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 all-after the discovery of sharp edges-that sparked human imagination to make carts, cooking implements and clothes, weapons for hunting and methods of food gathering. Who would’ve 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. No more, no less. So what does it take to become a good whittler?

To become a good whittler, you’ll need to know several things. How to choose the correct type of wood for a particular type of knife is what you’ll need to know. You’ll want to know some basic whittling techniques and just a bit about maintenance and storage.

- Soft woods are best for whittling. Pine cuts very easily but isn’t able to hold detail well. Basswood and Balsa are also very popular.

- Birch, cedar and maple aren’t 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, you’ll 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. There is no one specific type or brand of knife that is best for whittling. Mostly, it’s a matter of comfort.

- Avoid stainless steel knives. It isn’t easy to sharpen them correctly. Even when you do, they usually can’t hold a very sharp edge for too long. This is very inefficient and entirely avoidable.

- Most whittlers like small knives that fit in the palm of your hand. Others like pocket knives, switchblade knives or folding knives (with lockable blades) that can be opened with one hand. Comfort and portability rule.

- Special whittling knives have short plump handles that give you an easier grip and better control. And because whittling involves extended periods, this is really great for precision and control.

- You can find whittling knives is special kits. These kits may have several knives, each with a different edge shape. Or the kit might have a knife handle and several differently shaped blade edges that are interchangeable. Different edges allow for much better maneuverability.

- When you’re ready to buy one, shop around. Test them out. Don’t rush this process. It’ll make all the difference when you’re ready to begin.

- You’ll be working with a small piece of wood and a small knife. First thing then is the knife. It should be balanced and have light weight. More than anything else, it must be comfortable in your hand. If it doesn’t feel right in any way, keep looking.

- Wear gloves. Think of it this way, if you cut your hands or fingers, you’re done. You won’t be able to whittle at all until it heals. Wear them, at least until you’ve developed some real skill at handling the knife.

- Be in a good frame of mind. Or at least a reasonably good frame of mind. If you are the type of person who becomes aggressive when upset, it’s probably not a good idea to whittle at that time. (Imagine losing a finger!)

Basic Whittling Techniques. It goes without saying but you’ve got to be sure. Keep fingers and all other body parts away from knife edges. Take no chances.

- When gripping your knife, your thumb should be against the spine with the edge facing your fingers.

- Each knife stroke you make should be away from your body. Never stroke towards your body. You know you’re just asking for it.

- The hand holding the knife should be further from your body than the hand holding the piece of wood.

- Lock your wrists for better control.

- Tuck your elbows into your sides to limit free movement.

Whittling Recommendations.

- Use a wide-beveled knife edge to cut soft wood or semi-soft wood. Conversely, use a narrow-beveled knife edge to cut hardwood. When you need a strong edge to cut hardwood, the more narrow the bevel, the stronger the cutting edge.

- When you’re done for the day, clean and dry your knives. A light coating of lubricant is recommended for your knife blades. Linseed oil is recommended for your wood handles. Take care of your knives and they could last your lifetime.

- If your knives don’t already have a case, store them in a way that protects their edges. Be sure that wherever they are, it’s safe and secure. Only you should be able to get to them.

- If you decide to use more tools than just a knife, you’ll be entering the world of detailed wood carving. Just clarifying that for you.

Sharpening Your Knife.

- Factory-made whittling knives are often unsharpened. This is preferable to a sharpened knife because dedicated whittlers prefer to make their own sharpening angles.

- You can use any of various coarse grade sharpening stones or a ceramic steel to create the cutting angles.

- A diamond slipstone or a diamond pocket file are great portables for times when you’re on the go. Or you can use them for quick touch-ups on your edges.

- You’ll need a strop to remove the burr and all micro-bits from a properly sharpened knife. This improves the whittling process and delays further sharpening. If you prefer, a honing compound and honing board will also get that edge smooth.

- If you haven’t learned how to sharpen a knife and maintain its edge, these are among the first things you should learn. You’ll be more independent and as efficient as possible.

Whittling is an ancient craft. It’s wonderfully contemplative and could even be spiritually meditative. It is the journey that matters more than the end result. If you have no care to rush, if you want to take your time and see what happens, what’re you waiting for?

Choosing which knife set to get in your home kitchen can be difficult at times, especially in this economy. Owning a quality knives will make your cooking life much easier. Have you ever tried to use bad, old, and dull knives to cook your food? If so, you know the importance of choosing the perfect set of knives. When shopping for that set of knives that stands out of the crowd, there are several questions you need to ask yourself.

Can I afford it?

The different brands out there, promising you they got the best knives, sometimes you just cannot figure what you really want to purchase. Make sure the price stays within your budget. Cheap kitchen knives can become part of your lifestyle

Are the knives made of stainless steel?

The most important way to tell if the knives are quality, is to check if they are made from stainless steel. Some are made from forged metal but they might be more expensive. Stainless Steel Knives have longer lifespan and stay sharp for a long period of time.

Is the handle on the knives good?

Although plastic handles often look good, feel great, and last a bit, they damage and get scratched easily. When you are purchasing a knife set, get the knives with composite handles. Composite handles is cook’s best choice next to stainless steel handles. Try to avoid wood handles, water damages wood handles with no effort.

Does the set come with variety of different knives?

The most important knife you will need to look for is “chef’s knife”. Most cooks will find themselves holding a chef’s knife to complete most of their cutting and chopping. Aside from a chef’s knife, make sure the set has a bread knife, utility knife, and a paring knife. Make sure the looks and size of the knives fits your needs.

Me being a cook, the first thought that comes to my mind when I hear “knives” is Roberto Rossi Knives. From years of cooking experience, my number one award goes to Roberto Rossi Knives due to it’s quality, looks, comfort, and lifespan.

• 7-piece knife set consists of 6 high-quality steak knives and a beautiful wood caddy
• Precision-forged blades made of 440C German steel that sharpens easily, holds an edge, and resists staining
• Pakkawood ergonomic handles with full triple tangs for superior balance and control
• Attaches to 11-piece or 12-piece Gunter Wilhelm block set (models 201 and 250); hand wash only
• Measures approximately 3 by 6 by 10 inches; lifetime warranty

Product Description
The Gunter Wilhelm 7-piece steak knife set includes 6 steak knives and a wood block. This set can attach to either the 11-piece GW block set or the 12-piece block set. In the beginning, knives were made from High Carbon steel. This was because High Carbon Steel was easy to sharpen and held an edge really well. The problem was that High Carbon would turn black quickly and was not attractive. The problem with Stainless Steel knives is that while they look great, they don t hold an edge and are almost impossible to sharpen. Then someone in Solingen Germany came up with an alloy which is the mixture of two steels, high carbon and stainless steel. This new alloy, called 440 was the answer to the problem. 440 hold an edge really well and sharpens easily while being very stain resistant. There are two basic kinds of knives in the world. The first is stamped where the knives are made from sheet metal stamping and then attach plastic or wood handles to the tang. Stamped knives have no bolster, and do not have the weight, balance and durability of Forged Style knives. Forged style knives are typically made from one block of steel and always have a Bolster. The Bolster is the large metal area joining the blade with the handle. Forged knives have better weight and balance than Stamped Knives. The best knives such as Gunter Wilhelm, are all of the forged style.

Gunter Wilhelm Cutlery 204 7-Piece Steak-Knife Set with Wooden Caddy

This one’s very funny. Some of the best laughs online are on eBay. I spend tons of time browsing the funny stuff people list. Antiques is a million laughs. you find joke items every other listing.

Funny stuff

–> The Ex Knife Set with Stainless Steel Knives $160 The Ex 5pc SS Knife Set w/Knives and BLACK Holder SKU: EX5 Suggested Retail: $159.99 Your Price: a radical alternative to the typical block o’ wood! no knife holder has taken a greater stab at the theatrical than this specially designed Ex knife holder. Et tu, Brute? a radical alternative to the typical block o’ wood! no knife holder has taken a greater stab at the theatrical than this specially designed Ex knife holder. Et tu, Brute? This 5pc knife holder is unlike any cutlery set you have ever seen! This whimsical, artistic kitchen accessory holds 5 high quality stainless steel kitchen knives (included) in a rather unorthodox fashion – STORE YOUR KNIVES IN AN ANONYMOUS EFFIGY DEDICATED TO WHOMEVER YOU PLEASE! Take out your frustrations as you store your knives! makes a perfect gift and a guaranteed conversation piece! Plastic casings house every knife to prevent blade exposure. Features Include: Unique Artistic Holder made of Heavy Duty ABS Plastic This display will be the talk of the party Innovative Knife Suspension System Individual Protective Knife Sleeves Heavy Gauge Durable Stainless Steel Blades and Hollow Handles Razor Sharp Precision Cutting Blades 25 Year Warranty Set includes plastic figure plus: 1 – 8″ Chef Knife 1 – 8″ Bread Knife 1 – 8″ Carver 1 – 5″ Utility Knife 1 – 3.5″ Parer questions about this product? Call customer service at 1-800-318-1039 Store Policies we are the Direct Source for these products. YOU WILL NOT FIND CHEAPER PRICES ELSEWHERE. SHOP DIRECT…SHOP BOB & JOYCE! PLEASE NOTE: Our office hours are Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm EST. All email inquiries and questions will be answered within 1 business day. Emails sent Friday after hours or over the weekend will be answered on Monday. TOP 10 REASONS TO SHOP BOB & JOYCE: fast shipping: All shipments leave our warehouse within 1 business day of receipt of payment. 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