[GoneGonzo]

Being new I was wondering what the difference in whittling and carving was ? Hope this sin't a "dumb" ?

Gone Gonzo

[Smokey]

Dont feel "dumb"--this question has been ask here at least a dozen times.I've heard it argued that there isn't any difference. I have come up with an answer that works for me. Whittling is what takes place when you sit on the porch and "mindlessly" sharpen a stick, then may even end-up with something. Carving is when you have a end product in mind, and make plans to end-up with that product.
I can't imagine anyone "whittling" the holiday ham, and I dont believe that one could carve the peanut butter onto a piece of bread.

[Tom H]

I finally got it figgered out for myself anyway. If I end up with something that looks pretty good I call it a carvin and myself a carver. If however, when done I have a heap of chips and a not so well planned and carved piece, I call it a whittlin and myself a whittler. I am more of a whittler than a carver. And please! no disrespect meant to the dedicated whittlers.

Tom H

[Lynn O. Doughty]

One is spelled W H I T T L I N G and the other is spelled C A R V I N G! I guess you could also factor in which part of the country you live in or more importantly how much education you think you have, i.e., High School or below.....you whittle, anything above you carve! I was lucky enough to have been awarded an onery degree in Carvology so I consider my self a border-line carver. However, I do have an occasional relaspe and find my self wanting to whittle.

[Just Carving]

Yer whittlin' wid knives

You are carving mahvelously with the finest carving tools.

[windsong]

I'm from Ky. up in the hills.A vilon is a fiddle in my parts but i thing there the same thing.Thats from my high school level of thinking. Ha. Ha. But i could be wrong.Look out your whittling with my carving knife!!!!
windsong

[Colin_Partridge]

As far as I am concerned they are the same thing it just depends where your from. If you take away wood with a knife of chisel to get to an end product is the same thing just a play on words.
Colin

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

If I go by my Dad and his brothers, his whole family actually.....'whittling' was sitting on the porch telling lies and making little sticks out of big sticks....cedar the preferred wood of choice lol............'carving' was actually making something you could recognize out of the wood.........works for me...and I am the one I have to live with ha ha

[Clifford_Parker]

Whittling is done with a knife. Carving is done with knives, gouges, chainsaws, or whatever tool you choose.

All "whittlin's" are carvings but not all carvings are whittled.

[blanchard65]

Originally Posted by Tom H

I finally got it figgered out for myself anyway. If I end up with something that looks pretty good I call it a carvin and myself a carver. If however, when done I have a heap of chips and a not so well planned and carved piece, I call it a whittlin and myself a whittler. I am more of a whittler than a carver. And please! no disrespect meant to the dedicated whittlers.

Tom H

I love it whittin is lookin busy, carving is making something