[carverswoodshop]

hi there, this is my first post, and i have been carving for the last 27years, just wanted to know how many carvers they estimate that there are in the usa, and canada too. if any of you have an idea of how many please email me at carverswoodshop@yahoo.com thanks, by the way i carve santas and snowman, is my passion, take care, what a great site this is, thanks for all the good information ,

[groozier]

Welcome to the forum. I have no idea on the number of carvers in the US and Canada. Maybe BobD or Shannon have an idea on the amount. Again, I welcome you and look forward to your posting of some pictures of your work.
Lance Brooks aka groozier

[kitaye]

Welcome to WCI. Don't know numbers but obviously enough to support a couple of different magazines and numerous websites. I'd suspect it is some where in the hundreds of thousands.

[squbrigg]

Good question, but how could you tell? There are so many levels? Are you talking professional carvers? Advanced , intermediate or beginner hobbiest? Do you include whittlers?

Please, I'm not trying to make the question more difficult, just trying to understand it, and to figure out how one could even hazard a guess!

Bob

[AlArchie]

Well, that really isn't such a hard question.....the answer is 42!

Simple as that, as 42 is the answer to Life, The Universe and Everything.

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Well............that let's us out Al ha ha

[pallin]

As with most hobbies, there are people who do it full-time, occasionally, or try it once. There are professionals and wannabees. The people who try it once and quit are replaced by others who try it. So I would guess that the number of woodcarvers is in the tens of thousands.
I have some knowledge of a different hobby: restoring Model A Fords. There are two national clubs with magazines that have been published for over 50 years. Unlike woodcarving, the supply of hobby material (old cars) is limited. About 5 million were produced. By various measures about 5 to 10% of the cars have survived. Some have become street rods, which I consider a different hobby. There are less than 20,000 members in each of the national clubs, with a lot of overlap.
Another difference from woodcarving is the cost. Acquiring an old Ford and restoring it is becoming a rich man's hobby. It is still possible to buy a few carving tools and express one's creativity in found wood for very little money.

[Eddy Smiles]

Al... Great Zen answer!

[mdallensr]

carverswoodshop, if you count everyone who considers himself/herself a carver, be it beginner, occasional, hobbyist, or professional, it has to be a big number. There are several publications just for woodcarving, and many suppliers across the country geared mainly to woodcarving, so the target audience has to be substantial. I asked this question of the board a couple of years ago and didn't get a number estimate then either. I think the publishers and vendors must have a good estimate though. Mike

[carverswoodshop]

its a question i wondered about for years, i was always happy to meet new carvers and see the creations they come up with, so many nice folks , but thanks for those that posted an answer, i guess i would be asking beginners and advance alike, everyone that are carving on a regular bases, i believe it might be in the thousands, just a guess nothing to go on, happy carving everyone,