Carving or Whittling?

dart · #1 11-03-2005, 12:14 PM

?:
Do you Carve or Whittle?
Whittle definition.:
To cut small bits or pare shavings from (a piece of wood).
To fashion or shape in this way: whittle a toy boat.
To reduce or eliminate gradually, as if by whittling with a knife:
Carving definition.:
To divide into pieces by cutting; To cut into a desired shape; fashion by cutting: carve the wood into a figure. To make or form by or as if by cutting: carve initials in the bark
I looked this up at Dictionary dot com. Are we "whittlers" if we just use a knife? Or are we "carvers" if we use a knife and some gouges and other tools?
Though there is a difference between the words , there doesn't seem to be a difference between the meanings. What do you think?

BobD · #2 11-03-2005, 12:41 PM

It's funny that you bring this up...Some of our books are being translated into different languages, and we were doing internet translations for our Little Book of Whittling...and in German, there is no differences in the meaning of the words!

Bob

Plain_Ol_Ed · #3 11-03-2005, 02:01 PM

I whittle. Although some folks, like the lady in Wal-Mart's parking lot yesterday, insist that I'm carving. How the heck would she know, I'm the one with the knife.

.

Kenny_S · #4 11-03-2005, 02:43 PM

Carving or whittling? Same as a Carver or whittler. Does it matter? I could care less what they call me or it as long as they call me for dinner.

I suggest that one doesn't call a person with a knife in his/her hand any thing but Sir or M'am.

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #5 11-03-2005, 02:48 PM

YES ha ha

bbowers · #6 11-03-2005, 05:54 PM

I was told once that the difference between carving and whittling is $5,000 of tools! Seems like a starter set!!

Barry

Just Carving · #7 11-03-2005, 07:59 PM

I do a whittle carvittaling.

Clifford_Parker · #8 11-03-2005, 09:34 PM

Just check the sig.

Mitchell · #9 11-03-2005, 09:47 PM

Some artists sculpt wood.......

Heck, I don't know.

I whittle, I carve, and I sculpt. It depends on who I'm talking to. Actually, I think your "definition" is pretty much as good an explanation as I've seen. Some of the old carvers I've talked to say that whittling is making shavings and carving is making a wooden object.

Ron Davidson · #10 11-03-2005, 09:51 PM

I don't know what to call myself after the last peice I did maybe Wood Butcher. Oh well it was a small peice I will try again.