What is a whittling knife?

What is a Whittling Knife?

Posted by The Whittling Knife Co. on February 12, 2016 What is a whittling knife Whittling is the art of carving shapes from raw wood with a knife, known as a whittling knife.

Whittling knives are very light and have a small blade. Most people use a pocket knife to whittle wood. For more experienced whittlers, there is a specialized whittling knife. It has fixed blades that are great for sculpting artistic work. They are easy to grip for long periods of time, because they have thick handles. These handles also help the user to have more precise pressure and control.

Many people confuse whittling and carving. The are actually two different types of art. When you carve wood, you use various tools, including gouges, chisels, and mallets. When you whittle, you use noting but a knife. Whittling with a whittling knife is a hobby.

What Is The Best Type of Wood For Whittling When whittling, you can technically use any type of wood, however, there are certain woods that are better for whittling. Soft woods with a small grain work the best. The best type of wood to use is basswood, pine, or balsa. You can also use random twigs and branches, which are best for whittlers who are just starting out. If you use hardwood, you may find that it is more difficult. Only very experienced whittlers have success when trying to work with this type of wood.

The First Rule of Whittling The first thing that you need to know about whittling, is that your whittling knife should always be sharp. If it's not, the wood will not be easy to cut, and the cuts will look choppy. You will know when your knife needs to be sharpened, when it starts to get more difficult to cut into the wood, even with increased pressure. To sharpen your knife, you should simply give it a few strokes on a sharpening stone, and they you can get back to work.

Whittling Knife Safety Tips It is important that you follow a few safety tips when using a whittling knife, so that you don't slip and accidentally cut yourself.

Take is slow: Whittling is meant to be a fun, relaxing past time. It is important to understand that there is no need to rush. Rushing will only cause injuries. When your cuts are slow and controlled, you will produce better results.

Wear gloves when starting out: Until you are comfortable with your whittling knife and the strokes.

You should wear a pair of leather gloves. They will protect you as you learn to control your whittling knife.

Graduate to a thumb pad: After you get more comfortable with your whittling knife, you should start using a thumb pad. It will protect you until you are completely comfortable with the knife. If you cannot find a thumb pad, duct tape works just as good.

Whittle with the Grain When you are whittling, you should go with the grain. If you are not sure which way the grain is going, start making small, shallow cuts in the wood with your knife. The cuts that are made with

the grain will peel away smoothly. If you are going against the grain, there will be resistance and the wood will eventually split.

What To Whittle With Your Knife If you purchased your first whittling knife, and have no experience, you should start by making a wooden egg. It is very simple, and does not have much detail. It is the perfect project to help you learn the craft. After you have mastered the wooden egg, you can try an animal or a cowboy boot.

There are several books that you can buy with whittling patterns. You would simply transfer the pattern to your wood, and then begin your project. You can also use your imagination and whittle something abstract.

Whittling wood is an excellent way to spend your free time while you relax. As long as you have a good whittling knife and understand the safety tips, you should be quite successful.