Whittle a Classic Song Bird
Here’s a fun carving you can do to earn your Cub Scout Whittling Chip patch!
Every Bear Scout and Webelos Scout wants to earn the right to carry a whittling knife, represented by the Whittling Chip Award and the Bear Claws Adventure. But before you take the Pocketknife Pledge you have to make a carving!
Here’s a fun and simple whittling project for you from Chris Lubkemann, resident woodcarver at the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
What you need:
- Pocket Knife
- Forked branch of choice
- Sandpaper – a couple of grits on the fine to very fine side (150- and 220-grit would work)
- Polyurethane or other clear finish of choice (optional)
- Pencil, pen, or marker
- Acrylic paints of choice (optional)
Little Book of Whittling
Chris Lubkemann has been writing about whittling for over 45 years, and he actually holds a Guinness World Record for the smallest branch rooster carving! His friendly guidebook, the Little Book of Whittling, will encourage you to whittle away the hours with 18 fun projects for canoes, forks, spoons, birds, animals, trees, flowers, and more. Chris also includes vital information that every scout needs to know about wood selection, knife handling, safety, and sharpening.
Complete Starter Guide to Whittling
Start whittling today with this complete starter guide. 12 leading woodcarvers present 24 easy whittling projects that you can make in just a weekend, complete with step-by-step instructions, how-to photographs, ready-to-carve patterns, and helpful tips.
Whittling Volume 5 (2018)
Learn to carve today with fun, fast and easy whittling projects! Whittling Volume 5 is packed with 26 projects that you can make in only minutes, using just a pocket knife. A handy whittler’s starter guide covers all the fundamentals you need to know.
Whittling Volume 6 (2019)
Enjoy 31 quick and easy whittling projects that introduce the hobby of whittling to beginners! With opening articles on getting started and even teaching kids how to whittle, all the step-by-step projects featured in this issue are fun, easy, and can be accomplished either in a few minutes or over a weekend – from a soap bear to an Americana eagle walking stick.
Whittling Pencils
Create your own elongated art that will intrigue everyone who sees it! This introduction to the slender craft of pencil carving shows how to make ordinary pencils come to life. Learn to whittle fascinating Santa pencils, Wood Spirits, Leprechauns and even an iconic Uncle Sam. Each complete project includes detailed instructions for whittling your skinny subjects, accompanied by dozens of step-by-step illustrations.
Whittling a Song Bird
1. Here’s a bird (looking down, in this case) and an appropriate blank fork.
2. Remove the bark from the entire fork.
3. Sketch the side profile of the bird.
4. Flatten the top and the bottom of the tail.
5. Shape the side profile of the head.
6. Taper the leg branch.
7. Cut off the excess length from the beak branch and taper the tail a bit more.
8. Draw the top view of the head, beak, and tail.
9. Carve the head and sharpen the beak.
10. Carve the tail.
11. Draw lines for rounding the underside of the body a bit more.
12. The body a bit more rounded with the legs a little more pronounced.
13. Draw the two legs.
14. Very carefully cut out the wedge between the legs. Again, where you go from this point is totally up to you! Finetune the details, and have fun painting and mounting
Other Wood Carving Titles
Whittling Volume 5 Magazine
Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Whittling Book, Gift Edition
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About the Author
Robert Triplett has been carving for most of his life. He retired from the U.S. Army after twenty-five years of service and later worked as a safety engineer at electrical power plants. Born and raised in Bedford County, Pa., Robert lives in Hummelstown, Pa.
Always have loved whittling and other wood and stone work. Fox chapel has always helped with any questions and instructions to keep me going. I am now disabled due to a stroke and recovery is rough as hell. Your magazines have given me a reason to push through. My disability pay is not enough to pay for new subscriptions so I treasure my old magazines and books more than ever!! !I pray for the time when I can afford to subscribe again.
You guys are amazing and a blessing.thank you,
Your loyal reader, Howard George
You make this seem so easy.