[cerndog]

I know this is a helpful group- I have learned a great deal here. I just thought I read how someone was bothered when a passer by referred to a project as "whittling" when it was apparently more than that.

Perhaps I was trying to stir the pot a bit...?

[BasketballJones]

Believe me there is a big difference to some (not me) and some people get mad about it. Lynn is absolutely correct as it applies to carving.

However, some grumpy carpenters who aren't carvers use it as means of measurement. Especially for doors, windows and making shims for the jams. Plane (most wood removed), whittle, and shave (least amount). Of course the rest of the world does not recognize this unique language and the precise accuracy of this scientific mathematics. Kind of like the difference between a dash, pinch and touch of something in the kitchen.

Now that you've guessed how I've spent my free time. Holidays.

[Kenny_S]

Actually I am a carving whittler or is that a whittling carver. Not a spit and whittler though. Ok Hi Ho, I can hear those wheels of yourns a churning.

Touchy subject? Naw, just to those who are stuck on themselves.
I have to agree with Lynn?

[Claude]

Just to add one more stick to that fire, I consider anything that removes some wood from a larger piece of wood, for a purpose, to be carving. The removal tool can be knife, chisel, gouge, chainsaw, or just plain old sandpaper. Whittling is sitting on the porch and making a pile of shavings out of a stick, with no purpose in mind other than making a pile of shavings (If they're intended to be used as kindling, it's still whittling)

In other words, I agree with Lynn.