me for recommendations. I want to be able to point them to something they can buy new today.

A couple of options do come to mind, but I’m wondering about the experiences of other whittlers here. What current-production and readily available pocketknives do you personally like for whittling?

I’m not trying to find the best one–that’ll vary from person to person–just ones that have worked well for you.

So far, I really like my Boker Congress Carver. Great heat treat on all four blades that results in a truly frightening edge when sharpened well at a low angle. I’ve got a couple scars to prove it! Handle shape seems to work well for whittling, too.

 

[bflying]

A couple weeks ago we slipped away to our favorite weekend spot. The night before coming home, the car crapped out and left us stranded for a few day while in the shop. So I had the time to finally get a caged ball to free float. Not pretty, but still proud of my first.

 

[Old Biker]

I realized that every pocketknife that I frequently use for whittling is no longer in production. Further, many of them are from companies that no longer exist.

That’s a problem when someone asks me for recommendations. I want to be able to point them to something they can buy new today.

A couple of options do come to mind, but I’m wondering about the experiences of other whittlers here. What current-production and readily available pocketknives do you personally like for whittling?

I’m not trying to find the best one–that’ll vary from person to person–just ones that have worked well for you.

When carving I usually like to use a blade with some curve to it. I often use the curved portion of the blade in a sweeping motion to give a slicing cut. But there are times I want a straight blade. So you will see all my favorites have both a curved blade and a straight blade. Usually a Spey blade and a Sheepfoot blade. On the stockman knives, I don't use the main blade much for whittling, there is just two much extra blade to get in the way.
These are my possible, still available new, carving pocket knives, arranged by my first to last choice from left to right.

My first choice is the Boker Carver's congress. Four different blades, all a good length. 1095 carbon steel that takes a nice sharp edge.
My second choice is either of my two Boker large stockman. Not as many blade choices as the congress, 1070 steel instead of 1095. Still a good whittling knife.
3rd choice is the Buck 301 stockman. Buck runs their springs on the weak side. That makes for an easy to open knife, but is a bit of a pain, when trying to strop the blade.
I haven't used either of the case knives for whittling, but I don't know of any reason they wouldn't work ok.

O.B,

 

[Old Biker]

I bought an old, cheap, cigar shaped Colonial stockman about a month ago. After cleaning it up and sharpening it, I put it in my pocket and have been using it as a EDC since. A few days ago I wondered how it would hold up whittling. I have some spoon blanks I made out of black Locusts.

I picked one up to make a couple test cuts, about an hour later I had this.

It was a cheap knife when new, and was a cheap knife now. It's not real pretty, it has some scars, but it does it's job.

O.B.

 

[r8shell]

When carving I usually like to use a blade with some curve to it. I often use the curved portion of the blade in a sweeping motion to give a slicing cut. But there are times I want a straight blade. So you will see all my favorites have both a curved blade and a straight blade. Usually a Spey blade and a Sheepfoot blade. On the stockman knives, I don't use the main blade much for whittling, there is just two much extra blade to get in the way.
These are my possible, still available new, carving pocket knives, arranged by my first to last choice from left to right.

My first choice is the Boker Carver's congress. Four different blades, all a good length. 1095 carbon steel that takes a nice sharp edge.
My second choice is either of my two Boker large stockman. Not as many blade choices as the congress, 1070 steel instead of 1095. Still a good whittling knife.
3rd choice is the Buck 301 stockman. Buck runs their springs on the weak side. That makes for an easy to open knife, but is a bit of a pain, when trying to strop the blade.
I haven't used either of the case knives for whittling, but I don't know of any reason they wouldn't work ok.

O.B,

I agree. Basically anything with a straight edge and a bellied edge, so most stockman or congress patterns work for me. Beyond that, you just have to get a feel for which particular knives fit your hands the best.

I bought an old, cheap, cigar shaped Colonial stockman about a month ago. After cleaning it up and sharpening it, I put it in my pocket and have been using it as a EDC since. A few days ago I wondered how it would hold up whittling. I have some spoon blanks I made out of black Locusts.

I picked one up to make a couple test cuts, about an hour later I had this.

It was a cheap knife when new, and was a cheap knife now. It's not real pretty, it has some scars, but it does it's job.

O.B.

Nice!

 

[WhittlinAway]

So far, I really like my Boker Congress Carver. Great heat treat on all four blades that results in a truly frightening edge when sharpened well at a low angle. I’ve got a couple scars to prove it! Handle shape seems to work well for whittling, too.

I remember you saying good things about the Congress Carver a while back. It's one of the ones that I've been thinking of picking up to see how I like it. I'm glad to hear that you're still really enjoying it.

Have you been doing any whittling lately? Any more Christmas ornaments planned this year?

A couple weeks ago we slipped away to our favorite weekend spot. The night before coming home, the car crapped out and left us stranded for a few day while in the shop. So I had the time to finally get a caged ball to free float. Not pretty, but still proud of my first.

Nice job! I like how you also took the time to open up the end caps.

It's fun when the ball starts moving around, isn't it?

When carving I usually like to use a blade with some curve to it. I often use the curved portion of the blade in a sweeping motion to give a slicing cut. But there are times I want a straight blade. So you will see all my favorites have both a curved blade and a straight blade. Usually a Spey blade and a Sheepfoot blade. On the stockman knives, I don't use the main blade much for whittling, there is just two much extra blade to get in the way.
These are my possible, still available new, carving pocket knives, arranged by my first to last choice from left to right.

My first choice is the Boker Carver's congress. Four different blades, all a good length. 1095 carbon steel that takes a nice sharp edge.
My second choice is either of my two Boker large stockman. Not as many blade choices as the congress, 1070 steel instead of 1095. Still a good whittling knife.
3rd choice is the Buck 301 stockman. Buck runs their springs on the weak side. That makes for an easy to open knife, but is a bit of a pain, when trying to strop the blade.
I haven't used either of the case knives for whittling, but I don't know of any reason they wouldn't work ok.

O.B,

I have similar preferences to you. I use a curved blade for most of my whittling, but like having a straight one for certain tasks. I also do not really whittle with the large blade on my stockman knives. I've been considering sharpening one up, though, to see how I like it for the initial bulk removal stages of some whittling projects.

It's good to see another strong recommendation for the Boker Carver's Congress. I'm definitely going to have to give that one a try. A spey blade isn't my first choice of a curved blade for whittling, but having one along with a pen would be handy.

Thanks for the recommendations of the other Bokers, too. If I recall correctly, they used to make a whittler pattern as well. I wonder if they still do.

What do you think of the saber grind on the Buck. Does it make any difference for whittling for you?

I bought an old, cheap, cigar shaped Colonial stockman about a month ago. After cleaning it up and sharpening it, I put it in my pocket and have been using it as a EDC since. A few days ago I wondered how it would hold up whittling. I have some spoon blanks I made out of black Locusts.

I picked one up to make a couple test cuts, about an hour later I had this.

It was a cheap knife when new, and was a cheap knife now. It's not real pretty, it has some scars, but it does it's job.

O.B.

Very cool! It's funny how those "just a few test cuts" moments turn in to hour-long whittling sessions.

I agree. Basically anything with a straight edge and a bellied edge, so most stockman or congress patterns work for me. Beyond that, you just have to get a feel for which particular knives fit your hands the best.

I agree with your agreement.

I expected to see stockman and congress patterns show up, but was curious whether any particular ones would show up more than any other.

I've been thinking about picking up a Case 63032 CV medium stockman w/ pen blade for a while to try, but haven't gotten around to it yet, figuring I should probably work through my current sharpening backlog first.