20-Minute Whittling Projects E-Book

Tom Hindes

• Herausgeber: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Seitenzahl: 76

Beschreibung

Learn the fast and simple way to whittle in this fun introduction to woodcarving. Discover how to whittle in less time while you have more fun! One of the joys of whittling with a pocketknife is that you can do it just about anywhere. You don't need any fancy equipment, and you don't even need much spare time. Author Tom Hindes demonstrates his easy-to-learn, quick-cut method for whittling expressive little figures from wood in just 20 minutes or less. With his friendly instructions and step-by-step photos, you'll learn to carve an endless array of charming wizards, gnomes, gargoyles, ornaments, dogs, leprechauns, and more. These super-short whittling projects are perfect for learning basic woodcarving skills. They also make wonderful little gifts for random acts of kindness. Leave one along with your tip at the local restaurant, or give one to your favorite cashier. Children especially enjoy receiving them as souvenirs.

Leseprobe

20-Minute

Whittling

Projects

Dedication

There are folks put on this earth who never shy away from offering help to others. This book is dedicated to one such person—woodcarver Thomas G. Perrin. I “met” Thomas Perrin on the Woodcarving Illustrated magazine forum (www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/forum) in 2007. He answered my woodcarving question and offered assistance, as he did for so many others. I never met Thomas in person, but talked to him on the telephone several times a week until his death on February 4, 2011.

Acquisition Editor: Mindy Kinsey

Cover Designer: Jason Deller

Layout Designer: Justin Speers

Technical Editor: Bob Duncan

Producing Editor: Carly Glasmyre

Photography: Scott Kriner and Lindsay Garner

Step-by-Step Photography: Keith Radick

20-Minute

Whittling

Projects

Fun Things to Carve From Wood

TOM HINDES

A Woodcarving IllustratedBook www.WoodCarvingIllustrated.com

Table of Contents

Introduction

Getting Started

Projects

Basics

Sampler

Ball

Whammy Diddle

Pumpkin Pin

People

5-Minute Wizard

15-Minute Santa

Farmer

Gnome

Animals

Dog

Bear

Gargoyle

Horse

Fox

Baby Animals

Fawn

Piglet

Baby Fox

Bear Cub

Baby Elephant

Appendix

Safety

Basic Cuts

Basics of Sharpening

Finishing

Index

About the Author

Introduction

I titled this book 20-Minute Whittling Projects because the projects in this book are designed to be completed quickly and easily. In my experience, a lot of early whittling publications seemed to focus on traditional whimsies like the chain, ball-in-cage, chain-in-cage, etc. However, these seemingly simple projects actually took a lot of time to complete and often discouraged beginners. I wanted to make whittling accessible to anyone interested in woodcarving, so I designed projects that help beginners start whittling without having to spend a lot of time or money.

It is my hope that the 18 projects in this book will get you started and develop your skills as a whittler. Each project can be adapted to your skill level, as you can incorporate more or less detail depending on how comfortable you feel. I divided the projects into four categories: Basic, People, Animals, and Baby Animals. With everything from farmers to pumpkins to elephants, you’re sure to find the perfect project for you.

Even if you’re not a complete beginner, I advise you to check out the Getting Started section as well as the Appendix in the back. These two sections will teach you everything from picking the right knife to whittling safety. Then, try the Sampler project in the Basic category. This project will give you practice with the basic cuts used in whittling (see page 86 in the Appendix for more information on basic cuts) and set the foundation for the other projects in the book.

What is Whittling? ____________

Whittling can be defined as carving wood with only a knife; whittlers don’t use chisels, gouges, or power tools. When people think of whittling, they think of specific projects: pointed sticks, wood chains, and a ball-in-the-box. But when I think of whittling, I think of any carving that involves only a knife.

That being said, whittling obviously doesn’t require a large investment in tools or wood. All you need is a good knife, a good piece of wood, and a decent strop to keep your knife edge sharp. I give suggestions on knives and wood to use in the Getting Started section (page 8). If you aren’t sure how to sharpen a knife, check out the Basics of Sharpening section (page 88) in the Appendix.

Whittling is a great hobby you can take anywhere you go. While some pull out their cell phones when they’re in a waiting room, I work on my latest project! This is why most of the projects in this book are small—I like to choose pieces that can fit in my pocket. I also enjoy doing projects that can be completed quickly. This is what makes whittling fun for beginners—they get immediate gratification.

My whittling often attracts attention from the people around me, especially children. Children are the best audience for whittling because they like small things and they don’t require too much detail to figure out what the whittled piece is. However, even if everything you make is for children, your piece will need some distinguishing characteristics. For example, elephants always have large ears and a long trunk, which are easy for both children and adults to identify quickly. The projects in this book will show you what features to leave in and what to leave out when depicting a person, animal, or object, and hopefully will inspire you to design your own whittling projects!

Getting Started ________________

What Makes a Good Whittling Knife?

One of my favorite things about whittling is that you can do it anywhere. This means the knife you use should be easily transportable. I always use a folding pocket knife; nothing beats the convenience of safely slipping a folded knife into your pocket.

Many manufacturers create folding knives for whittling (or carving) with blades that resemble classic carving knives. These specialty knives can get expensive. They are worth the money if you do a lot of whittling, but you don’t need to buy a specialty knife to whittle.

Many carvers use a second pocketknife for everyday use, such as opening cardboard boxes, to avoid dulling the sharp pocketknife they use for whittling.

When selecting a pocketknife for whittling, keep the following factors in mind.

Carbon Steel Blade

Many pocketknife blades are made from stainless steel. Stainless steel holds an edge for a long time and doesn’t corrode if you close the knife with a wet blade—both great qualities for pocketknives. But because stainless steel dulls slowly, it sharpens slowly as well. Most carving tools are made from high-carbon steel. Knives with high-carbon steel blades are more expensive than knives with stainless-steel blades, but they are easier to sharpen.

Many manufacturers are creating high-carbon stainless-steel blades, which combine the durability of stainless steel with the added benefits of carbon steel.

Blade Location

Some pocketknives have 10 to 20 blades and attachments. These knives are generally less comfortable to use for long periods of time, and the blades you want to carve with are seldom in the center of the handle. If the knife blade is not in the center of the handle, you lose leverage, which reduces your carving power and control. Instead, look for a knife with two or, at most, three blades, which should ensure the blades are conveniently placed.

A sheepsfoot blade (top) is better suited for whittling than a drop-point blade (bottom).

Blade Shape

Look for a sheepsfoot blade—one where the tip of the knife is closely aligned with the main cutting edge, similar to a utility knife or standard bench knife. Many pocketknife blades have a drop-point shape, which centers the tip of the knife in the middle of the blade. The drop-point shape works well for general cutting purposes, but makes it difficult to carve small details. You can reshape a blade using sharpening stones and sandpaper, but the process is time consuming.

Locking Blades

A locking blade keeps the sharp knife from accidentally closing on your fingers, which is a good safety feature. However, as long as you are always aware a knife can close on your fingers, you should be safe, regardless of whether or not your knife features a locking blade.

Choosing the Right Knife for You

Selecting the ideal pocketknife for you is a matter of personal preference. The size of your grip compared with the size of the handle will greatly influence how comfortable the knife is to use over extended periods. The ideal knife for your friend may not be well-suited for you. Ask other whittlers for their opinions, but then hold and test several knives before making a purchase.

Basic Whittling Kit

As I’ve noted before, you don’t need a whole lot to start whittling other than a knife and wood. However, it can be helpful to have a few extra tools handy. I suggest putting together a basic whittling kit so you have the essentials wherever you go.

My first suggestion is a carving glove. I always use a carving glove to protect the hand that is holding the wood. Proper hand positioning should keep the hand holding the wood out of harm’s way; however, a carving glove is another good safety precaution.

Some projects, like my Sampler and the 15-Minute Santa, don’t have a pattern and require you to draw simple detail lines. Keep a couple of pencils handy to sketch and draw detail lines on the wood. This is also great if you’re on the go and you don’t happen to have a pattern—you can just sketch one.

Finally, make sure to include a strop in your basic whittling kit. A strop maintains the cutting edge of your knife. I strop my blade before and after every whittling session; sometimes I even strop it during the whittling session.

Selecting the Wood