Carving vs Whittling

[arfer1943]

I thought a WHITTLER carved exclusively with a pocket knife/ves, a CARVER with gouges and specialised knives.

Any ideas?

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Sounds good to me. So I guess Iam a whittlen carver LOL

Dave

[BobD]

That's a debate that will never be settled <GRIN>. Other conversations we've had about that here on the message board never reached a resolution. I don't think you can make specific categories like that stick. There's too many variables. Don Mertz, for example, carves using a series of pocket knives, but he's modified the shape of those knives. Would that be considered carving or whittling?

Or Lynn...he uses a utility knife (box cutter) for many of his carvings. That's not really a specialized knife, but I'd be hard pressed to call what he does whittling.



Bob

[chuckbolton]

i just end all the discussion and say "im a sculptor"-- if they come back and ask what is the medium- ill tell them wood---- im reality the debate will likely never end. and thats ok

[arbarnhart]

Not saying my definition is absolute, but to me whittling is a particular way to carve. Blank in one hand, single non powered edge tool which is usually a knife in the other. If you use a vise, bench hook, stand, etc, you aren't whittling. Resting your elbows on a table and occasionally bracing against something that isn't purpose built for carving is okay. The visual I get is someone with a stick and a pocket knife, but I saw a guy down in Beaufort that uses chunks of tupelo and a Warren fishtail gouge whittling birds one day and it never crossed my mind to consider it anything else. It's almost more of an attitude than a discipline, if that makes any sense.

[pallin]

Neither the term "carving" or "whittling" is completely exclusive of the other. Nor is either defined strictly by the tool(s) used. There are probably whittlers out there using gouges (as there are chip carvers using gouges). They are not defined by the results - both carvers and whittler produce canes, whimsies, one-piece chains, or balls-in-a-cage. Maybe the separation is in attitude - carvers are very serious about their craft while whittlers are "just havin' fun!"

[Clifford_Parker]

Whittle, according to Merriam Webster:

1 a : to pare or cut off chips from the surface of (wood) with a knife b : to shape or form by so paring or cutting
2 : to reduce, remove, or destroy gradually as if by cutting off bits with a knife : pare <whittle down expenses>

Carve, according to Merriam Webster:

1 : to cut with care or precision <carved fretwork>

Carving, according to Merriam Webster:

1 : the act or art of one who carves
2 : a carved object, design, or figure

So, yes, a "whittler" by definition uses knives to "carve" their designs. Whittling is an artform (see the work of many Flat Plane carvers or some of the whimsey's here Carving chains and other whimseys from Little Shavers) and not just done with pocketknives by "chaw spittin' hillbillies making shavings" as the popular image would have us believe. I proudly call myself a whittler because I do +95% of my work with a knife.

[bigEd_H]

I don't care what they call what I do, I enjoy it and it brings a smile to my friends when I share it with them.

[btree50]

Does it make any difference, as long as you enjoy what you do?
JimB

[Kenny_S]

It is what you want to make of it, either whittling or carving. No matter, Just enjoy!
I wonder why they call it a Carving show instead of a Whittling show?