A delicate question

[jmischel]

Last night at my local carving club I gave a class on carving my Whittle Pup. About a dozen people stayed around to participate in the class. It was a pretty good time, and a couple of the people actually finished the carving in the hour or so we spent on it. Everybody else got a good start and should be able to finish at home.

With the exception of two brand new carvers who'd just joined, I am by far the least experienced carver in the group. It was quite instructive to see the difference in how the more experienced carvers and the beginners approached the project. I learned from everybody. All in all, it was a pretty good time.

I spent some of the time carving, but mostly answering questions about how I carved one part or the other, since I didn't print a dozen copies of the tutorial to bring to the class. And there I got a real surprise.

At least half of the people working on this carving had dull knives. I mean, they're sharp in comparison to your average person's kitchen knife, but definitely not carving sharp. Watching them struggle to pull a knife through that dowel was rather painful. I know the knives were dull because I used a few to demonstrate some cuts.

Granted, the wood I used wasn't basswood, but it wasn't very hard. I'm able to dent it easily with my fingernail. The wood is soft enough that I used my basswood knives on it rather than the knives I use when carving the harder woods.

More than once I wanted to say, "you need to sharpen your knife," but I didn't feel comfortable saying that. I know some carvers are, rightly or wrongly, proud of their sharpening abilities, and telling somebody that his knife is dull is like telling somebody that he has bad breath. But, oh, the difference it would have made for some of these people if their knives had been sharp.

My question: have you ever been in a similar situation? How do you tactfully suggest to somebody that his/her knife needs sharpening?

[Eddy-Smiles]

Jim... For the health and welfare of your fellow carvers you need to tell them out right that their knives/tools are not sharp enough and in being such could even be a safety hazrd to them. Then you could do what I do and that is to go get one of my knives, demonstrate the same cut with my knife, and then let them try my knife so they can actually see and feel the difference. Most folks will thank you profusely and follow it up with questions on how to sharpen their tools. If they take offense I simply apologize and walk away. Some folks just don't want help.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Well said Eddy! Jim, I think more then anything you are helping them in the long run!

Dave

[Claude]

You might try something like mentioning at the end that some of the carvers had knives that were not as sharp as they ought to be. Then offer to let everyone try your knife and compare it to their own using a piece of scrap wood. Mention that if they find theirs is sharper than yours, then if would be nice if they let the rest of the people see just how sharp it is. This way you are not singling out any individual(s) but giving all the chance to compare.
Claude

[Bob K.]

Eddy is right on the money with his comment...by not telling them, you are indirectly saying that it's okay to use dull tools. You can also add that it will be a lot easier and faster for them to carve with a sharper knife and they will enjoy carving much more.

[BeaverDon]

You might try including the importance of a sharp knife in your tutorial. Then you can say, let's see how's everybody's doing in that area and maybe check them. But be prepared to show them how to get them to the sharp stage, which could take time from other instruction. You'd be doing them a favor by addressing the issue.

[kdispoto]

I have no problem pointing out that a knife might be dull. I also let them try my knife to see the difference and then I show them how to sharpen theirs.

[makenchips]

I am also in total agreement in that I would want somebody to tell me if they thought my carving knife or gouge was not as sharp as it should be and I could learn how that person sharpens thier tools. When I was a beginner, not that I still do not consider myself a novice, I could have really used that advice and would have saved myself alot of frustration.

[rickm]

part of leadership is having the knowledge but then the courage to move forward on your convictions and lead. If the person has a dull knife, your not calling them a terrorist, your pointing out a mechanical lack in their potential. I dont get what is so difficult in pointing out to someone their stupid knife is dull. Sharpen your knife and sharpen your leadership. There is nothing delicate about this, its basic business. when his knife slips and cuts him you will wish you ahd spoke up. not to be blunt., but that part of being a leader.

[johncarves]

I run into this all the time. I'm lucky in the fact our meeting room has two sharpening systems that belong to the club.

I simply ask "mine if I touch this up on the buffer" or "there is a nick right here, care if I fix it right quick?" I have yet to be told no. And when they take their first cut afterwards there is almost always an expression at how much better it cuts.

I have several that I know have been carving for 15 years with dull knives and they never seem to learn! Two choices: use your knife or sharpen theirs.