Whittling/Carving tools...

Mongo

Mongo

Joined
Nov 5, 2001
Messages
8,969
Greetings all, I recently purchased a bag o' basswood blocks, and started on my very first ball in cage. Problem is I already screwed it up... I just saw Buzz's example and said "*#@*^%!" when I saw that I shouldn't have started carving the end. Oops, live and learn. Anyways, I started with my 1095 Camillus whittler and so far it is doing a credible job. However, a friend turned me onto a site with a ton of cool stuff www.japanwoodworker.com This place rocks! Does anybody have any of this stuff and have used it? There is a set of carving instruments for something like $19 that I'm thinking of getting.... has various gouges and v-shaped thingies. They are carbon steel at a rockwell of 62.
Let me know if any of you have anything like these and your experiences with them.
Thanks,
Mongo
 
Well, I got caught by the "Spirit of the Thread" too, I did some whittling in my youth but never a ball in cage, after the whittling threads I ended up making a cylindrical cage with two balls inside, came out quite nice too.

Anyway, those tools look nice, I specially like the Scandinavian knives.

If you use gouges and such you get more into carving than whittling, nothing wrong with that, I have an X-ACTO set that I like, the round gouges are good for spoons, the V shaped ones are good for decorating. chisels and rasps are often handy.

Then again, there´s a special feeling of acomplishment if you do it all with your pocket knife.
 
Hiya Don, I think I have to start over on my ball in cage, and I'll try to do it all with my whittler. The 6 tool set on page 25 of the japanwoodworker site looks intriguing though... the price is right too. I've also had my eye on the Roselli UHC knives there, though there is little mention of them here on BFC.
How is the exacto set you mentioned? I've seen those at hobby shops too... may have to check into them, I like the idea of the interchangeable blades.
 
I have someone that I've asked to make this to my drawing, sort of a whittler and also something I'll use in my leather work.
It'll be made using S30V steel, the scales will be some nice hard wood, with facets that will taper down to the butt, the thickness in the guard area will be about 3/4" or so, should be nice, I made a mock one up and felt pretty handy in either drawing it towards you or in pushing it away...what do you think?

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G2
 
Cool knife design!! If I were you, I'd be sure to tell the maker to thin it out real good in that crook near the heel of the blade. I have an early Fallkniven F1 and that area (although straight) is impossible to sharpen because of the way the flats of the blade are ground. Depending on how yours is ground you might not have a problem with it though. It'd be easier to strop if you didn't have that recurve.

Very cool design though. I'd like one too. It'd be especially cool with a sheath with a clip that could be placed in your back pocket.


--Matt
 
As a matter of fact, that area I told the fellow to keep it straight back to the guard and not swoop it, good eye! And it'll be a slim thin edge as well!

and the middle is a mosaic pin with the other dots pins as well but not decorative...;)
G2
 
Originally posted by Mongo
How is the exacto set you mentioned?
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I bought those many years ago, the blades are made from sheet steel and I have broken a couple of them, they are not as strong as full size tools, but they do get pretty sharp.

What I got was a carving set with a handle and some gouges, chisels, saws, and cutting blades, I found the gouges and chisels usefull, but the saws and cutting blades too thin and weak, I complemented the set with some thicker cutting blades which I like a lot.

I also have some regular carving tools, but they are the cheaper kind, originally got them at a stationary store for my daughters to use on linoleum. My grandad used to do some carving and had a nice set of tools, but I have no idea what was of them.

I have no plans to get any more tools, besides the X-actos, I have several stockman knives that are fine for whittling, my favorites are an old Schrade in 1095 with a 15 degree edge (reprofiled it from influence form the forums and it´s much better now), an Imperial Schrade from Ireland that has very thin blades, and also an Opinel #7 (with a carved handle).
 
I've started whittling recently, too. My first project was a ball in a cage whittled out of a piece of pine 2X2 with a huge knot at one end. I used a SAK small pen blade for most of the work and it came out pretty good.

I then bought a box of basswood scraps and did a ball in a cage with a 3-link chain attached to one end. I used mostly a Queen whittler, using the coping blade to do deep stop cuts and the pen blade for removing wood. I found the large clip blade to be nearly useless for any purpose, but in all fairness, I have not put any work into making the blade suitable for pushing through wood.

Next I bought a leather strop and a Warren basic whittling kit which has a walnut handle and brass chuck and comes with an assortment of blades. I like the feel of the knife. I'm using the straight edge blade, keeping it well polished on the strop, and it goes through the basswood like a - well, like a hot knife through butter. I'm carving a ball-in-a-ball and this one is going to be a tung-oil-treated keeper. Next I'll probably do something really over the top with a 2 foot piece of basswood 2X2 with balls-in-cages, swivel joints, slip joints, chain and anchor, etc I really need a completely useless piece of tomfoolery to occupy the upcoming autumn months.

I'm really enjoying my new hobby. It's a great stress reliever, the things I make impress the neighbors and friends (and even my wife) and they delight the kids. I even sweep up the shavings and throw them in the chimnea to help start the next fire. What could be a better hobby than whittling? Now if I can only learn to stop nicking my hands...

Mike
 
HI, Would you mind if i copied your pattern and made one out of ats34, hollow ground or would a flat grind be better......I heat treat to Rc 61......carl combs...... knife maker
 
Originally posted by combs6136
HI, Would you mind if i copied your pattern and made one out of ats34, hollow ground or would a flat grind be better......I heat treat to Rc 61......carl combs...... knife maker
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If you mean my drawing? sure, be my guest sir, I think it should work pretty nice! The one fellow that was going to make one for me is held up so I've not gotten it yet, may take a while...:(

Please post images when you get her done! :)
G2

ps
forgot to answer your question, don't rightly know! Hollow ground may work better with carving, to cut deeper, just have to take more care, flat grind provides a stronger blade, it's a toss up, maybe others will post their ideas regarding that...
 
I would like one in plain carbon steel. Like 1095 of 5160. Flat grind definately. That would make a fine whittler. Nice design Gary.
 
Originally posted by combs6136
HI, Would you mind if i copied your pattern and made one out of ats34, hollow ground or would a flat grind be better......I heat treat to Rc 61......carl combs...... knife maker
Click to expand...

Hi Carl, did you ever get a chance to make one similar to that?
Just curious, I've not gotten mine yet but anticipate it as always ;)

G2
 
Gary,

Your design looks pretty good but I think 2" is a little long for a whittler at least for me. I've been whittling for a while and the longer blade is good once in a while but the short blade is what I use to do alot of stock removal. The reason is that you have a lot more control over the blade when it's shorter. Just my .02.

Mongo,

I'd probably try out those tools for $19 but I wouldn't expect too much. If the steel is good then you've got a good deal but I'll bet the grinds will need some work. I've bought cheaper sets like this before (not this particular set) and some had good steel and some not but none of them have had good grinds on them. Not a huge problem but one you should be aware of since you need special slips to hone the insides of the gouges (if they need it). You can get away with not honing the insides but they do work better if you do.

Rob
 
Originally posted by Dr. Nick
Gary,

Your design looks pretty good but I think 2" is a little long for a whittler at least for me. I've been whittling for a while and the longer blade is good once in a while but the short blade is what I use to do alot of stock removal. The reason is that you have a lot more control over the blade when it's shorter. Just my .02...
Rob
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I agree Rob, this one will be primarily for my leather working and the occasional whittling job. When I have to removed a section of leather I have to incise a cut to remove a rectangular piece so the leather will fold into place, the wharncliff does that job expertly with it's fine point.

I have a Kershaw Double Cross folder with a small wharncliff that I use right now that is under the 2" mark, very nice knife! But for the design above, 2" seemed to balance out for my overall needs.
G2
 
Gary,

I like that Double Cross a lot. Neat knife.

I can see the need for a longer knife for leather work. I've done a little of that here and there and I ended up using one of those break-off utility knifes to do all of my cutting. I've made some saddlebags, a couple of old west style holsters and belts and some small stuff (cases and whatnot) but just for myself.

I've seen pictures of your stuff here too, I have to say I like what I've seen. Nice work.

Rob
 
I remember the first big whitling project I ever did. I whittled a cigar store Indian out of a piece of African walnut. He was suppose to be standing up holding a fistful of cigars, but instead he ended up holding a fistful of cigars sitting down on a tree stump!! (just the way it worked out). It did turn out pretty decent though, a little strange, but decent.:)
 
Originally posted by Dr. Nick
...I can see the need for a longer knife for leather work. I've done a little of that here and there and I ended up using one of those break-off utility knifes to do all of my cutting...
Click to expand...

Hi Rob, yep, those utility knives are my main stay! The wharncliff is used only when I can't get the wider utility knife into a spot, that's the beauty of the pointy wharncliffs! I do find if you have a wharncliff with a blade longer than 3" the tip can get in it's own way...:(

Rev...African Walnut? wow bet that was tough stuff! Have any pics of that Indian?
G2
 
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