The Whittling Corner

[JohnDF]

25FA2C74-691F-4458-B181-2FC550110AA1 by V M, on Flickr

87BE041C-3E0D-4849-84A1-4F58FFACE4DE by V M, on Flickr

FB5E06A3-C030-461A-84B8-9834C7788B16 by V M, on Flickr

I got the Santa finished up and painted. Not perfect, but it's been a while since I've done much whittling, so I think it's decent. A friend saw the Santa and wanted me to make a gnome for them to paint, so I've been working on that. I think I'll be making a few other things in the near future. Will be a nice break from crochet. haha.

I'm still using the Case Seahorse. The wood that I have is a bit old, so some of it is dry and I've been using a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol to soften it up. I have one piece that is still quite hard to carve, and I think I'll have to pull out my flexcut to see what it can do to it. Probably make me wonder what the problem was.

I need to work on sharpening without scratching up the rest of the blade... Does anyone have any tips on this? Maybe just painter's tape?

Nicely done

 

[yablanowitz]

My tip is: "Don't worry about scratches". I know that's not what you want to hear, but that has always been my attitude.

rje58 I'm not up on GEC model numbers, but I have done some whittling with a Dixie Stockman from a few years back. The edges were a bit thick, but it worked okay.

 

[rje58]

Thank you! After the holidays when I have more free time, I'm going to give the 82 Dixie Stockman a try at whittling.

I'm not up on GEC model numbers, but I have done some whittling with a Dixie Stockman from a few years back. The edges were a bit thick, but it worked okay.

 

[OLd_gUY]

I need to work on sharpening without scratching up the rest of the blade... Does anyone have any tips on this? Maybe just painter's tape?

I'm still learning about sharpening and have been for some time.
Bugs the heck out of me when those scratches appear. But as has been said many times before, the performance of the blade isn't really affected, just the looks.
The only thing that really bothers me about scratches is that I feel the scratches mean I could be more efficient (and proficient) in sharpening.
What I mean is that scratches to me, are a sign that an area is obviously hitting the stone other than the edge. I've found that making sure the bevel is resting on the stone correctly and using less pressure, i.e. a lighter touch, and letting the stone do the work helps. Sometimes, I have to constantly remind myself to do the old "imagine you're trying to take a thin slice off the top of the stone" and to use a light touch.
I also sometimes have to remind myself that it's not a race, it's about being consistent.
I never used painters tape while sharpening so I don't have any input there .
Like the NY resident said to the tourist who asked "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" "Practice".
Hope that is of some help.
OG

 

[traumkommode]

For sharpening scratches, try cleaning a little as you go - we the blade every couple minutes with a damp or oily cloth, and that will clean off the metal/abrasive slurry that hangs out on the blade and causes faint, rogue scratches.

 

[mushka]

I need some advice on a gouge for spoons. I'm not clear on the shapes shown on tool sites. What I want is a bent gouge about a half inch wide , curved of course for the spoons. What make, where to get one that isn't junk. I bought a set that was supposed to be good but it's not really worth a darn. I think it's Japanese. What and where is the good stuff?

 

[OLd_gUY]

I need some advice on a gouge for spoons. I'm not clear on the shapes shown on tool sites. What I want is a bent gouge about a half inch wide , curved of course for the spoons. What make, where to get one that isn't junk. I bought a set that was supposed to be good but it's not really worth a darn. I think it's Japanese. What and where is the good stuff?

M mushka , check your Profile Messages as your membership will not let me PM. The manufacturer isn't named in this message as I believe he isn't a Forum member. Hope this helps.

 

[Old Biker]

I need some advice on a gouge for spoons. I'm not clear on the shapes shown on tool sites. What I want is a bent gouge about a half inch wide , curved of course for the spoons. What make, where to get one that isn't junk. I bought a set that was supposed to be good but it's not really worth a darn. I think it's Japanese. What and where is the good stuff?

If You really want a gouge, the Pfeil brand seems to be quality. I used to have one, that I bought at a woodcraft store. I can't see carving spoons with one though. They are to big and better suited for bigger things like bowels. I think a hook knife is better suited for spoon work.

I just finished carving this large serving spoon.

Using the knives shown below.

I did most of the hollowing with the hook knife on the far left. One of the sweeps is left handed and that was useful in areas where the grain made using the right handed hook knife difficult. The two knives on the right were use on the outside shaping. I started with the short sloyd knife but switched to the Mora knife because it's longer blade worked better on the large spoon. I usually prefer the shorter knife, but because of the large size of the spoon, the longer blade worked better this time. The Mora is a Morakniv 120 blade that I laminated a handle for.

O.B.

 

[Jiki]

 

[Jiki]

 

[rje58]

Nice! How long does one of those take you?

 

[Jiki]

Nice! How long does one of those take you?

Thanks, the Santa ornament takes about 45 minutes, the little hillbilly about an hour.

 

[OLd_gUY]

Thanks, the Santa ornament takes about 45 minutes, the little hillbilly about an hour.

Great job. Grats. Well done.
OG

 

[Kiro]

I have recently realized that I could get into this. I like that it would give me something more to do with my knives. Here is a picture of head I carved in some kindling around a camp fire this fall. Rough, but I think a good start. The GEC felt pretty capable, though I don't have much experience for comparison. Next to it is a caged ball / chain combo that my great grandfather carved and usually holds a place of respect hung on the wall.

 

[lutejones]

Hey guys, long time without posting anything although lurking some, specially this great thread.
I keep some contact with Greg on Instagram too.
I remembered because I found the courthouse whittler I thought I lost!!!. It seems that I gave it to my brother in law and I didn’t remember. I thought it had slipped through a hole in my pocket.
Anyway I proposed him a change an Schrade carpenters whittler in mint condition in exchange of taking back the GEC.
So it’s with me again after 5 years.

I’m preparing a post showing how I fine tune a blade for whittling.
Hopefully this weekend or next week.

Enough talking, some work in progress:
A gift for a doctor friend, She actually helped deliver our second child

Hope you like it
Regards,
Mateo

 

[JaxBaron]

Hey guys, long time without posting anything although lurking some, specially this great thread.
I keep some contact with Greg on Instagram too.
I remembered because I found the courthouse whittler I thought I lost!!!. It seems that I gave it to my brother in law and I didn’t remember. I thought it had slipped through a hole in my pocket.
Anyway I proposed him a change an Schrade carpenters whittler in mint condition in exchange of taking back the GEC.
So it’s with me again after 5 years.

I’m preparing a post showing how I fine tune a blade for whittling.
Hopefully this weekend or next week.

Enough talking, some work in progress:
A gift for a doctor friend, She actually helped deliver our second child

Hope you like it
Regards,
Mateo

Awesome work! I love the upside down baby lol

 

[lutejones]

Finished guys!!
Hope you like it

 

[lutejones]

By the way the tutorial for preparing a blade for whittling is posted on the maintenance forum, here is the link
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/prepare-a-blade-for-whittling.1639619/

Peregrin if you think is better placed on the trad. Forum move it around thanks

 

[Peregrin]

By the way the tutorial for preparing a blade for whittling is posted on the maintenance forum, here is the link
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/prepare-a-blade-for-whittling.1639619/

Peregrin if you think is better placed on the trad. Forum move it around thanks

Mateo, I think the maintenance forum is a good place for it. Maybe you can add a link in your signature line?
Nice carved figure! I love seeing them.

 

[waynorth]

Finished guys!!
Hope you like it

A wonderful creative work!!!
Nice going!!