whittling

pahl

pahl

Joined
Feb 23, 2002
Messages
1,088
The other day I was out at the lake fishing from shore.
The fish were not really bitting so I picked up a stick and started whittling on it.
Did not make anything out of it but I really enjoyed cutting away at the stick with my freashly sharpened blade.
I'm going to go get a old timer pocket knife today just to play around with at the lake.

Not a knife ? , but I thought someone might help me out.
What are some good first time whittling projects?
Thought It would be nice to be whittling to make something instead of just cutting away at a stick till it's gone.

To make it a knife post I guess I could ask how many of you use your knife for whittling?
If you don't mind me asking how old are you and how long have you been whittling?

Thanks
JP, age34
South Dakota
 
I used to do some whittling or carving, not too great at it but good hobby and great for passing the time. Look in some wood carving books for ideas or just try to whittle out something you are interested in. I tried some simple animals, birds and such.

Only thing is you should be careful because it is easy to get caught up in what you are trying to accomplish and cut toward some body part. Be careful and enjoy.
 
I have heard that in them olden days, guys would whittle combs for their chicks. How 'bout a nice wooden comb?
 
Get a copy of E. J. Tangerman's classic "Whittling and Woodcarving." It's been reprinted a dozen or more times. Lee Valley Tools (www.leevalley.com) also has excellent books on carving, or have a look at your local magazine store. There are lots of wood carving and wood working mags available. Get a good hone, and a supply of bandaids, too:) .
 
A walking stick is always a work in progress. How about a spoon it’s not to hard. Everyday I whittle myself a toothpick or a new point on one.:)
 
Always wanted to make one ever since I saw one at a prison art showing.:D

Could never figure out how they got something sharp to carve with.:rolleyes:

Took 28 hours of carving.


carving.jpg
 
“Warden, I’d like to take this here log into my cell.”
“What for prisoner?”
“I’m going to carve me a ball inside ah box.”
“Sure go ahead prisoner.”


BTW TE… your picture doesn’t show up because it says you can’t link to it.
 
that is amazing.... it only took 28 hrs? What kind of wood did you use to do it?

My experience with whittling have been mostly with dried out wood from my maples... not the easiest to work with. So far I have not attempted anything quite as elaborate as a sphere in a box. Do a search on fellow forumite Buzzbait... he had a rather cool whistle that he whittled a whiles back.

Thanks mad Hungarian!
 
Another search on 'Hoodoo' and 'Yari' will show a recent review he wrote about the Gerber Yari. Hoodoo used it with some other tools to whittle a 'noggin', sort of a wooden spoon on steroids.
 
It was made from a single block of Bass Wood I had bought at a wood carving show 15 years ago, I made it last summer. Aside from that my favorite wood for carving is Beech Wood from the trees in my yard, I mostly carve walking sticks and canes.
 
Remove everything that isn't round.:D

When I get a chance if enough people are interested I'll post a thread on how, if not email me personally and I'll explain how.

It's not really hard, just time consuming.
 
Wow, great thread, JP!!
TE, that is an amazing carving! I would love to see a pictoral tutorial of how you carve that.
One thing you guys might want to try thats pretty simple is get some blocks of bass wood, about 2" by 2" and about 4" long. I watched a gent on tv carve them into faces and charicatures and he sure made it look easy. :p He started the face on one of the corners, not on the face of the wood like I've always tried.
I think the key to really enjoying whittling/carving is to be happy with what ever you end up with and make a little space on a shelf someplace in your home to sit em. I bet in no time you'd be very pleased with your progress.
Next time I'm at the hobby shop I think I'm gonna grab some bass wood blocks and give it a try.
Everyone be sure to post pix of your work when you feel comfortable sharing it.
 
Originally posted by T. Erdelyi
Remove everything that isn't round.:D

When I get a chance if enough people are interested I'll post a thread on how, if not email me personally and I'll explain how.

It's not really hard, just time consuming.
Click to expand...


Cool,
I would be interested in learning how you did that.
I have been searching the net for whittling info and have found some interesting things.

I found a old two blade Victorinox Swiss knife that I forgot I had.
The one blade is only about 1 1/4 inch long. The other blade is about 3 inchs long. The handle is about 4 inchs long and very flat.

I cut out the rough shape of a fish out of some pine on my bandsaw and then whittled on it with the short blade of the swiss.
The knife seems to work preaty well for whittling.

Thanks for the replys, look forward to hearing more.
 
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