[justafurnaceman]

The next Harold Enlow..... I don't think that my tiny imagination would allow that.

Here's a little more about me. I began whittling in Boy Scouts (I think most everyone does) and I've tinkered with it off and on until a few months ago. I haven't done anything too serious. Just some chains and balls in a cage. I stumbled upon this site by accident. I was looking for more whittling ideas and saw the things that you guys have made. I really like the caricatures. I only have a $20 Buck knife that I bought at WalMart and that has served me well. I think that I'll pick up a beginners tool set and a couple of books and try my hand at it. It'll be a stretch as I'm not very creative. It takes me forever to sketch what I want to carve and then I draw guidelines on the block. I do need to get a coping saw. That would be helpful.
I've been around enough woodworking and have been reading a bit on the internet so I have a little idea of what I'm up against.
Any hints are appreciated. And don't worry, I'll ask questions.

Again, thanks for your comments and your support for your country's servicemembers. We appreciate everything that you've done for us.

[chuckbolton]

for some patterns and step by step instructions try lynn doughty's blog. outwestwoodcarving.blogspot.com he posts here often and is a great individual and a fantastic carver. he uses a utility knife for his main rough out tool. his site should give u lots of ideas , also i think you will find that you look at the people around you in a different light- good luck and thanks for what you are doing for the country

[carvnman40]

Furnaceman, I too want to add my thanks to you and all your fellow servicemen for your service to our country. It's people like you that assure that our freedom is maintained. God bless and happy carving.

Mike

[BobD]

Furnaceman,
(Can we have a first name...I always find it a bit ackward to refer to people by their online name <GRIN>)

Welcome aboard! I'm glad you found our little corner of the web. First, I want to thank you for what you do! My brother-in-law is just about ready to come home from Kuwait.

I'm sure you get asked this all the time...but is there anything we can do to help? Do you need anything (besides some wood and tools?)

Come on gang...what do you think about working together to send a care package over???

Bob

[BobT]

Count on me.

[BillinO]

Welcome furnace man thanks for your dedication to your country. I am guessing you are with some engineers. (I spent 26 years with AF engineers) they can usually fabricate what is needed untill store bought arrives. Your welding shop should have used power hack saw blades that can be ground into very good knives, and as said before pallet wood sometimes contains bass wood. Just a couple of ideas to consider. Again welcome.

Bill in Omaha

[justafurnaceman]

I'm sorry Bill that my online name is misleading. In the civilian life I worked on furnaces and boilers. Now that I'm in the Army I'm EOD (the military's bomb squad).

Things in Iraq are much better now than in the beginning. I'm stationed in southern Baghdad and they just opened a Pizza Hut here this last week. The guys hit up Green Bean coffee house regularly. I appreciate the support that everyone has offered. If you would like to send a care package to a soldier (magazines, candy,... ) PM me and I'll give you my address. I'm in touch with a bunch of different company of soldiers.

I got my wife ordering a couple of books, a beginner tool set, and some blocks of wood. I still have a couple of blocks here that I can use. (thanks for the reminder about pallet wood. now I just have to figure out how to tell Basswood apart from other wood.)

Thanks again for everything. This site is awesome.
-Josiah

[BobD]

Bring a sharp knife along when checking the pallets. Basswood should cut easily across the end grain and produce a slight whistle as you cut. The cut will look polished.

If it's hard to cut with the knife, it's probably not basswood. If it splinters, it's probably pine.

Bob

[Kcubal]

Josiah: First Thanks for what you do for us their in Iraq. I remember my days in the service, and it seemed like there was never enough room for us to keep things. I was thinking along these lines when I thought about Warren Tools. Go to Warren Cutlery.com click on enter online store, on the top bar click on shop online, @ the bottom of this page click on Warren deluxe carving kit, or anything on the page you want to look at. I have a warren carving kit I use when I am traveling and don't have a lot of room for things to go. the warren tools work great for a traveling companion. All the best to you. and God Bless You. Lon

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Geez don't tell certain people in our senate things are better over there! They won't have anything to whine about! Basswood is very light, almost white sometimes and soft....but actually, if the wood is soft it carves well no matter what it is. There must be trees along the river, look for some down stuff, could be alder or willow and both carve halfway decent.