Wonderful Whittlin'

My real Swedish Dala Horses

2012-01-16T01:30:00.001-05:00

When I was a little guy, back in the early 1980's, my great aunt Virginia went on a trip to Sweden. On her return, she brought me these two genuine Dalahasts. I remember she gave me a story book too, about a little boy who's toy Dala horse came to life and led him on adventures.

These horses are suprisingly rough. Made for the tourist trade, they look to be rough sawn and quickly carved. The heavy base coat of paint looks dipped, while the saddle, tack, and harness are nicely painted in the two-colors fan brush style.

A sticker on the belly of the red horse reads: "Akta DalahemslojdTillv. G.A. OlssonNunsa, Mora, Sweden"

Blogger she-nanna-gins

2012-01-15T13:18:00.002-05:00

For whatever reason, Blogger is not letting me respond to reader comments. So, thanks for reading, thanks for the kind words, and to Brad: the horses I carve are made from basswood, and sometimes butternut. Both are great woods for carving. They are relatively soft woods (though still hardwoods,) with straight, dense, grain. It's almost as easy to cut across the grain as it to cut with it.Hopefully Blogger will fix these issues with the comments.

An Ettin for Ezra

2012-01-13T19:59:00.005-05:00

Ettins are two-headed giants from fantasy fiction, most famously from CS Lewis' Narnia stories, and the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.

I carved this ettin for Ezra, my friend's three-year-old son. Details on this monster include tattoos, scars, treasure, and a yellow wristwatch. Ezra now has a whole army of whittlied soldiers and wizards. The "bad guys" include a dark wizard, a dragon, and now this ettin.

As always, I used non-toxic materials such as salad bowl finish, acrylic paints, and shellac.

Christmas Carvings Roundup

2011-12-18T11:50:00.004-05:00

Let's take a look at this year's hand carved ornaments. Some of these sold, some are still up for sale on my etsy shop, some are for gifts, and some are even for my own Christmas tree!

It's been a fun season for whittlin'. Upcoming projects include birthday presents for a couple of little guys about to see their 2nd and 3rd birthdays, so stay tuned!

Wizards and Warriors: Adventurers in Wood

2011-12-16T22:46:00.004-05:00

Inspired by the Lewis Chessmen, these toy wizards and knights are lots of fun to carve. They stand best when given a generally conical shape, and I try to keep everything smooth and blunt in order to protect them from rough hands. Kids like to throw these little guys, and they've proved to be tough and resilient.

I've been thinking of going a little more adult with these figures. A little red on a sword blade, maybe some battle scars to show age and grit.

Carving the Toy Horse's Mane

2011-12-16T12:19:00.004-05:00

By reader request, here's a look at how I carve the mane for my toy horses. I start by outlining the border with a pencil, then go over it with a black Sharpie marker.

Next, I make a stop cut all along the border. In doing this I use only the tip and lead portion of the blade. On pocket knives this is mostly a natural grip, on larger fixed blade knives such as the Mora, this requires a higher grip that pinches the flat of the blade.

Now I shave up to the stop cut. The depth is subtle, no more than about 1/16", and results in the mane area being lower than the neck and body of the horse. At this point I usually go through and clean up any "fuzzies" and try to make sure the lines are straight and even.

Stop cut/shave towards cut is a good way to remove material in a controlled manner, especially if you're only using a knife. Specialty tools can be used, of course. In fact I'll often go through during the clean up phase and run a v-tool or gouge along a cut. Then again I think pure whittling is done with a knife, so your experience may vary depending on personal preference.

On a side note, I'd like to suggest you check out the Belfast Bushcraft Blog. Great photos, updates, and wilderness observations from an Irish outdoorsman.

(sorry for the delay, Abo!)

A simple candy cane ornament

2011-11-26T12:00:00.003-05:00

When carving the candy cane ornament, I'd advise you take special care on the inside section. If you rush it, or try and force the inside curve, you'll risk it splitting along the grain and clear through the arch, ruining the carving. I find that gentle removal of material from one side then the other is a safe way to go.

I finished this one with a little linseed oil, then filled the diagonal cuts with a wash of red paint. When it dried I sanded off the excess, pushed in a brass eyelet, gave it a light spray of shellac, and the ornament was complete.

Little Whittled Wizards

2011-11-23T20:11:00.003-05:00

Little whittled wizards. Now say that five times fast.

These guys are around the smallest wizards I've carved, and the smallest figures not counting spike trolls. They are hand carved, sanded, and painted. I finished the with a few thin coats of shellac.

Are they gnomes or possibly dwarves? I'm not sure. But they look eager to start adventuring, as long as I carve a fighter to accompany them on their journey. I'm sure they'll appreciate the extra muscle when it's time to haul back some treasure.

My latest hand carved toy horse

2011-11-20T01:48:00.005-05:00

I'm really enjoying the current pace of my progress in whittlin'. I've made plaques, toys, and a whole bunch of Christmas ornaments. With a couple of shows on the way for motivation, things are moving right along.

This latest toy horse shows a slightly different style of mane. I'm trying a sort of "S" shaped mane with a forward slant. I feel this gives the design a look of forward movement, and a crisp but smooth line.

As you can see I've left the mane and tail unpainted on this one in order to show off the wood. As always with the toys I carve, everything is play-safe and built to last.

Hand carved Christmas tree plaque

2011-11-18T21:00:00.003-05:00

Continuing my carved wooden plaque series, here's a classic Christmas tree complete with ornaments and presents. I liked it before the painting, but it really pops now that it's all finished. Hey, I even put one of my toy horses in there!

Hand carved Dala Horse plaque

2011-11-16T19:37:00.001-05:00

I picked up some wooden plaques at a second hand shop for about 25 cents each, a great bargain. You can see the first plaque here, which I carved with my take on the Swedish dala horse.

A light coat of linseed oil gives the wood a nice warm glow, and seals the wood in preparation for the acrylic paint. Two coats of shellac protects the finished carving.

With a Bible in my Ruck

2011-11-11T10:14:00.002-05:00

On this Veteran's Day I encourage you to read this post by my friend Jonathan. A veteran of Afghanistan, he is currently preparing for another deployment "over there." Jonathan's writing is honest, direct, and reveals much about the identity of the modern American soldier. His work has be published by the New York Times among others.

I wore the uniform once, as I know many who read this blog have and continue to do so. May God continue to bless the USA and her veterans.

Most recent Christmas carvings

2011-11-06T21:41:00.002-05:00

This weekend's craft show went well, but left me with plenty of carvings. No problem, I've got some more shows on the horizon.

There's always more wood to carve!

Christmas ornaments made from carved wooden spools

2011-10-10T17:54:00.004-04:00

Old wooden spools continue to be a great medium for whittlin'. Each one has a small brass bell on the bottom for a little extra holiday cheer. I'm working on more of these, including some carved into snowmen!

Christmas Ornaments, 1st batch complete!

2011-10-08T17:19:00.002-04:00

After carving, I finished these ornaments with linseed oil, acrylic paint, and shellac. I used a woodburner to add the year on the back.

WIP: Santa Spoons

2011-09-30T14:54:00.003-04:00

The Christmas whittlin's continue with these Santa spoons. After carving and sanding, they'll get a light wash of paint and maybe a "dry brush" for that antique look. I'm going to make a ton of these guys.

Time for some Christmas carvings

2011-09-15T22:09:00.002-04:00

I've always liked carving these wooden eggs. After a soak in linseed oil, I'll drill and attach a brass eyelet in the top of each egg. They'll make nice Christmas ornaments.

September 11th, 2011

2011-09-11T17:14:00.002-04:00

May God continue to bless America.

Carving While Camping

2011-08-31T19:05:00.000-04:00

This past weekend saw me camping out at Letchworth State Park, known as "The Grand canyon of the East." It's a beautiful place, and every visit seems better than the last.

Between hikes, cooking, and just relaxing, I managed to carve a pair of spoons. The wood used was birch.

If you have the chance, give Letchworth a visit! I plan to get back there very soon.

Two birch teaspoons

2011-08-25T12:11:00.003-04:00

Aah, the difference a stain makes! These spoons are both whittled from the same piece of birch wood. I stained the darker spoon with salad bowl finish, while the lighter one has a coat of clear finish.

A teaspoon for Sarah

2011-08-21T13:06:00.002-04:00

Our friend Sarah should be surprised by this teaspoon. It's not her birthday or any "special" occasion, but that's always been my favorite time to bring a gift to a friend.

I carved this spoon from birch using only my crooked knife "Svanhild," and finished it with a soak in salad bowl finish and a topcoat of butcher block oil. The dedication was applied with a woodburner.

WIP: Wizard Face Walking Stick in birch

2011-08-14T15:14:00.004-04:00

As woodspirits go, mine are carved a little deeper with an emphasis on long mustaches and beards. I see these guys as more wizards than spirits. This lighter colored one is birch, a wood I've found quite easy to carve.

I'll give it stain of some sort, though I do like how it looks right now. Maybe just a clear finish then? Either way I'll also cap the tip with either a flat or pointed metal piece. This one might have room for a lanyard too. I love the way the stick curves from the back of the head up to the top. It seems to provide a natural handrest.

The tiny little birch kuksa

2011-08-13T15:21:00.002-04:00

I'm having a blast carving this birch wood! This micro kuksa might end up a necklace pendant or maybe some sort of decorative ornament. It's smaller than a teaspoon, and the long handle lends itself to some sort of necklace attachment. It was whittled from birch and soaked in linseed oil. Displayed next to some untreated birch, you can really see the difference the oil makes.

One for The Sharpened Axe

2011-08-11T00:22:00.000-04:00

Attention: Mike Oscar Hotel @TheSharpenedAxe: I found a large antiques mall today. One section was devoted entirely to old hand tools. It was terrific! I picked up my first hand auger, but I'm sure I'll return to buy an axe, a plane, a saw, an adze, maybe a drawknife or two...

Anyway, here are some (cellphone) pics of axes. First the Plumb axe "Autograf" model.

Next is a Tommy claw axe, the one with the claw.

And finally an odd one, listed as a "bearded bench axe." It has a chisel grind and shows a ton of wear. I would love to know more about it and it's intended use. It was buried in a pile of large broadaxes with their beautifully bent handles (see the first pic at the top of this post.)

For those who don't know, The Sharpened Axe is one of my favorite blogs. Topics include but are not limited to axemanship,axe restoration, and general handy/outdoorsy topics. Give it a read!

Keeping the crooked knife sharp

2011-08-05T23:53:00.004-04:00

The crooked blade is extremely helpful when carving concave shapes such as those needed for bowls and spoons. Unfortunately, this helpful shape can be tough to sharpen on traditional sharpening stones. The best solution is to make the sharpening gear fit the blade shape. Here's what I use, and how to make your own.

First, gather the items seen in this first photo. You'll need:
-scrap of leather
-polishing compund (I'm going with Flexcut Gold, but jewler's rouge or the like will work too)
-sandpaper of varying grits (here I'm using 220 and 600 wet/dry)
-three straight sticks about the size and shape of the inside curve of the knife blade
-stapler with staples

Cut the leather to wrap once around a stick, fuzzy suede side out, then staple it in place. I used a basic office stapler, but I suppose a staplegun would be even better. Apply some of the polishing compund to the leather. Do the same with the sandpaper on the other two sticks, only without any polishing compound. You now have two sharpening sticks and a strop for your crooked knife!

When using the sharpening sticks and strop, wipe them down the blade from spine to edge. Only go in this direction. Start with the coarsest stick first, then the next finest, and finally polish with the strop.

When you're done, the edge should be nicely polished and sharp enough to remove arm hairs. Careful now!

Birch spoons and letter openers

2011-08-04T22:30:00.002-04:00

My friend Phil visited me recently, with a gift from my mom and dad: a pile of birch wood! My parent's front yard birch tree was starting to threaten the power lines, so dad did some pruning. I'm happy to report that everything I've read about this legendary wood is true.

I've managed to carve some spoons, a spatula, and even a few letter openers. The grain is straight to slightly curved, with a few small knots. Those knots and flaws I've found have been easy to work with.

These still need some drying, sanding, and staining.I'll use salad bowl finish or maybe butcher block oil. I plan to use the spatula and one of the spoons when camping with my dutch oven!

The Cracked Spoon

2011-07-08T15:30:00.000-04:00

Wood never quits. It can be a stubborn material to work with, and despite our efforts to steam, carve, chop, and saw it into shape, wood has a plan all it's own. Halfway through carving this spoon I knew it was going to split right at the bowl. I decided to continue anyway, figuring it would be a learning experience. The crack is hardly noticeable. Besides, there's beauty in the broken, right? Wabi sabi I think it's called? Sure.

A Brand New Horse

2011-07-03T16:05:00.001-04:00

I carved this horse for my friend's niece, Audrey. While similar to previous efforts, this horse has a slightly curved face and a flatter tail than others I've made. The wood is basswood finished with salad bowl finish and acrylic paint. The monogram is applied with a woodburner. The dark spot on the horse's left flank is a naturally occurring flaw in the wood.

"Svanhild," my crooked knife

2011-06-13T15:30:00.001-04:00

A crooked knife is just the thing for carving spoons, bowls, kuksas, and anything which requires a depression or concave shape. Mine is a Mora #164 full curve carving knife which I ordered from Ragweed Forge. The handle is plain wood, stained only by the dirt and perspiration that comes with use.

I made the little blade protector seen here. Tired and slightly embarrassed by my improvised sheath of cardboard and duct tape, the crooked knife demanded a proper home. I whipped this guard up from some scrap basswood and two small lengths of dowel, drilling the holes with a cordless Dremel tool. The hinge dowel, located upper left, is lubricated with a few drops of melted beeswax. The name and swan design were applied with a woodburner.

Birthday Knife!

2011-06-12T19:15:00.001-04:00

My friends and family got together this weekend to celebrate my birthday. We spent the day by the Erie Canal, grilled up some great food, and had an all-around terrific time. Among the many thoughtful gifts was this Case knife from my girlfriend Jennifer!

The knife is Case's humpback half whittler with stag scales and raindrop damascus blades. It's my first and only damascus knife. Despite it's good looks, this one will be no safe queen. I will use it.

Maple spoon #2

2011-06-10T17:32:00.004-04:00

This is the second spoon I've carved from the maple batch. I'm waiting for this one to slowly dry, then I might stain it.

Maple spoon

2011-06-07T19:10:00.001-04:00

Some friends gave me a pile of maple branches, and my "test" carving is this spoon. The wood is green, so carving was very easy.

"Freya," my drawknife

2011-06-03T17:10:00.005-04:00

Whittlin' is done mostly with one knife, but there are times when a more specialized tool is called for. A drawknife makes shaving larger pieces quicker and easier, such as shaping the outside of a large bowl, or debarking a limb for a walking stick project.

My drawknife, affectionately dubbed "Freya," due to her her good looks and Scandinavian origin, is made by Frost's Mora and purchased from Ragnar's Ragweed Forge. It's handles extend straight out from the blade on either side, unlike traditional drawknives who's handles are mounted almost at 90 degrees. I find the Frost's style very comfortable and natural to hold, especially for longer carving sessions. I grasp both handles and rest my thumbs on the flat of the blade, then slice away long curls of bark and wood with a pulling motion similar to using a rowing machine.

Since it came without a sheath, I made a blade guard from some basswood (with the bark still on it!) and used a woodburner to apply her name. The guard fits snugly and she's never looked better.

Wizard Walking Stick continued

2011-05-26T15:40:00.004-04:00

Here's the wizard's beard, wrapping twice around the stick. You can see the hairs starting to develop. It can be fun carving these wispy beards, deciding which hairs curl up and which tuck underneath each other. I start at the top and work my way down as the beard "grows." This way I don't lose track of what strand goes where.

My woodspirits tend to be carved deeper than others I've seen. I'm not sure why that's the case, but I do take care not to carve away too much. I wouldn't want to create a breaking point in the stick.

Work in progress: Walking Stick Wizard

2011-05-24T00:09:00.004-04:00

This piece of wood was discovered on my most recent woods-walk. It's not rotted at all, despite having been found lying on the ground, so I think it was knocked down by a recent storm. While I'm not sure exactly what type of wood it is, it has a distict fruity smell when worked, similar to apple.

The idea here is a deeply-carved wizard face. I plan to have the wizard's long beard wrap around the staff at least twice, and his eyes will look over to one side. I'll update again when he's more developed.

(The beer is Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA)

Raised Leg Horse

2011-05-16T17:40:00.001-04:00

Here's one I'm really happy with. I've been sketching variations on my wooden horse design, looking for a way to give them the appearance of movement. One raised leg seems to accomplish this well.

I made the other three legs wider to make up for the raised one, and shaved off a little more material from the left side than the right in order to balance it away from the weak side. It sits very well and is actual self-righting when tipped.

The funny thing is, under all the shellac and blue paint is three coats of salad bowl finish! It looked fine as a brown horse, but I changed my mind and felt like giving this one a little more pizazz. I think it looks great.

Blogger issues

2011-05-16T16:55:00.000-04:00

Like many others, I have been affected by the recent Blogger hilarity. I've lost a post, that post's comments, as well as some upcoming posts I was working on in my drafts folder. Looks like I'll just have to go back and start over.

Tex Mex Taco Dude (repost due to Blogger boo-boos)

2011-05-10T02:33:00.003-04:00

My friend's restaurant, John's Tex Mex, held it's 5th annual Cinco de Mayo bash and I carved up a little present to help celebrate the occasion. I call it the Tex Mex Taco Dude.

This year's Cinco de Mayo party was held on Mother's Day, making it an "Ocho de Madre" party instead. As always, it was a blast. The beer was cheap, the food was free (and plentiful), and we were surrounded by good friends. Congrats on 5 years, John!

Check out last years Cinco de Mayo gift here!

The Spoonface Gang

2011-05-09T18:30:00.000-04:00

Whittling isn't limited to sticks found in the wild. I've discovered some fine imported "sticks" in the kitchen aisle of our friendly neighborhood big-box store. The wood carves well with no chipping or unexpected splitting, and when I'm done it's a neat little gift.

I also made a Santa spoon for a Christmas present, but forgot to take a photo! I'll have to ask my friend if she can send me one.

Custom Beer Tap Handle

2011-05-06T05:30:00.000-04:00

I love custom orders, especially ones that give me a challenge. Some friends asked me to carve a tap handle for their brother-in-law, a beer hobbyist with a home tap system. Never having made one before and being wholly unfamiliar with how a tap handle attaches to a tap, I said "You bet!"

My friends specified that they wanted the name "Williams" painted on, but other than that I was free to carve whatever.

After some pencil sketches on paper, I selected a piece of wood and cut out the general shape with a coping saw. I envisioned a simple chair leg spindle for the body, with a frothy mug perched on top. Somewhere along the line the plan expanded to include a flat shield and a hop bud.

I opted to leave it mostly unpainted, preferring to let the wood speak for itself. I gave it four hand-rubbed coats of linseed oil and sanded it between each coat with finer and finer sandpaper. Finally it was buffed with a cotton cloth. The name on the shield was applied with acrylic paints and sealed with a few coats of spray shellac.

The brass ferrule is from Kegworks.com, as is the combination metal/wood screw with which to attach it. They have a nice selection of hardware for tap systems.

Larger Spike Trolls

2011-05-04T15:51:00.000-04:00

Having scavenged some free branches from the side of the road (thanks Highway Dept!), I went ahead and whittled up a few spike trolls from the nearly wrist-sized wood. Give it a try yourself! Just shave a flat-ended stick to a point, carve a shallow notch for the face area, then draw on the face. Sharpie is my marker of choice. A spike troll is an easy whittlin' for beginners and grizzled old timers alike.

These things are cuter than a pail full of kittens.

And We're Back!

2011-05-03T17:28:00.000-04:00

I really like carving these little soldiers and horses. As you can see in the in-hand shots, these ones are small with a wide, conical, base. This shape helps them sit very well. All edges are rounded, and everything is close in to the body to avoid breakage. Experience shows that kids love to beat up these toys, so they had better be durable!

As usual these were carved with no power tools, only a hand saw to get started and a knife for the bulk of the work. After sanding and painting each soldier is given a few coats of shellac, while the horses are finished with salad bowl finish and acrylic accents.

Thanks to everyone who patiently waited for an update. It has been far too long. I've made a bunch of whittlins, so more updates are on the way!

Finally, a chance to talk about mummies.

2011-03-29T16:59:00.000-04:00

While I'm without photo uploading abilities, let me share a couple of links. First is an excellent post on Ötzi the Iceman's kit. If you've never heard of Ötzi, he's the world's oldest natural mummy, and a wealth of information on the early European bronze age. The things he carried reflect a time of overlap between stone and bronze technology. It's interesting how little our bushcraft kits have actually changed. (thanks to Gorges Grouse for the heads-up on this.)

The second thing I'd like to mention is the discussion over on BladeForums to add a Whittling and Crafts subforum. I'm all for it of course. If you are too, then please add your voice to the discussion.

On the Wonderful Whittlin' front, I'm currently whittling up some toy horses with saddles and harness, as well as the usual armload of spike trolls. I hope to get around to making some ball-in-cage carvings too. Time will tell.

Stay tuned!

2011-03-24T12:43:00.000-04:00

I'm looking to replace my computer, and will be limited for a while as far as uploading pictures of my whittlins. Don't worry though. While blogging ops are down, real-world whittlin' ops will continue. I'll have lots of new stuff to share the next time I update.

Thanks for reading!

Craft show this Sunday

2011-03-18T21:53:00.000-04:00

This Sunday, March 20th, I'll be set up at the Flying Squirrel Community space for their 2nd annual Craft show and Zine fair. The show will be held from 11-5 at 285 Clarissa Street, Rochester NY.

Last year's show was fun, so stop by to see me if you're in the area!

Ashley learns to whittle

2011-03-14T20:59:00.001-04:00

Well I've gone and done it. I've taught someone else to whittle.

My girlfriend's sister Ashley asked if I would show her how to carve. I was more than happy to do so.

I have to say Ashley's work, a trio of spike trolls, are much, much better than my early carvings ever were. She took right to it and best of all her technique was SAFE. We focused on basic cuts, edge control, and some common grips. At no time did we have need for first aid, though I always keep a little kit close by.

Ashley's spike trolls are playful, colorful, and fun. She incorporated nice thin curls and bark shaving for beard and hair effects. I think they look great!

Shamrock bottle stoppers and other St. Patrick's Day gifts

2011-03-10T04:14:00.001-05:00

It' s nearly time for our St. Patrick's day party! For many Americans, St. Patrick's day is Irish Mardi Gras. With their green beads, cat-in-the-hat hats, and the dreaded green beer. Not around here.

I prefer to think of it as Irish Thanksgiving. Our home will be filled with good friends, great music, and traditional Irish and Irish/American food, just like Grandma used to make. We'll serve colcannon, corned beef, ham, cabbage, carrots, onions, potatoes, spicy potato soup, and enough soda bread to feed an army. There'll be vegan options for our vegan friends, and beer and whiskey for our drinking friends. Maybe even some whiskey punch.

I'm especially looking forward to playing my Grandpa's old records. From John MacCormack to the Clancy Bros & Tommy Makem, The Dubliners, the Irish Balladeers, and more, his music always reminds me of him. As the son of an Irish immigrant, St. Patrick's day was always my grandpa's favorite holiday.

Of course I'll add in my own music as well, adding the likes of Christy Moore, Planxty, and Pat Kane into the mix.

I've carved over twenty little giveaways, including harp-shaped pins, shamrocks, fridge magnets, and the pins and bottle stoppers seen here. I'm making some green spike trolls for the kids to find. I might have another idea or two, and would love to carve more gifts for our guests, but we'll have to see how the chips fly.

More Spool Carvings

2011-03-07T00:27:00.000-05:00

More spool carvings! These four spools are destined to become bottle stoppers. All they need now is some dowels and corks. I'm pretty sure these are pine, but I'll admit my wood ID skills need honing. They carve well though, with no splitting or unexpected chipping. The wood responds well to linseed oil, giving it a waxy look and nice warm glow.

Also, my CaseXX Texas Jack knife is working out well. I favor the smaller of it's two blades for whittlin'. It's easy to control and plenty sharp.

Claddagh pin

2011-03-05T14:25:00.000-05:00

So I decided to mend the broken carving. I sheared off the tip of a small sewing needle, then used it to reattach the broken piece. After a linseed oil soak I think it looks pretty good!

Shamrock baby spoon made it into an Etsy Treasury!

2011-03-03T17:47:00.000-05:00

My shamrock baby spoon has been included in an Etsy Treasury! There's lots of green in this treasury, and even a Claddagh ring. Some nice items just in time for St. Patrick's Day. Check it out!

Only I didn't say fudge...

2011-03-02T23:37:00.000-05:00

Why do carvings only break when they're almost done? Although this claddagh is no longer a "one piece carving," I am very tempted in this case to reattach the offending chip and call it macaroni. Frustrations aside, is a broken and glued carving still a whittlin? Or is it, being infected with a foreign adhesive, some lesser thing?

Becker Knives fork carving competition (part 2- completed)

2011-02-28T21:13:00.000-05:00

The difficult parts of any carving are also the most delicate. On this fork those parts would be the tines. They have to be thin enough to spear food, but thin means vulnerable to breakage. A broken tine would stick out like a missing thumb.

When I started my foray into whittling I was very hesitant to carve away too much material. This reluctance resulted in lots of "fat" whittlins early on. While it's true you can't put those wood chips back on, you do need to shave enough of them off so your projects don't look like Hurley from "Lost." It was a lesson learned the slow way.

So this fork was carved to be thin, like an actual functional fork you'd find on the dinner table. The only blade used was the Becker BK11, as per the contest rules. I sanded it smooth with some beach stones, then dyed it by soaking it in berry juice. I really like how it turned out.

Lumberjack Spoon (BCUSA contest entry)

2011-02-28T01:58:00.000-05:00

Well I didn't win, but the recent Bushcraft USA spoon contest was a ton of fun. No other spoon looked like mine, and I got some votes, which is always encouraging.

The basic idea here is a lumberjack gripping a double-bit axe with "BC" and "USA" engraved on it's head and handle. Other details include a sheathed knife on his left side and a patch sewn on his right pant leg.

Becker Knives fork carving competition

2011-02-24T20:40:00.000-05:00

The Beckerheads over on BladeForums are holding a fork carving contest. The top three prizes are Becker knives!

The fork must be carved using a Becker knife, so I'm using my BK11, aka the Becker Necker. I'm learning that it's a good knife with a nice thin blade suitable for carving but it could use some more comfortable scales. Occasionally the finger guard gets in the way of a good grip, but overall it's an excellent knife for the task. Also, my cord wrapping skills need improvement. The orange 550 cord I wrapped keeps coming loose.

This is my fork so far. I'll post again when it's all done.

WIP: New Woodspirit Walking Stick

2011-02-21T04:06:00.000-05:00

I've dug up a stout walking stick from the woodpile and have started sketching and shaving away. I'm taking tons of photos this time, and might even post a step-by-step tutorial if things go well.

More updates to come!

St. Patrick's Day party favors (part 3: pins)

2011-02-19T20:05:00.000-05:00

Here's the completed pins (magnets are still to come.) I glued some brass clasp pins to each carving. The clasp type pin feels more secure than the straight pin/frog type, though the clasps tend to sit slightly away from your shirt or coat once pinned in place. The one-piece design of the clasp is better, I think. There's no extra parts to lose.

The First One

2011-02-17T00:53:00.000-05:00

This was the first whittlin' I ever did. A few years ago, my belly full of ice cream, I found myself holding a popsicle stick. For some reason I didn't throw it out. Instead I took out my pocket knife (a green Kershaw Scallion if memory serves) and carved that popsickle stick into the shape of a rifle. I'm glad I still have it!

I think it's a Remington. I'm not sure what model.

Bushcraft USA Spoon Carving Contest

2011-02-16T01:22:00.000-05:00

The BCUSA Spoon Carving Competition IV is happening right now! Stop over and check out the entries. This time there's 20 beautiful hand-carved spoons, in all levels of experience and many types of wood. Voting is open to any registered member, and registration is free.

While you're there, look around BCUSA. I love the Self Made Gear subforum as well as Trips & Expeditions. It's a great place to share one's love for the outdoors and despite the name, Bushcraft USA is an international community.

A slideshow of past whittlins

2011-02-13T18:37:00.001-05:00

Here's a slideshow of some of my carvings. There's all sorts of stuff in here, from the rustic little spike trolls to the painted and finished toy soldiers. I'm proud of the variety and feel like I've made progress toward a higher level of detail and control. Let me know what you think!

St. Patrick's Day party favors (part 2)

2011-02-11T18:10:00.000-05:00

As you can see, some of these pins and fridge magnets are soaked in linseed oil while others are painted with acrylics. It's a nice break to carve these simple little items, plus I'm using up scrap wood from other projects. (and yet the clutter continues to build.) Next I'll add pin backs and glue on magnets.

St. Patrick's Day party favors

2011-02-08T18:06:00.001-05:00

I love making little pins, magnets, and other carvings for guests at our annual St. Patrick's Day party. Last year I made shamrock pins out of basswood and cedar. This year I'm adding some more variety with flags, harps, and pints of stout. Here's an early in-progress look at this year's giveaways.

Toy Horse- from start to finish

2011-02-02T00:54:00.000-05:00

Here's some photos of my latest toy horse project. From rough sawing with a coping saw, to carving, sanding, and finishing with lindseed oil and acrylic paint. The final step is to apply a few coats of shellac. This horse will be a gift at an upcoming baby shower.

Review: Case XX Seahorse Whittler

2011-01-21T01:47:00.000-05:00

I really like my Seahorse Whittler. I purchased it a couple of years ago on a visit to the Case/Zippo headquarters in Bradford, PA. (About one hour south of Buffalo.) It's a nice drive especially in the fall. The Zippo/Case museum is well worth the trip.

The Seahorse comes equipped with three blades: a pen blade, a coping blade, and a wharncliffe master blade. The master blade does the heavier carving, while the two smaller blades are excellent for detail work and for getting into tight spots such as carving a ball-in-cage.

For this knife Case uses it's "tru-sharp" surgical stainless steel, which is as good as any stainless I've used. I find it easy to sharpen and maintain, and while I'm not as hardcore about steels as some people, I do wonder what a difference a Seahorse in Case's classic Chrome Vanadium might be. They have yet to release a CV Seahorse, and there's no word of any plans to do so.

I've done plenty of carving with my Seahorse and have few complaints. The master blade's wide spine gives my thumb a comfortable place to press, and it's straight edge is a snap to sharpen. It is a folder, so it's grip size is small compared to my larger fixed blade knives. Small grip size can contribute to hand cramping during long-term use. My solution to this is simply to take frequent breaks for stretching. Also, holding a hot cup of tea or coffee seems to ward off muscle fatigue.

The Sharpened Axe

2011-01-19T18:31:00.000-05:00

The Sharpened Axe just hit 50 followers! Congratulations Mike! One of my favorite bushcraft blogs, The Sharpened Axe focuses on the essential skills of axemanship and basic bushcraft. Mike invites frequent guest writers, so there's a nice variation in subjects, voices, and opinions.

If you're not already following his blog, Mike is holding a celebratory contest with some nice prizes. Visit The Sharpened Axe for details.

Fridge magnet: Rumor from Imaginary Monsters

2011-01-16T02:52:00.000-05:00

The Imaginary Monsters webcomic is up to #129! Imaginary Monsters is a quirky, silly, fun story with tons of wild visuals and dungeon adventures. I'm a fan.

In a comic series full of crazy characters, it can be tough to pick a favorite. Mine is a little guy named "Rumor." He's a minor supporting character with only a handful of appearances, but something about him just tickles me. I carved a Rumor figure, glued a magnet on the back, and gave it to Pete Lazarski, the creator of Imaginary Monsters.

The Moonshiners (part 4) Completed!

2011-01-12T21:44:00.000-05:00

"Swing to the left, swing to the right,
The excise men will dance all night,
Drinking up the tay till the broad day light,
In the hills of Connemara.

Stand your ground it is too late
The excise men are at the gate,
Glory be to Paddy but they're drinking it straight!
In the hills of Connemara."

So in the end, the excise men are won over by the magic that is homemade whiskey. Whether moonshiner or government agent, all are united in friendship and joy until the next day's inevitable splitting headache.

As far as design, the still is one solid piece with most of it's weight on the bottom. Each of the figures has some item or items (barrels, jugs, etc) at it's feet in order to make the base wider, and give it a low center of gravity. They stand very well.

Everything is non-toxic and play safe. Experience helped me to design short, blunt noses, hat brims, and other features that will resist breakage and wear. Sure there will be some dings and chips eventually, but this play set should last for years. Some day when Murphy is all grown up, he may even hand it down to his own kids.

Carving Resolutions for 2011

2011-01-11T01:19:00.000-05:00

I've decided on some carving goals for 2011. This year I'd like to:

-Carve a nativity scene (including at a minimum the Holy Family, a cradle, and one donkey.)
-Make more walking sticks. Maybe even one for myself!
-Teach basic carving to at least two other people.
-Try different carving woods such as tupelo.
-Improve my photography skills. This should help the blog as well as sales on Etsy.
-Carve more moving parts such as rattles, ball-in-cage designs, chains, etc.

The Moonshiners (part 3) -The Still

2011-01-10T22:53:00.000-05:00

"I've been a moonshiner for many a year
I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer
I'll go to some hollow, I'll set up my still
And I'll make you a gallon for a ten shilling bill"

I designed this whiskey still to be rugged and play-safe, yet look fairly realistic. A one-piece carving, all the edges are blunted and sanded smooth before applying linseed oil, acrylic paint, and a few coats of shellac. All non-toxic and safe for tiny hands.

As the center piece of the Moonshiners Playset, the still is very important. I'm happy with how it turned out.

The Moonshiners (part 2) -The Excise Man

2011-01-09T12:12:00.000-05:00

"Now keep your eyes well peeled today,
The big, tall men are on the way,
Searching for the mountain tay
In the hills of Connemara"

Here's the Excise Man, all carved and ready for sanding. I suppose he's the bad guy, at least until the fellas share their booze with him. At that point, he forgets all about arrests or fines, and focuses soley on sampling that sweet potcheen from Ireland green.

The Moonshiners (part 1)

2011-01-08T03:18:00.000-05:00

"Gather up the pots and the old tin cans,
The mash, the corn, the barley and the bran,
Run like the devil from the excise man,
Keep the smoke from rising...Barney!"

So goes the traditional Irish song "The Hills of Connemara." It tells the timeless tale of illicit booze-making, running from the authorities, and bribery. Inspired by this and other songs of Poitín, especially "The Rare Old Mountain Dew," my current project is a set of moonshiners. This set will consist of four pieces: Two happy moonshiners, one whiskey still, and a stern-looking excise man (aka a revenuer to our own Southern Highlanders.)

To add weight to each figure's base, I've designed them with a barrel, jug, or sack of grain by the feet. At this point they're still pretty rough, but they should look fine after sanding and finishing. This set will be a 1st birthday present for my friend's son Murphy.

(Also, Happy New Year!)

Carving the Dark Wizard (part 3) COMPLETED!

2010-12-31T16:15:00.000-05:00

Here he is, in all his malevolent glory. I shortened the wizard's staff in order to see his face, and added a tiny little monster face to it. Acrylic paint and spray shellac helped finish this little guy.

As you can see in these in-progress pics, the staff as designed was too long. My buddy's 2-year old son should get a kick out of this. Now his soldiers have a villian to battle!

Carving the Dark Wizard (part 2)

2010-12-28T16:02:00.000-05:00

Here's a little update on the Dark Wizard toy. After roughing out the general shape with a coping saw, I'm now in the main carving phase. I'm using my Mora 1241 for this project. It's a terrific scandi-ground knife with a good sized handle.

I can already tell the wizard's face might come out different from what I originally planned, but that's fine. I'll keep the staff, as well as the wavy-bladed knife. There's just something that says "bad guy" about that shape!

As a bonus, here's a couple of pics of a dragon I made as a Christmas present for the same boy. I based the design on the prows of old Viking dragon ships(but with all sharp points removed.) Soon the Dark Wizard will lead this monster into battle.

Canada meets New Mexico

2010-12-27T00:58:00.000-05:00

Here's an order I did in time for Christmas.

The customer asked for a wooden hockey puck w/maple leaf design, and one of my dala horses in a New Mexico theme. The little girl who received these carvings has one parent from New Mexico, one who's Canadian. As always, all materials are non-toxic.

Once again I used my custom whittling knife from ML Knives. It's a pleasure to carve with.

Horses for Christmas

2010-12-19T16:26:00.000-05:00

Here's a couple of toy horses I'm carving for a Christmas order. I've stained them with a few coats of salad bowl finish, and painted the details with acrylic paint.

I like this design for it's durability. The horses I've previously made have been chewed, thrown, kicked, and dropped. All the trials a little boy or girl can put a toy through. These things are tough!

Bench Strop

2010-12-17T18:19:00.000-05:00

This strop will replace the short little slipstrop I've been using. Construction couldn't have been more simple. I made it from basswood, scrap leather, and superglue. I did a little abstract carving on top just for fun, and added a leather braid. I'm using Flexcut polishing compound on the leather.

This should help keep my blades shaving sharp!

New Items on Etsy

2010-12-15T22:01:00.000-05:00

Sunday's show was great, but there's a few items that didn't sell. I've posted some on Etsy and will post more tonight and tomorrow. Hopefully these will help round out someone's last minute Christmas list!

Hearts & Crafts Winter show

2010-12-12T21:16:00.000-05:00

Today's craft show was a success! From 11am to 5pm at Java's, Rochester NY, myself and about 15 other vendors (correction: 24 vendors!) showed our wares. I'd like to thank everyone involved in the show, especially Lisa and Marisa, the ladies responsible for organizing the event. It was a good time, and many of my carvings are on their way to new homes.

Table space was limited due to this being an indoor show in the cozy confines of a coffeehouse. To capitalize on this, I threw together a vertical display rack from a telescoping wreath hanger and some 8-gauge wire. Tan duct tape did the holding. The contraption worked like a charm.

Turning old spools into new bottle stoppers

2010-12-05T01:35:00.000-05:00

I've found old wooden spools to be a good medium for carving faces. The spools here are carved then soaked in BLO. I've attached these to pre-shaped corks with dowels and glue. It turns out these guys are just the right size for bottle stoppers, and will wait patiently upside-down while you top off your glass.

Carving The Dark Wizard (part 1)

2010-11-29T20:00:00.000-05:00

This first photo is my basic idea for The Dark Wizard, a companion piece to an ongoing project. Step one is putting pencil to a piece of wood. I'll post updates as the figure progresses.

Last year I carved some toys for my best friend's son, a group of soldiers and knights I dubbed "Ezra's Army." I based the design for these little guys on the Lewis Chessmen, a design I admire both for it's history and it's robust form. I wonder if those medieval chesspiece carvers had "childproof" in mind?

Last Christmas saw six soldiers form the core of this tiny army, and The Blue Wizard enlisted on Ezra's first birthday. I'm considering adding a dragon to the mix...

Also, I'd like to thank Albert Rasch for mentioning me in a recent blog post! I really enjoy his writing, and strongly recommend The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles. Do yourself a favor and give it a look!

Blue Hat Santa

2010-11-18T19:34:00.000-05:00

I like seeing the color blue in Christmas ornaments. The usual greens and reds are fine, but blue is a great change of pace. This Santa wears a blue hat with a white ball on the end, and no white brim. I'm really getting into carving these wooden eggs!

Update: Christmas ornaments

2010-11-16T02:15:00.000-05:00

My first Santa ornament is done, as is the first Cabin-in-the-woods ornament for this year. I finished the Santa with linseed oil, acrylic paint, and some clear spray finish. The Cabin ornament is left more natural, with only a little paint and some clear coat on the trees and snow.

A brass eyelet is screwed into the ornaments' tops, where I'll eventually tie some ribbon to hang them by. Both are carved from wooden hobby eggs.

I have a few more of these on deck for Christmastime, as well as some other ornaments and hand-carved gifts. I'll make sure to post more pics when I can. Thanks for stopping by!

Retired Navy vet carves the Declaration of Independence over the course of 10 years

2010-11-11T21:46:00.000-05:00

Charlie Kested of Johnstown, NY, an 81-year-old US Navy veteran, used his scroll saw to cut this beautiful representation of The Declaration of Independence. The detail and accuracy are amazing.

God bless America, and many thanks to all our veterans!

Woodspirit Walking Stick

2010-11-09T21:05:00.001-05:00

The woodspirit walking stick project is finished! I gave it a few coats of stain, a urethane clear coat to protect it, and a combination spike/rubber foot on the bottom. It is now ready for on- or off-road adventure.

This was a fun one to carve, and a learning experience as well.

Christmas Tree Cookie

2010-11-05T22:04:00.000-04:00

Here's the Christmas tree cookie ornament all carved, sanded, and painted. I soaked it in linseed oil, then used an acrylic wash so the wood grain can show through.

Work in Progress: Christmas Tree Cookie

2010-11-01T21:16:00.000-04:00

I'm working on a series of Christmas cookie carvings in time for the holidays. The first one up is a tree:

New Items on Etsy

2010-10-28T23:23:00.000-04:00

I've posted some new carvings on Etsy, including a small horse and some spike trolls. Have a look!

Works in Progress: Christmas Ornaments

2010-10-27T00:46:00.000-04:00

Wooden eggs, found on etsy or at any hobby shop, can be great for carving. The quality of wood varies, but as a starting shape the egg is very versatile. This Santa carving uses the egg point down, while the cabin in the woods is egg point up. When these are done I'll attach a brass eyelet and some ribbon to each one.

Work in Progress: Spool Face

2010-10-24T15:11:00.000-04:00

Old wooden spools are great for carving. Mustache Dude here should be finished shortly.

Work in Progress: Walking Stick

2010-10-22T00:29:00.000-04:00

I'm carving this woodspirit walking stick from a piece of pear, about 4' long. I'm leaving the bark on top for a grip. The spirit's beard wraps once around the staff. This project still needs to be sanded and stained, and I plan to add a metal spike/rubber stopper on the bottom. I'll update when it's finished.

(edited to add better photo)

The Figure Four Deadfall

2010-10-08T21:38:00.000-04:00

I'm participating in a bushcraft skill challenge over on Blade Forums. Every day this month I will make a figure four deadfall trap. So far I've made one each day for a week, with all but one being successful. The carving demands are very basic. The figure four consists of three sticks and a heavy weight such as a rock or log. The three sticks are cut and notched, then set together under the heavy object. All four parts support each other. The weight rests on the diagonal (lever) stick, which pivots on the upright, and the lever pulls on the trigger stick, which is notched and rests against the upright. When the trigger stick is disturbed, the trap collapses and the deadfall crushes the target animal.

By the end of October this should be a well honed skill.

The NYT declares Scandinavian knives fashionable

2010-10-05T01:17:00.000-04:00

I use Scandi knives almost exclusively when carving. I use traditional Moras and Bruslettos, which have a Scandinavian grind. My newest knife, an ML Knives whittler, is a convexed Scandi. The acute angle of the bevel really makes for thin slices and curly wood chips. Now approved by the Men's Fashion Section of the New York Times!

photo:Chikaka Harada

A Spoon for Mom

2010-10-01T21:16:00.000-04:00

Here's a spoon I carved for my Mom. The wood is from a pear tree in my parents' yard. The carving process was fun, since it smelled just like fresh pears. After carving, I hand sanded the spoon and soaked it in salad bowl finish.

Hearts & Crafts 3

2010-09-27T14:46:00.000-04:00

This Sunday was the third Hearts & Crafts show at Java's Coffee. This was my most successful show to date.

Thanks to Lisa Barker for organizing another terrific show, and thanks to all my friends who stopped by to say hi(and to buy stuff!) See you all next time.

Time to carve up some fresh inventory!

Splitting wood w/an old tire

2010-09-22T17:28:00.000-04:00

This is one of those "why didn't I think of that" ideas. A tire is attached to the chopping block, holding in place all the wood to be chopped, even after it is first split. Practical and efficient.

ML Knives custom whittler

2010-09-14T14:10:00.000-04:00

My first custom whittling knife is nearly complete! Matt from ML Knives sent me some in-progress photos. First is a pic of the hand-forged blade.

And now the finished knife with handle and pin. I absolutly love the piece of maple he chose for this project.

Matt is making up a desk sheath for the knife as well. I can't wait to take this beauty carving!

Super Tiny Pencil Tip Carving

2010-08-13T15:20:00.000-04:00

Paul Bunyan on a pogo stick, this is some superhuman carving talent. I find this both inspiring and spirit-breaking.

A Custom Whittling Knife

2010-07-26T00:13:00.000-04:00

I'm excited.

After a long time admiring the hand-forged blades of ML Knives, I've finally placed an order. ML has a reputation for making top quality knives with a classic frontier look. Many are antique in appearance, all are works of art.

The knife I've decided on is the "Woodcarver/Whittler" model, a 2" blade mounted on a 4 1/2" tiger maple handle. The blade will be hand forged from high carbon 1095 steel, a steel known for it's ease of sharpening and excellent edge retention. I asked for the addition of a pin for a little extra steel-to-wood security. Plus I think it will look nice. ML Knives is a one-man operation out of Hagaman NY, and the ETA for my knife is expected at a little over one month.

Hate Spoons

2010-07-11T22:12:00.000-04:00

Here's a different sort of take on the Welsh lovespoon. I guess when a spoon represents a cartoon dead face with a weapon jabbed into it, it's a hate spoon. I carved these from basswood, and let them soak overnight in linseed oil.

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-04T13:04:00.000-04:00

Chester the chicken wishes you a happy 4th of July. God Bless America!

Grizzledude

2010-07-02T16:25:00.000-04:00

Here's one I did a while back. Grizzledude, an adorable and slimy little skull, is the star of the wildly popular webcomic Imaginary Monsters, by Peter Lazarski. The G-dude and his pals adventure through a fantastical dungeon brimming with she-devils, friendly monsters, weird mushroom spores, magic, and angry, sandwich-bearing knights. It's a wild ride and I look forward to each new strip. Best of all, this comic is family friendly!

I carved this version of Grizzledude for Pete's birthday.

I chose the 'dude's most triumphant pose. Behold my sandwich, ye mighty, and tremble!