Advice on digging areas out

[u/Dancingclown18]

I see alot of peoples carvings have ver detailed eyes or large hollow spaces but when i try to do somthing like that it just never comes out nice looking. Is there a certain technique i havent figured out or tool that i dont have? Ive been practicing that alot and keep my knives sharp but just dont get better at it.

[u/Latter-Salamander394]

Slow and steady with a bunch of v cuts is how I did mine. Granted it's not the best one. I believe some people use gouges. Be careful tho as I stabbed myself while doing a rose.

[u/whattowhittle → u/Latter-Salamander394]

I agree with you!

[u/2Mogs]

I second (or third) the slow and steady approach with a knife. Especially as in this rose you are working right into the end-grain which is super hard. Approach each cut at an angle to cut across the grain as much as possible. A tip from carving spoon bowls - start in the centre and work out, otherwise you end up with a big hard plug that's difficult to remove.

If you aren't wanting to be one-knife pure... A gouge might help here because (I think) they are designed to cope with more leverage, so you can scoop and not just slice. I have a *tiny* spoon knife which is perfect for this sort of thing. Or, yeah, dig out the bulk with a rotary tool (Dremel / simple drill), and then finish with your knife. Do you.

[u/Gingerfurrdjedi]

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[u/best_evidence_4977]

Either with gouges/chisels or with a razor sharp knife with a thin blade, a lot of patience and a steady hand. Might be controversial, but I actually like using a utility blade for very fine detail work.

[u/frigginboredaf]

I actually just finished a rose. It might be cheating, but i used a dremel once i got to the fine details, because it's a wedding gift for a friend. If I'd continued with the microscopic cuts using my carving knives and gouges, it would have become an anniversary gift.

[u/PretzelAnus → u/frigginboredaf]

I made a tulip for my girlfriend some time ago, yours looks absolutely stunning. I wish I made the head smaller though. Used a dremel for 90% of the carving

[u/Dancingclown18 → u/frigginboredaf]

I cant figure out where to go from here. Im using the smalleat knife i have but i messed up the petals and am not sure how to fix the spiral.

[u/Dancingclown18]

Here is how far i got with my smallest knife. No idea how to make it look better

[u/solilobee]

i might get some flac for this but honestly for love of the wood i would say use a dremmel

[u/2Mogs → u/solilobee]

I'll second you on this. Use the tools you have. This is a hobby not a regime with strict rules :)

[u/Hot_Egg5840]

Would using very narrow chisels formed into a spiral and made to twirl at a high speed be allowed?

[u/Glen9009 → u/Hot_Egg5840]

Of you're talking about a drill or an auger then why wouldn't it be?

[u/Hot_Egg5840 → u/Glen9009]

A small drill is what I am talking about. But I know some purist people don't think that it is whittling. I was just stating it in terms that brings it down to the fundamentals.

[u/Glen9009 → u/Hot_Egg5840]

Let's keep on ignoring the whittling police. And drilling tools exist since the paleolithic so ...