What have you been whittling with your traditionals?

[screened porch]

I'm going to try a big spoon, out of some hard maple that may be too much for me, but we'll see.

 

[lutejones]

I like both sir!

I started mucking about with whittling but just don't have the time to stick at it like I would prefer to.

What wood do you recommend for a beginner?

Without a doubt basswood(lime or linden in europe)

For greenwood carving(spoons and such) in general you want tight grained woods
Beech, birch, willow, cherry, apple, pear.

All of them are good for carving dry too but exponentially harder on your hands.
Here are some Opinel beech handles:

 

[dantzk8]

All of them are good for carving dry too but exponentially harder on your hands.

It is possible to soften dry wood by dipping it in a mixture of alcohol and water (50/50). However, for small details it is better to let the wood dry to obtain cleaner cuts.

Dan.

 

[Just Tom.]

Dashed off a quick spoon today. I was pretty much done with it, but then had to “erase” some worse-than usual (usual already being bad) wood-burning on the handle with an Opinel 10, and start over:

 

[Hatchet_Jack]

Any recommendations on good slip joints for whittling?

I'm keen to get back into it.

 

[Just Tom.]

Any recommendations on good slip joints for whittling?

I'm keen to get back into it.

There have been a couple of recent threads on the topic. Here is one:
Thread 'Traditional knives for whittling and carving?'
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/traditional-knives-for-whittling-and-carving.1891592/

I am a fan of the idea of finding something that is comfortable in the hand, and then modifying the blades to suit your needs.

 

[CVamberbonehead]

Any recommendations on good slip joints for whittling?

I'm keen to get back into it.

Try a Case Seahorse whittler or a Swiss Army Knife (one with a saw is really nice). Also, Congress knives and Stockmen are good patterns for whittling.

 

[JM2]

It’s darn hard to beat a Case stockman in CV for whittling. Whittling is not the same thing as carving though in my mind.

 

[lutejones]

I usually don’t like to carve the “typical” stuff and don’t accept commissions or ideas about what to do, because whittling it’s a very relaxing hobby for me and don’t want it to be contaminated with deathlines or expectations.
Of course all this principles go to waste when your little five year old ask you to make her a Santa pretty please

The “client” is already asking when it’s gonna be done and saying that the hair on the beard is missing, etc

 

[yablanowitz]

Yeah, five year olds are not renowned for their patience. I think it's looking good so far.

 

[Hatchet_Jack]

Without a doubt basswood(lime or linden in europe)

For greenwood carving(spoons and such) in general you want tight grained woods
Beech, birch, willow, cherry, apple, pear.

All of them are good for carving dry too but exponentially harder on your hands.
Here are some Opinel beech handles:

My apologies, I somehow didn't see your reply. I predominately use this forum on my phone and it's not always the best for spotting these things.

I really like your work too mate, the fine detail work on such a small piece is impressive.

 

[JM2]

Working on another ornament.

 

[lutejones]

Working on another ornament.

really cool!!

I’ve finished Santa, It looks cool although I got a little carried away with the beard and ended up a little thin.

The 62 as always is a great performer combining both small blades, I need to modify the coping blade into a more pointed wharncliff

 

[screened porch]

The Santa effigies at Lowe's seem quite svelte this year. Can THEY have been worried that Santas of traditional girth are a bad role model?

 

[JM2]

really cool!!

I’ve finished Santa, It looks cool although I got a little carried away with the beard and ended up a little thin.

The 62 as always is a great performer combining both small blades, I need to modify the coping blade into a more pointed wharncliff

Nice work. Looks like some nice patina happening there on the 62, not withstanding that "serrated" edge you got happening! lol

 

[lutejones]

Wow what a fascinating phenomenon, I lend the knife to cut a couple of zip ties, I’ve identified a rolled spot on the edge. But what it’s seen on the picture if you zoom is a weird light trick, there’s nothing like that jagged piece of crap

Nice work. Looks like some nice patina happening there on the 62, not withstanding that "serrated" edge you got happening! lol

 

[JM2]

Wow, that's cool man. Funny the tricks photography can play. I do a bit of photography myself, mostly for my cast bullet site, bulletmatch.com, but it's interesting to me outside of photographing cast bullets. I know that a good camera and lens will show every detail, right down to the fingerprints on brass casings sometimes.

 

[lutejones]

Oiled and painted by my daughter( some help with the eyes)

 

[JM2]

Oiled and painted by my daughter( some help with the eyes)

Nice on both the whittling and the painting!

 

[lutejones]

New project finished and new knife received!!
I still haven’t had time to tune up the grinds and shapes of the blades, but I have great hopes on this becoming a great whittler