[cats pa]

Okay, so I guess the custom here is for new members to introduce themselves. I'm Parker, pleased to meet ya.

I live in a small not-even-a-town about 50 miles from the northwesternmost point of the CONUS. I don't know of a carving club around here, but there are a couple old boys who can slit a splinter pretty well, and I try to visit them every so often to swap wood, etc.

I can't remember when I started whittling - as a kid I always carried a knife and learned to keep it sharp. When I got to working age, I hired onto a residential construction crew, because I wanted to learn the skills needed to build my own house. I worked in various building trades, and I wasn't always the fastest or strongest man on the crew, but I kept my chisels and knives sharp (and usually carried a "decoy" one as well).

I've had an interest in drawing and sketching from an early age, and I worked for an architect who had me rendering buildings, which really helped my understanding of perspective and composition. To this day I enjoy drawing landscapes and scenery with pen and ink.

When I was about 30, I became interested in blacksmithing, so I built a small coal forge out of a truck brake drum, and taught myself to "heat and beat". I also made some knives (not very good ones at first), and some chisels and gouges. I probably missed out on a lot of good carving technique by being self-taught, but I think making my own tools might balance that a little.

Is it true that in order to carve, you fix the wood to a bench or other work surface, and whittling is done while holding the work in your hands? That's how it was explained to me, and if it's true, then I more often tend towards the latter. But I've also carved on cabinet doors (while they were attached to the cabinet). I use both power tools and hand tools, depending on what I'm doing and which tools are handy. Rarely do I sell carved items, mostly I give them as gifts.

I tend to make different things - spoons, hiking sticks (although I called them "staffs"), signs, furniture with carved details, tool handles. Right now my big deal is relief carving, and I make my own patterns from photos my girlfriend takes of scenic places we've been to. I also use mostly local wood, including softwoods like fir and cedar sometimes. Alder, cherry, and maple are the common hardwoods here, and of course fruitwood from orchard salvage, apple, pear, and plum. Once in a while, I find a piece of yew wood, makes a pretty finished product, but yew trees don't get very big so its hard to find a big chunk for, say, chainsaw carving.

Don't mean to offend anybody here, but I don't use thumb protectors or gloves. I think they get in the way and provide a false sense of security. Don't tell OSHA, but I took the guard off my tablesaw for the same reason. I feel that an occasional slice is a fair price to pay for the enjoyment of carving and woodworking, and I'm usually pretty careful. Speaking only for myself, of course - if you choose to use them, that's cool, but they just haven't worked for me.

My shop is painfully crude and primitive(and kinda cluttered), but since I'm the only one in there, it's no big deal. Well, sometimes a gray cat, but he doesn't mind much...

Sooo, there you have it. My entire life story, distilled into eight short paragraphs. Today is my birthday, and joining this forum is my present to myself. I'd like to wish all of you a happy birthday as well...

Parker

[grampabatball]

Hi Parker, Welcome, and happy bithday. I live in the state just south of you. Have fun! Mike

[Just Carving]

Welcome Parker, and a very h-h-happy birthday to you! Hope all is well by you! I have to admit, as a New Jerseyan all my life, I didn't have a clue what CONUS meant, but after thinking about it I'm guessing you're somewhere in Washington State?

As far as whittling or carving, I think whittling is done with knife, and carving done with gouges, chisels, v-tools, etc. But it don't matter as long as we end up with a pile chips and something a little more significant than a toothpick!

Hope you enjoy the forum, and don't be bashful. Got a question, or comment, speak up! Everybody's welcome--well, everybody except for me once in a while....

Have fun

Bob L

[Tom H]

Parker, I can just tell, by your style, that you'll fit right in on this forum. I am glad you signed up. Now go out and get a photo of some of what you like to do and share....please! Welcome! I hope to learn a thing or two from you...Tom H

[Claude]

I'm going to go out on a limb, so to speak, and give you my opinion: Carving can be done with knife and/or chisels and gouges; whittling can be done with knife and/or chisels and gouges. To me, the difference is when whittling, one is cutting the wood without a preconceived plan or mind-picture of the result, while carving is cutting away all the wood that doesn't look like the picture in one's mind. Rather simplistic view, I know, but that's ok - I think of myself as a simple sort of person...

So, you're near Port Angeles??? By the way, welcome to the forum!
Claude

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

CONUS means continental U.S.... must be prior military lol Welcome

[Eddy Smiles]

Hi Ho... That's what I'm thinking! I'm also thinking that Cats Pa's carving career may be short lived. It's hard to hold on to a piece of wood with your thumb laying in saw dust on the shop floor!

[squbrigg]

Welcome aboard! You're going to fit right in here, so grab a stump and have fun.

Bob

[Mottles]

Welcome Parker and Birthday!
Kathy

[cats pa]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and birthday wishes.

Mike the Oreckonian, are you on the wet side?

Bob L, yes sir, native Washingtoonian, but lived in AK and TX in between. AK was where I learned to shut the door, and TX was where I learned about whuppin'.

Tom H, I don't have many pics on our new computer yet (our old one toasted in May) but I'll try. Don't expect my stuff to teach you much, though, except how to scratch your head and wonder, WIH did he do that??

Claude, a simple idea but it speaks to me. It fits with what I thought before, too, because sometimes a guy finds himself with only a knife and some wood (going out to where the bench and clamps are implies a more deliberate purpose). Yes, PA is about 25 miles east of me.

Come on, Eddy, if I only cut off my thumb I'd still have four fingers to carve with wouldn't I? At least I'm proud not to have dropped the chisel. My shop has a dirt floor, so it's not very sanitary. I do whittle ambid... ambee... using either hand, however, just in case.

FWIW, one other thing I should have mentioned before, is that I really enjoy taking something old or worn out or discarded and putting it to use again. I have brand new chisels that I've never used, and I've spent hours rescuing an old POS flea market one so it cuts well again. There's something about "new and shiny" that I just have no use for. You'd know it for sure if you saw my truck...

Thanks again,
Parker