Carving..."ANYWHERE???"

[wildflower]

I've read a few times now that some carvers take a little carving and a knife with them where ever they go...and they carve when they have to sit and wait..ie: at a doctor's office, the bus stop, the dentist's office, even in a restaurant. What I'd like to know is how do you not make a mess where ever it is you happen to be? When I carve it looks like "Woody Woodpecker's been visiting!

Leslie

[Merle Rice]

Hi Leslie, I have often wondered how anyone could carve like that without making a mess,I sure couldn't. So you and I think alike and maybe we will get an answer. Thanks for posting the question. Merle

[squbrigg]

In my "kit", I have a small bib apron, and it has a pocket across the front, so I collect all the chips in that and empty it in the nearest trash can. The odd chip flies afar but the (mall) janitors are usually the first to stop by to see what I'm carving, so they have told me not to worry about the odd chips, as they enjoy seeing what I'm up to.

Same thing at the hospital or doctors office, folks are naturally curious to see what you're doing and don't usually mind the odd chip landing in their lap! Even a small hand towel will work or a handkerchief.

Bob

[gene-messer]

Leslie .. Iam one of those carvers who carves out at work on graveyards and waiting at doctors offices and malls ..
First of all .. you limit your carving pieces when you carve like this.. you mostly carve smaller figures that you can hold in your hand and basically whittle on ..

I went down to Walmart and bought a small deep fishing box that fits my knife a few gouges and v tools and some small figures with me and when I go to carve .. I sit down and open the fishing box and hold the figure over the box as I carve and let the shavings drop into the box ..when iam through .. I simply close the box with my tools and partial carved figure in it and walk off ..

you meet some of the greatest people who want to know what your doing a good way to get people interested in the hobby

If you wnat to know more of the type of box I use .. .. go to this link
http://flatplanecarver.blogspot.com/...ers-tools.html

Gene

[Bob De.]

Great topic, this is the reason I have so many unfinished carvings. I love shaping out with a knife. Something about the wood chips flying almost like fishing. I bring a small towel. Roll up when I'm done and take home. My favorite spot is by a creek. I seem to get more done at these times.

[Ripton]

Hey Gene, you had a nice expo on you-tube with that idea as well. I loved it

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Outside of my shop and carving group I only carve in my truck while waiting, once Iam done I get out and brush the chips off.

Dave

[LBlake]

Like the others, when I carve away from my house indoors, I have a piece of leather I sit on my lap to collect chips, and I generally work on something less messy, like details, or the last grits of sanding where there is hardly any dust. I am also careful to avoid toxic woods.

[Tom-H]

Leslie, That's one of the reasons that I carve "small". Whittlin small, translates into small chips, and not all that many either. Plus all of the knife cuts I make are stop cuts and slicing cuts. No chips from stop cuts, and the chips don't go flyin when you use slicing cuts. I'll merely open a magazine on my lap to collect the chips. "Empty" the magazine into the trash can. When whittlin in the resturant, I sit at the counter and just make a small pile of chips, then brush them off the counter edge into my hand to dispose of.

To me whittlin any where I am is what it's all about.......relaxin and have fun!

Tom H

[gtech]

I use a plastic box that is 12"x12" because it catches more chips than a smaller box. And I can put bigger pieces of wood in it.



It is also easier to carry.

Gilles