Whittling, draw knives and fine detail carving

[Jodiejodes]

evilgreg WhittlinAway
Love the pictures...they really excited me!! Some day I’ll be posting a photo of my collection too.
I won’t be posting my humble little Opinels and SAKs today though!
So much to learn, so much to whittle...now to find the time!!

 

[BitingSarcasm]

I mostly use Flexcuts because that's what I bought starting out, and with a little sharpening and stropping they just keep going. Lots of good advice for you here, but I have 2 favorite whittling toys to harp about it. The Cold Steel min-Tuff Lite is a seriously great tool, and it is sad that it has been discontinued. If you see one come up on the exchange, snag it and you won't be sorry. I wish I had stored an extra couple away when they were available, they were pretty cheap. The second is a Flexcut Carvin' Jack. It's a lot more expensive, but there are 6 tools on one handle. It's a good way to try some scorps and gouges without having to shell out for each individual piece first. It's also really portable, so I can carve away on something while my boys play at the park without all the fuss of having a fixed blade.

 

[evilgreg]

Thanks for posting the group shot, evilgreg . I always enjoy seeing folks' most-used tools. May I ask which Helvie that is?

Nice group shot you have there. IIRC, the pictured Helvie is a medium detail, finger groove handle style, 1" blade. I like it, but as with every purpose-built whittling knife I've purchased I generally prefer the Tuff Lite knives overall, after the minor modifications mentioned earlier in the thread. IMO, the Deepwoods Ventures burl handle knives are the prettiest I've seen, but the Helvie handle is more comfortable. The Tuff Lites lack any sort of prettiness at all, but I find them the most comfortable and easiest knives to work with, at least for me.

 

[WhittlinAway]

Thanks for the info evilgreg . I’ll take what’s comfortable and easy to work with for me over pretty any day.

 

[Old Biker]

Blade HQ has the Mora 106 both as a knife, or just a blade that you can put your own handle on. They also have the 120 as a full knife, or just a blade. I prefer the 120 because it is shorter. Building your own handle is fun, but doesn't save much money.

This is my 120 that I put a handle on.

My favorite whittling/carving knives are the ones made by Pinewood Forge. Here are my two Sloyd knives. I find myself using the shorter one more. I don't like extra blade to get in the way.

I also find the Boker carvers congress to be a good option for whittling.

This is the one I would have on me, if I wanted to do some carving while camping somewhere.

O.B,

 

[Juha Perttula]

I make puukko knives and this is my whittling puukko. I think it can do nearly any whittling work. The 3 inch blade is large enough for cutting large chips and the point is sharp enough for carving small details. I know that better whittler than I makes finer details with smaller blades, but this blade is perfect for me. I also like Mora. Their knives are decent and inexpensive.

 

[Pilsner]

I make puukko knives and this is my whittling puukko. I think it can do nearly any whittling work. The 3 inch blade is large enough for cutting large chips and the point is sharp enough for carving small details. I know that better whittler than I makes finer details with smaller blades, but this blade is perfect for me. I also like Mora. Their knives are decent and inexpensive.

That’s absolutely gorgeous. Let me know if you ever make more of those!

 

[Quiet]

There are definitely some beautiful tool shots in this thread. I just recently acquired two of the three Mora "bowl" blades myself. I'd like to try my hand at some traditional kuksas. I love how they look, and have definitely seen some amazingly well done examples.

 

[Juha Perttula]

That’s absolutely gorgeous. Let me know if you ever make more of those!

I serial produce this puukko model, check my web pages. I just finished a new patch and send it to Lamnia who sells my puukkos internationally. At this moment they have sold out, but they will soon get my delivery.

 

[Pilsner]

I serial produce this puukko model, check my web pages. I just finished a new patch and send it to Lamnia who sells my puukkos internationally. At this moment they have sold out, but they will soon get my delivery.

Thanks man, I’ll check it out. Beautiful work!

 

[Pilsner]

Juha Perttula turns out Lamnia had one in stock. Now on its way to me!

Jodiejodes sorry for the brief derail, but you have to love this place.

 

[WhittlinAway]

evilgreg WhittlinAway
Love the pictures...they really excited me!! Some day I’ll be posting a photo of my collection too.
I won’t be posting my humble little Opinels and SAKs today though!
So much to learn, so much to whittle...now to find the time!!

I think you'll find that Opinels and SAKs are quite welcome and respected here.

By the way, I realized I'd neglected to identify the knives in the photo I shared. Here's the list, in case it's helpful to you or anyone else:

- Top: Runes Land Knives RS2 with charred osage orange handle,
- Left: Mora 120
- Right: Helvie Donald Mertz Signature Series #1 (left) and #8 (right)
- Bottom: Deepwoods Ventures Slim Carver 1 3/4" upswept
- Pocketknives in the Middle: Camillus 72 (top) and modified Case 6383 (bottom)

The Camillus 72 is my go-to all-around whittling knife. I bought the RS2 and Mora 120 for spoon carving, but now also use them for bulk removal and some initial rough shaping of basswood whittling projects. The Helvie Mertz #1 is my favorite fixed-blade whittling knife and I enjoy using the #8 for finer detail work. The Deepwoods Ventures is also very capable and sees a lot of use as well. I don't use the Case 6383 as often as the others, but its very pointy modified clip blade does come in handy from time to time.

My unsolicited advice is to not get too worried about finding the "best" whittling knife. What's best is a very personal thing and as you continue to whittle you'll start to figure out what works well for you. Have fun, be safe, and enjoy the exploration.

 

[Jodiejodes]

No need to apologise, might just have to jump on board with that one myself!

 

[Frederick89]

I've come down to use mostly Hans Karlsson knives and tools. They don't have large production numbers, but given their quality they sell for an extremely competetivie price and the waiting time is well beyond worth.
For the kind of whittling you're talking about I usually go with the 75x20x3 mm slojd, the two 50x10x2 mm detail knives and a 4 mm mini V gouge.