Whittling vs Carving

Tom H · #1 02-12-2008, 07:09 PM

I have spent the past 30 minutes going back through various threads to see what has been posted on whittling and carving. Couldn't find anything. But that does not mean that there isn't anything. It just means that my eyes got tired of looking.

My question is: I mainly use a knife. Probably 95% knife. Am I a whittler or a carver?

Tom H

Kenny_S · #2 02-12-2008, 07:36 PM

Tom, You are what you want to be!

Tom H · #3 02-12-2008, 08:31 PM

Guess I did not go back far enough to see the same/similar threads. 2004 - 2005 answers my question.

However, I have given some thought to "I can be anything I want to be". To make that statement come true I'll have to add. "if I practice enough".

Tom H

Plain_Ol_Ed · #4 02-12-2008, 08:48 PM

Yep, you are what you call yourself. I think if we were to get techinical about the origins of the distintiction, whittling is an American thing while Carving is a European thing (a gross oversimplification). Me, I'm a whittler. I do it for the enjoyment and relaxation. If somebody likes it fine. If nobody likes it, that's fine too. I enjoyed it, and that's what counts to me and I'm not even a good whittler.

Lightningbolt · #5 02-12-2008, 10:02 PM

I guess that when I think of whittling I'm thinking more along the lines of "free-form" and I can see myself sitting on the edge of the front porch, with feet dangling over the edge and just having some fun with my pocket knife. I might be making something or just enjoying the feel of slicing wood chips until my mind sorta latches onto a moment of enlightment. When I think of whittling I guess that I'm thinking more about just letting it take me whereever it might lead me. You might say that whittling is my way of "brainstorming" with a knife.

On the other hand I'd have to say that when I think of carving that idea has come full-circle in my head and I see myself focused more on a specific project and my hands are more geared toward using controled cuts with a purpose.

Thomp · #6 02-12-2008, 10:10 PM

tom,

with definitions for words changing every deck aid,

now days
when mom says "today is

", means nice weather no rain

in our day it meant you needed a coat when we was kids..

maybe the difference is hobbiest or professional,
or
tinker'er or striving artist..

i whittled all my life, but until i bought more kinds of palm tools i never considered myself to be doing any carving
i still do not consider myself a carver, just a guy that loves to make shavings - whittler

gene messer · #7 02-12-2008, 10:11 PM

Tom .. I too am a whittler as well as a carver ... but no matter what .. there still gonna call you a carver ..

Perhaps a whittler with carvers intentions .. no matter .. whatever you are ...

you whittle and carve some great looking figures .. thats all that counts ..

Gene

Kenny_S · #8 02-12-2008, 11:37 PM

Ok Tom, Maybe that was to short of an answer but basicly was what I meant. You be what you are. Me, I butcher wood, be that whatever anyone wants it to be. I enjoy what I do and if that is a carver or a whittler, make no diff to me. But as a whittler, I have a fairly large investment in to carving tools.
It is mind over matter. If you don't mind being call a whittler/carver, it don't matter.

However, just don't call me "late for dinner"!!

ElWoodTroll · #9 02-13-2008, 02:07 AM

I like the wikipedia version . It's simple enuf.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whittling

kitaye · #10 02-13-2008, 06:20 AM

This is my personal opinion so don't shoot me. I think of a carved piece of wood as whittled if it took less than an hour to carve and finihs. IF it takes you longer than that then it is carved. Of course then you get people like me who can take days to whittle a simple (not) ball in a cage or chain link set.