We Are A Camera

Whittling has been around for many hundreds of years.  All the way back to the days of cavemen.  One could say that it is because we began to whittle that technology began.  It was the shaping of wood, after allafter the discovery of sharp edgesthat sparked human imagination to make carts, cooking implements and clothes, weapons for hunting and methods of food gathering.  Who wouldve thought? So you want to whittle wood.  Good for you.  Whittling is the simple removal of pare shavings or cutting small bits from a piece of wood with a knife or a similar wedge-edged tool.  No more, no less.  So what does it take to become a good whittler?To become a good whittler, youll need to know several things.  Youll need to know how to choose the right wood and the right knife.  Youll want to know some basic whittling techn alternate picking iques and just a bit about maintenance and storage.Choosing the Wood. -  Soft woods are best for whittling.  Pine cuts very easily but isnt able to hold detail well.  Basswood and Balsa are also very popular. -  Birch, cedar and maple arent considered to be soft woods but they are often used for whittling.-  When selecting wood for whittling, rely on two things:  a straight grain and uniform color.  A straight grain is usually a softer wood than crossed grains.  Because changes in color usually mean changes in hardness, youll want to avoid this.  When all else fails, press down on the wood with your thumbnail and rely on that to tell you how hard it is. -  If whittling wood is difficult to purchase, you could check your local lumberyard for a scrap bin.  You just might find a treasure trove. Choosing the Knife.