the most recent thread was from 2012, so figured I'd just start a new one.
I've messed around in the woods with super, super basic stuff like roasting sticks, traps, try sticks etc.
today I finally got around to trying my beavercraft wood carving knife
I know it's ugly as sin but ya gotta start somewhere. Told my kid I'd carve them something super basic for their birthday and they picked the first letter of their name. She'll have fun painting it,making it her own.
Even though it's rough and ugly, it was really peaceful focusing on such a simple task for however long it took. Also managed to not cut myself, so that's an ok start in my book.
I know Jazz and yablanowitz have posted some beautiful work. Who else carves here? Which knives do you like to use? Any general advice for an absolute beginner like me?
I’ve done a good bit of wood carving in the past, primarily during design school.
Technically whittling is a form of wood carving but they both involve different techniques. Whittling is generally limited to using just a knife, whereas carving allows for a much wider range of tools and techniques to be used. The distinction might seem trivial at first, but in practice it’s significant.
I've done some whittling projects for my nieces over the past couple years that I've posted here on the forum. I'll look for some photos and come back to this thread later. One of my nieces wanted a ladybug and my other niece wanted a heart.
For the whittling, I used Spyderco knives only just for the sake of it. I wasn't carving any fine details so a Roadie XL and a Sage 1 handled those projects just fine.
I definitely carve, or whittle may be more appropriate? I only use knife and axe.
I think I may even have posted a photo or two of some of what I've carved, here on the forum, in the past.
Whichever you call it, and either way, I do it and enjoy it.
When I first started I was really horrible at it, and over the years I've improved a bit.
As the weather starts to cool, and the mosquitos start to thin out a lot (I carve outside), I'll start carving again.
I find it very rewarding and relaxing. An upside of carving is it's easy to have a small wood fire next to you while you do it :-) and I do like a wood fire too, so...
As it cools down/the mosquitos thin out, it won't be out of the norm to find me carving in my back yard, next to a small wood fire with a small kettle on it and some hot coffee to sip at periodically. Totally absorbed in what I'm carving in/with my hands, smelling the wood smoke, and totally relaxed too =-]
I'll see if I can find any photos. Soon though I'll be able to post up some recent stuff.
As to knives, I have many. Most are Moras, even a few home made. The old school 510, 106, and the newer Woodcarving Basic (with the black plastic 510 handle) are generally my go-to straight fixed blades.
Initially I'd gotten a Mora 120 after reading a lot of internet hype, but quickly found out they're not so good for me. A friend and I Very quickly nick-named our 120's "The Bloodletter", due to how freakin' frequently we'd jab/stab and cut ourselves using that one, lol.
I gifted it to another friends son years ago.
The No. 1 or No. 2 are also pretty good for it too, in my experience - but - I prefer the 106, Woodcarving Basic, or old school 510. Those three work very well for me.
I don't own an un-modded bent knife. I have never got one that was good as purchased. With a little work though, they get real good.
There is (or was) an RH open curve bent knife at smkw (beaver creek) that I want to try. When it showed in stock and I ordered it; and I got an refund & e-mail a week-ish later, informing me it was out of stock. I'll see about it again this fall.
the most recent thread was from 2012, so figured I'd just start a new one.
I've messed around in the woods with super, super basic stuff like roasting sticks, traps, try sticks etc.
today I finally got around to trying my beavercraft wood carving knife
I know it's ugly as sin but ya gotta start somewhere. Told my kid I'd carve them something super basic for their birthday and they picked the first letter of their name. She'll have fun painting it,making it her own.
Even though it's rough and ugly, it was really peaceful focusing on such a simple task for however long it took. Also managed to not cut myself, so that's an ok start in my book.
I know Jazz and yablanowitz have posted some beautiful work. Who else carves here? Which knives do you like to use? Any general advice for an absolute beginner like me?
Take it slow and respect the edge. Learn to work with the wood, not against it. The handle is just as important as the blade, and sharp is the only really important blade feature. I've seen people do great work with blades I would never consider trying.
My oldest surviving whittling project, circa 1972 or thereabouts.
Mushroom and others, on this topic:
I have seen an increase in wooden knife kits being sold. While those are kits, how difficult would it be to take raw wood and carve a functional knife or sword, or folder?
By functional I do not mean that it cuts like a metal blade, only that it has a realistic feel to it.
