Whittling: Whittling Vs. Wood Carving
Whittling is the removal of pare shavings or the cutting of small bits from a piece of wood using a knife or similar wedge-edged tool. It is the most basic form of wood carving but it is not actually the art of wood carving, as it is done today. Wood carving requires a number of tools, even power tools at that. So it could get complicated pretty fast. But this is not how it is when one whittles. All you need to whittle are two things: a piece of wood and a knife.
True whittling has always been very simple. Details in the wood aren’t very refined but rather pretty coarse. When you are holding a whittled object in your hand, you know it. You can plainly see each knife stroke. Using sand paper isn’t an option. This is the exact opposite of wood carving, which typically excels in details. When you’re holding a wood carving of the same object, you usually won’t see even one knife stroke. It’s very interesting. Whittling a little girl could take a week when all you’re using is a knife. Wood carving the same little girl requires more tools but it takes just a fraction of the time. She’ll also have many details that couldn’t be produced with just a knife.
Whittling requires no special tools, no special circumstance or any specific type of working environment. Just you, a piece of wood and your knife are all it takes. You can whittle anywhere inside or outside your home, in a car, at a picnic, in a park—nearly anywhere. This is not so with detailed wood carving.
Popular Questions
What definitive set of power tools should a person purchase for the purpose of home upgrades and repairs
As a fairly new homeowner I’m finding lots of little things that need to be done. Minor repairs to the garage door minor soffit and fascia damage repairing doors and drywall etc. I like to have the best tool for the job but when it comes to cutting or finishing there are several tools more adapted for a particular job. If one were to have the perfect “toolbox” (or perhaps toy box) with practical (not highly specialized) tools what should it contain
Well I did specify power tools but I suppose that mentioning other tools is fine as well. I already have a hammer measuring tape cordless drill and a fairly complete socket wrench set. What’s interesting is that ‘drill’ was mentioned more than once; aside from drilling holes I assume that others use theirs for planting screws
I will definitely need to cut wood but don’t know if I necessarily need a table saw. I did like the suggestion of a reciprocating saw. For those who are suggesting tools could you please also note what types of modifications and/or repairs for which they are most useful Many thanks!
Since you already have a cordless drill I’d suggest (more or less in this order):
A handheld circular saw (sometimes called a Skil saw but Dewalt and Porter-Cable make better basic ones than Skil). A reciprocating saw is good for demolition and rough work but not for precise clean cuts–I’d get that only when you have a job for it. But do get a hand held jig saw (sabre saw)–Bosch Porter-Cable and DeWalt make good ones. A compound miter saw is nice if you are doing any trim at all–DeWalt’s 12″ model is a real workhorse right around $300 but a 10″ saw can be had for much less.
I also have a spiral saw that I use for drywall cutouts a router that I constantly find new uses for a random orbit sander that I can’t live without and a 4″ belt sander I’ve used on every remodel job I’ve had since I bought it. Mine are all Porter-Cable.
If you can afford it a small air compressor with 18 gauge and 15 gauge finish nail guns is great–if you can only have one finish nailer I’d say 16 g. The compressor can also be used with a paint sprayer tire inflater air hammer etc.
Tags: whittled object, cat channel, sand paper, small bits, exact opposite, basic form, power tools, little girlRelated posts
2 Responses to “Whittling: Whittling Vs. Wood Carving”
nerea says:
November 10, 2011 at 11:23 am
thx
togi pati says:
November 21, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Someone explain it to me this way! those little irratation are sent to you by God as “Evenly sand paper” they are made to maker you smooth as sand paper take the make everything so soft and perfect God will shape us during those disciplining year to make us and our children better person!]]>