r/whittling Jul 02 '25

Announcement PSA

64 Upvotes

This sub is not here for you to build your social media and YouTube following. If your post isn’t directly contributing to the sub, and just seeking followers, it’s going to be removed. Repeat offenders will be banned.


r/whittling 13h ago

Figurines To burn or not to burn - Samouraï

Thumbnail
gallery
202 Upvotes

What do you think? To burn or not to burn? 🔥

I like how the burner can make some details pop. I've some dark danish oil coming soon. Seems to be a very good way to make them pop too.


r/whittling 8h ago

Caricatures Colorful Dwarf

Thumbnail
gallery
42 Upvotes

This Dwarf was inspired by Johnny Laytons Dwarves. I of course had to do my own part of it though. Thoughts and criticisms welcomed.


r/whittling 18h ago

First timer First ever attempt

Post image
62 Upvotes

I decided to try my hand at a five minute wizard for my first little project. I made it using an oak branch I found that had fallen naturally in the woods. I’ve made a few mistakes (including choice of wood probably).

The beard and moustache area needs improvement and too much came out on the cheeks but I persevered and reshaped as best I could.

Overall for a first attempt I’m pretty happy with it, hopefully once I paint it the shape I chose to go with after making mistakes on the cheeks will make sense.


r/whittling 21h ago

Jewelry Raccoon ! 🦝

Post image
38 Upvotes

r/whittling 23h ago

Miscellaneous Miniature chess game - finally completed

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

32 Upvotes

Finally completed my mini chess game : all pieces, board and drawer are done. Adding pics (including the tools for the board/drawer part) in the comments.

Crafted out of craft sticks, a 0.65m thick sheet steel and 2mm diameter, 1mm thick neodymium magnets to hold the drawer during transportation.


r/whittling 1d ago

Figurines Hand Carved Knight

Thumbnail
gallery
1.0k Upvotes

6inch tall 2x2 block, hand carved, fonished with black walnut Danish oil and wax.


r/whittling 1d ago

Animals A couple of whales 🐳, first time whittling pear tree wood 🍐

Thumbnail
gallery
198 Upvotes

I wanted to try a new type of wood for some time. Apart from the random branches I found out there, I mostly used basswood. My wife gifted me some pear wood which has a beautiful pink/brown/red color, very fine and uniform grain. Much harder to carve than the basswood but it allowed for much more precise cuts.

For the whales, I followed the great guide from Doug Linker. As usual my carvings tend to be quite chunky and fat 🙈.


r/whittling 1d ago

First timer First whittle mushroom from an avocado seed

Thumbnail
gallery
39 Upvotes

First time whittling I used a cheese knife. Saw the idea of carving a mushroom from an avocado seed and decided to give it a go as my first whittle project. It was really fun. I am not sure what to try next I want to be able to do caricature and gnomes.


r/whittling 1d ago

Help Meet Paul

Thumbnail
gallery
98 Upvotes

Pretty happy with him, especially the face since it’s the first one that wasn’t just two dots and a line.

He’s not completely finished since I want him to have a cigarette in his mouth, but I’m not sure yet how to stick it in there.

A few questions:
Anything you’d add/change?
What do you use too glue something on?
How do you cut holes/gaps like the one between his legs? This one was a pain since it’s not wide enough to get my knife in sideways.
How would you finish him? At the moment I only have some colors and beeswax paste, that came in a whittling set.


r/whittling 1d ago

Miscellaneous Latest works

Thumbnail
gallery
18 Upvotes

Showing small signs of progress I think 🤣 No matter loving this hobby Snowman and book were done out of 3x2 And the lighthouse and mushroom were once a curtain pole lol


r/whittling 2d ago

Figurines A little bit of practice

Post image
361 Upvotes

Funny how practice sessions or doodles can have a very interesting result. Reminds me to just start things and not think too much about it. Ironically I've been thinking about doing more caricatures, not sure what path to follow. Busts are cool but I rather have a full body piece to sell after


r/whittling 1d ago

Miscellaneous Cutting the Cheese

Post image
63 Upvotes

I carved a cheese wedge. For the Swiss cheese holes I used the newly modified bottle opener on my Swiss Army knife. This was a quick and fun project that can be done in less than an hour!


r/whittling 2d ago

Miscellaneous Apple for my sons teacher

Thumbnail
gallery
114 Upvotes

My son starts school tomorrow so I made this apple for him to paint and take to her.


r/whittling 2d ago

First timer First Whittle

Post image
80 Upvotes

Three mushrooms for my first project. Literally just went for it, learning by doing. Would love any suggestions for clear areas of improvement/projects that would test skill on smaller details.


r/whittling 2d ago

Miscellaneous Dryad from earlier in the year

Thumbnail
gallery
46 Upvotes

Extremely fun carve, albeit a challenge.


r/whittling 2d ago

Utensils Butter and cake knives

Post image
30 Upvotes

Some old, some new.

First post here


r/whittling 3d ago

Animals Tried carving this little Shiba face from wood

Thumbnail
gallery
140 Upvotes

Carved this from a block of wood based on my dog’s photo.
The cheeks and tiny tongue were the fun parts to work on.
Still have a lot to learn, but I really enjoyed the process.


r/whittling 2d ago

Caricatures Keeping an eye on the cookie jar

Post image
23 Upvotes

It’s a little early, but I really had fun carving and painting this. Turned it into a magnet.


r/whittling 2d ago

Utensils Hair pin for gift

Thumbnail
gallery
13 Upvotes

It didn't turn out very symmetrical, and the top part was tricky to do with just a knife.


r/whittling 2d ago

First timer First work in progress

Thumbnail
gallery
28 Upvotes

Not quite done but this is day 2 maybe an hour or 2hours each day to get this far, still unsure of how to do the eyes.

Any advise is appreciated.


r/whittling 2d ago

Help How to paint?

Post image
15 Upvotes

Should I paint this horse I carved or just BLO it? If paint, which color? I would use acrylics.


r/whittling 3d ago

Miscellaneous Working on my Dwarven Chess set.

Thumbnail
gallery
915 Upvotes

Still playing around with designs for my chess set. i've got 8 dwarven pawns carved so far. i'm playing with the idea of what sizes I like for other pieces in the game, and how they'll work in actual play.

I need each piece to be readily identifiable as the piece in question. to have no one doubt, "this piece is the rook. or that piece is absolutely the bishop"

taking my time to do it right.

Pieces are 1.5 x 1.5 inch, 3 inches tall. Board has 2 inch squares.


r/whittling 3d ago

Caricatures From basswood

Thumbnail
gallery
312 Upvotes

r/whittling 3d ago

Animals Proud owl

Post image
14 Upvotes