[Woodcarver] whittling?

[Joe Dillett]

Hi Cynda,

You'll find a lot of definitions for what is the difference between
whittling and carving. I think we do both and sometimes both on the same
piece. I don't think it makes a difference what the tool is because we can
whittle with a chisel as well as a knife.

For me, carving is selecting a tool that will make the desired shape of cut
in just a few strokes. So most of the time I'm carving when I select the
shape of the tool that matches the cut and take large bold cuts to form that
shape. However sometimes I can't visualize the finished shape very clearly
so I need to study the shape as I approach it slowly. Than I pick, pick at
it removing small chips not sure where or how far to go until I see how it
develops. When I'm picking away and removing small chips I call that
whittling. When I'm taking bold cuts, matching the tool to the shape of cut,
I call that carving.


Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552
(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.com
jdillett at thecarvingshop.com
http://www.carvingmagazine.com Carving Magazine web site and Readers Forum
http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
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