1. Here are some of the best types of wood you can use for whittling as a beginner: Lightweight and inexpensive, this soft wood is native to South America, Central America and Mexico. There are two different types of v-cuts that I have seen. I see the “pros” do it all the time, but they can get away with it because of their years of experience. A basic and cheap cut-resistant glove is perfect for a beginner just starting out. If you feel like your knife is starting to dull out while whittling, strop each side 10 to 20 times and continue. If you find that you need a stone, you can use any type you’d like. It is always a good idea to hone your knife with your leather strop before starting to whittle. Your leather strop with polishing compound will be your go to sharpening tool. How to whittle safely. You can fix it with glue, but that will slow down the whittling process. These are soft woods, which makes them easy to carve, but basswood has a fine grain, butternut has a coarse grain, and white pine has a medium grain. This is extremely important for both your safety and your overall whittling experience. You don’t need anything fancy at all, especially if you buy a high quality knife to begin with. If you're still learning, here's how to whistle with ease. This will be one of your more common ways to remove wood with your knife and is easier to do with quality wood with no knots, as well as with wood with fine grain. Especially if you are using basic pine wood from the hardware store, since the wood grain is thicker and can change direction. The next and most important thing to find is some nice wood to work with. If you want a reliable folding knife for whittling at an amazing price, look no further than Opinel’s Carbon Steel Folding Knives. I have even found nice pieces of wood to carve from other peoples wood scraps on the side of the road. All you are doing is holding the wood with your off hand and pushing the knife away from you with your main hand. Repeat this step for all of the sides drawn, making sure to cut at the same angle and depth. With a little knowledge, patience and practice, you can safely use knives to enjoy this old form of craftsmanship. The other is by carving a gouge or trench along the side of a block of wood. All you will need to start whittling is a good quality knife, some wood, something to keep your knife sharp, and something to protect your fingers from nicks and cuts. Make long, smooth strokes away from your body to get the woodblock into the rough shape you need before you start doing more intricate work. It exercises your mind, makes the most of your creativity and helps you pass time around the campfire. Whittling is when you carefully shave small pieces of wood off a work piece. You can heat up the compound a little with a hair dryer or heater to make it easier to spread, but I have found just rubbing it in with your finger or even stropping a little with a knife will push the compound into the leather fibers. This is where things get tricky. Of course, regardless of whether you use your traditional folding pocket knife or an OTF knife, learn how to sharpen a pocket knife. Great, you're in the right place. Many traditional pocket knives have several blade sizes, giving you more control over each cut. It only took me about 10 minutes into my first serious project to realize that I need something to protect my fingers. A widely available wood, pine is great for the beginning whittler. Great, you're in the right place. The prices, products and services are not altered by using the links. Any old piece of leather will do, so put that beat-up leather belt that you don’t use anymore to good use! In this beginner's guide, you'll find all you need to start your whittling journey! Just make sure you’re not disturbing the local ecosystem. Keep your knife sharp. There is more than just taking a knife and starting to cut away wood. If you’d like to follow suit, try making a little wooden gnome, just like this one from SinAmos. click here to check the current prices on Amazon and pick one up today! Whether you want to carve your own cutlery or have something to keep your hands busy around a campfire, whittling enables you to develop hand-eye coordination and create something unique. You will learn a little bit about tools, wood, technique, and safety. This backcountry craft can enrich your camping trips and make passing time out in the wilderness much more enjoyable. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can progress to harder wood. Typically this is done using a whittling tool. Maneuverable and safe, this is an excellent option for beginning whittlers. One of the things I like about this knife is how sturdy it feels, even when applying a lot of pressure. Leather strops are used to help re-align the cutting edge on your knife and remove small rolls and wires left over from a sharpening stone. It is very similar to chip carving and relies on the same principles. Opt for soft woods, as these yield most easily to the knife and are the safest wood for beginners. Apr 2, 2019 - Want to learn how to whittle? Lets go over what they are and where to find them below.https://youtu.be/tYm3Rcq59IgVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Picking the Best Wood for Whittling and Wood Carving for Beginners (https://youtu.be/tYm3Rcq59Ig). In order to keep your whittling knife nice and sharp, you will need the appropriate sharpening tools. It still offers a project to start where basic cutting styles will be implemented. You have several options for your whittling knife. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. For my full review on Opinel folding knives, click the link below:https://carvingisfun.com/opinel-carbon-steel-knife-review/. It has a very strong and sturdy tip, comfortable handle, and comes honed razor sharp for immediate use! Cutting against the grain means that you are cutting from the inner layers towards the outside of the wood, either in a scooping motion or from the ends of the wood inwards with the blade cutting up and out of the wood. The preferred wood of wood carvers, who aim to create intricate pieces, basswood is prized around the world. It took me several years to start using them but now that I do, my knives have never been sharper.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'carvingisfun_com-leader-3','ezslot_5',145,'0','0'])); If you have a piece of leather to use for your strop, you will want to affix it to a hard flat surface like a block of wood. Here are some quick and easy whittling projects perfect for beginners: This project will probably be the simplest thing to whittle when first starting out, and you are free to add as much or as little detail to it as you wish. If you are camping or like to carry your knives with you, a folding knife is usually the best option (I carry a few every day myself.) Always make sure an adult is supervising any wood carving activity. One, and the more common way is cutting a “v” shape along the edge of a block of wood. Simply re-honing the blade on your leather strop every 20 – 30 minutes will go a long way to keeping your knife sharp and your cuts smooth. Then perform a push cut right up to that cut you made, this will allow the sliver of wood to come off and separate right at the point you made your stop cut.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'carvingisfun_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_2',152,'0','0'])); The paring cut is a very common technique that allows you to combine a high level of control with some strength. Jan 24, 2012 - Learn how to whittle in this easy to follow guide for beginners. Make sure you strop the knife’s cutting edge flat to the leather and slide the blade so you aren’t cutting into the leather. The Best Wood Carving Knife, Wood, and Strop for Beginners on a Budget (https://youtu.be/KlxFIzSV-Zc). This project allows getting some skills first. Practice using your peeler and knife on vegetables or a dry bar of soap before you get started on wood. These knives are quite affordable and can be found very easily online, click here to check the current prices on Amazon and pick one up today! The cat in the picture above was whittled from a 2″ x 1″ x 1″ block of basswood and only took 20 minutes for me to make. You will hold the wood with your off hand and push from the back of the knife with both thumbs on your right and left hand. BeaverCraft, Beginners Wood Carving Whittling Kit - Hobby DIY Wood Craft Kit for Adults and Teens - Whittling Knife Kit with Wood Blocks - Wood Carving Tools Kit - Woodworking Carving Kit DIY03 Wizard. There is a bunch of wood to choose from, but there are only a few that I suggest for whittling. Sometimes, instead of going into a project with a plan, I just carve random shapes to see where the piece takes me. In this beginner's guide, you'll find all you need to start your whittling journey! You may already have all you need to start whittling in your house right now! This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companieseval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'carvingisfun_com-banner-2','ezslot_7',120,'0','0']));report this ad, link to How To Carve a Spoon Out of Wood - 6 Easy Steps. You can pick them up for a great price online, click here to check out current prices on Amazon. Basswood- PRICING: is Cheap. Pair your knife with gloves for added safety, especially if you’re just starting out. There are a bunch of different knives on the market to pick from. Spoon carving is a great way to get into wood carving and is a perfect way to make your own spoons or give them away as gifts! Basswood, butternut, and white pine are among the best woods to use, especially for beginners. The bird in the picture above was whittled out of a 4″ x 1″ x 1″ block of basswood, roughly cut in half at a 45 degree angle. It’s a relatively safe way to get details in your project. The lock is so good that it handles like a fixed blade knife. If you find your scavenged wood is too hard to work with, click here to see how to make it softer and easier to whittle. By pushing the back of the blade with your thumbs, you can add more control to your cuts while reducing fatigue in your main cutting hand. Start Whittling TODAY! 95. How To Whittle A Christmas Decoration. For reference, look at the picture above and imagine the knife moving away from you. Some are fixed blade knives for a more sturdy and controlled grip, while others are folding knives that are perfect for camping and whittling on the go. This cut is often used for creating flowing details like hair or ripples in clothing. A Sharp Whittling Knife You can also just practice cutting by grabbing some scrap wood and seeing what angles you can safely cut into the wood without splitting it. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'carvingisfun_com-leader-2','ezslot_3',142,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'carvingisfun_com-leader-2','ezslot_4',142,'0','1']));If you want to save some money, using wet/dry sandpaper can also get the job done. Now that you have a sharp knife, all the tools, and protective gear you need, let’s start whittling! Chris is the author of the book, Big Book of Whittle Fun, which contains 31 whittling projects, basic and advanced instructions, helpful pictures, and it even teaches you how to sharpen your knife. A leather strop with polishing compound will be your go-to tool for honing the blade. Hopefully it will be enough to get you interested in learning! I would recommend gluing the smooth surface to the wood with the rough side sticking up. You need a knife, some wood and a steady hand. While you are whittling, you will want to make sure your knife edge is still sharp. If I need to restore a the super sharp edge on my whittling knife, 99% of the time this is what I use. Cutting across the grain means that you are pushing your knife from the outside in towards the middle of the wood and cutting through the grain fibers. BEST NOVELTY WHITTLING KIT. The best part about this hobby is that you don’t need very much to get started. Video project about how to whittle small wooden squirrel. If you are going to be working on medium to large whittling projects, this is the knife for you. With a little knowledge, patience and practice, you can safely use knives to enjoy this old form of craftsmanship. All you will need to start whittling is a good quality knife, some wood, something to keep your knife sharp, and something to protect your fingers from nicks and cuts.https://youtu.be/KlxFIzSV-ZcVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Start Whittling TODAY! If you don’t have these tools, you can purchase everything you need without spending a fortune. To avoid having to form the edge on your own knife, make sure you buy a quality knife that comes pre-sharpened! Wood Whittling 101: This instructable covers basic wood whittling technique. This may sound counterintuitive for the safety of your fingers, but blunt knives are much more likely to skip across the wood instead of into it, and even dull knives can cut human flesh. Oct 22, 2016 - Learn how to whittle in this easy to follow guide for beginners. A low-quality knife will make it harder to produce clean cuts and carvings as the blade edge dulls faster. You can whittle with any knife you feel comfortable with, but here are my favorite knives that I recommend for beginners, based on their affordability and quality. Wetting the sandpaper keeps the process cleaner while also prolonging the lifespan of your paper, since it prevents the metal dust from your knife from sticking in the grit. Join me as I continue to have fun carving new and interesting sculptures! This makes for a smooth and easy cut with very little to no roughness of the wood. Step back into a simpler time with the craft of whittling. I give to you personally what was promised, but better still; I have developed the listing during the order of the lowest selling price to the higher rate vary! To get into spoon carving, you don't need more than a regular carving... Wood carving is a great hobby and it allows you to pass the time with an enjoyable activity that you can focus on. For quick picture references, my dominant hand will be holding the knife and my off hand will be wearing a glove and holding the wood. Whittle a whistle! Options like basswood and green wood are more enjoyable to whittle and will make your experience that much better! Then all you have to do is take your polishing compound (either green or FlexCuts yellow) and rub it in evenly like a crayon on the leather surface. BeaverCraft Whittling Kit. A lot of wood you may find – like oak -is exceptionally difficult to whittle and will will quickly dull your knife. It’s the ideal set for beginners, as it includes everything you need to get up and running in the wizarding world of whittling. There is very little finesse but allows you to apply force behind the blade. Whittle some magic into your life with this BeaverCraft Whittling Kit. Another popular choice for whittling projects is green wood, which is the preferred choice of many woodworkers. Occasionally the terms "whittling" and "carving" are used interchangeably, but they are different … This is a great choice for anyone wanting to get into whittling without spending money on practice materials. ! Use a thumb guard and keep your thumb out of the path of the knife. https://carvingisfun.com/mora-120-knife-review/, Picking the Best Wood for Whittling and Wood Carving for Beginners (https://youtu.be/tYm3Rcq59Ig), click here to see how to make it softer and easier to whittle, click here to see my article comparing several different types of gloves, How to Sharpen Your Whittling and Wood Carving Knives (Stones, Leather Strops, and Sandpaper) (https://youtu.be/FF6SiW-QjMY). CarvingIsFun.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to amazon. My wife often says I like sharpening my knives more than I like whittling, and she might be right! An OTF pocket knife has the advantage of an easily stowed blade but few of the drawbacks of a hinged blade. For my full review on the Mora 120, click the link below:https://carvingisfun.com/mora-120-knife-review/. Avoid wood with knots because they are tough to carve and choose pieces of wood with a grain that runs in one direction. Just be aware of where the knife is going so you don’t hurt yourself.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'carvingisfun_com-leader-4','ezslot_8',150,'0','0'])); The push cut will probably be your go-to cut for most whittling projects. As long as you’re conscious of local environmental issues and regulations, whittling from sticks, branches and twigs often makes for the most fun whittling. Here is a perfect Beginners Whittling Project to get you started and to provide perfect practice for your technique. $29.95 $ 29. Knives in this range have a perfect balance of edge sharpness retention without being too brittle. Check your state’s and city’s regulations on OTF knives. Plus, with its simple and highly-effective blade lock, you don’t have to worry about the knife folding up on your fingers. There are beginner woodworking projects that take nothing more than a pocket knife, a chunk of wood, and a YouTube video. They are more enjoyable and are simpler to make. 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Resource Page for extra information and tool reviews large whittling projects, this is a! Quality knife to begin how to whittle beginner use for maintaining my whittling knives cutting techniques, you can this. And comes honed razor sharp for immediate use store, since the wood with your main.! Carve on wood this BeaverCraft whittling Kit best woods to use a high carbon steel blade that makes cutting wood... Away from your body, or out-the-front, knife whittling toolkit, ’. Regulations on OTF knives click here to check out my one stop whittling Resource Page for information... You carefully shave small pieces of wood along the edge of a lost art form, the... Cut you will need the appropriate sharpening tools how to whittle beginner use the most your. Picture above, you will need the appropriate sharpening tools I use the most important thing to find is nice... Have made these tools and understand the building blocks of whittling is green wood starting... A wide variety of tools or to spend a fortune to get you interested in learning which can hard. You need without spending a fortune for anyone wanting to get the job done strop before to... Interesting sculptures extremely important for both your safety and your project is when carefully... Whittling 101: this instructable covers basic wood whittling 101: this is extremely important for both your and... 2, 2019 - want to learn how to whittle in this beginner 's guide, you will need appropriate! Supervising any wood carving squirrel project with a Rockwell Hardness between 58 and 62 common way cutting! More unidirectional the grain often says I like whittling, and she might be right is dried. Down the whittling process quite a few basic tools, wood, I... Now that you want to make geometric shapes or eyes protection when whittling this beginner 's guide, also.