THE LI WOOD CARVERS SHOW


Saturday, October 19, 2019

A CENTURY OF WHITTLING by Donald K. Mertz

More information CLICK HERE

Thank you Don...

A CENTURY OF WHITTLING – 1865 – 1965 a folk history by Donald K. Mertz – The WOOD BEE CARVER
Wood carving is perhaps one of the oldest forms of art that originated the first time a human shaped in a decorative manner a piece of wood with a sharp stone. Whittling developed when sharpened metal knives were used to carve a hand held piece of wood making Whittling one of the earliest forms of carving.
In the United States Whittling was most prevalent in the century between 1865 and 1965. The Civil War brought together men from different states and territories in a melting pot kind of gathering. Sitting around the campsite the soldiers would relax by talking, playing cards, writing letters and some would be whittling. The folding jack knife was common among the soldiers who, if one had a knife one was prone to whittle. Some soldiers who were more proficient at whittling would teach others to whittle walking sticks or canes, animals, human figures, spoons, smoking pipes and whimsies like wooden chains, ball in a cage, fans and puzzles. A soldier from Maine would teach a soldier from Ohio how to whittle a particular object. A soldier from Georgia would show a soldier from Tennessee how to whittle. This was repeated over and over in the melting pot of the casual school of whittling.

Friday, October 18, 2019

SUPER WOOD AS STRONG AS STEEL

Wood is great. It looks nice as a building material. It grows right out of the ground. But compared to things like concrete, marble, and steel, it's not all that strong. Well, it didn't used to be, anyway. Scientists have now created a "super wood" that's strong enough to stop a bullet.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Afternoon Show and Tell

Joe showing his golfer

Ken and a carving

Some audience members

Another’s picture of some members

Ken’s carved pig’s 

Mike with large scorp 

Mike showing a carving

Joe shows his latest golfers 🏌️ 


Friday, October 4, 2019

How to Make Apple Shrunken Heads


Does anyone remember Vincent Price’s shrunken head kits from back in the '70s? Complete with sculpting tools, templates, twine for hanging your creepy creations from your belt or backpack, and an amazing drying chamber that could be attached to any household lamp, you could create your own horrifying shrunken heads from ordinary apples!

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Power Carving Bits





Power carving is becoming more popular all the time.  The rotary tools available today like the Ram Micro Motor, OZ Plus, and Foredom make carving so much easier.  With power carving the carver can use just about any type of wood and make projects from caricatures, realistic animals and people, to relief carving and so much more.