Hand Carved Solid Wood Chain - One of Dad's old whittle'n tricks ...

I guess she was the weakest link huh! Nice whittling!

-- - Power is not revealed by striking hard or often, but by striking true. -

That’s really cool

-- Don, Royersford, PA

As Don said, That’s really cool. Post the how to, maybe I will be that ambitious one day:)

-- Martin ....always count the number of fingers you have before, and after using the saw.

I used to carve chain links when I was in high school. I first started with a broom stick and that was too much work! Then I took a 1” square length of wood and cut the 4 corners out so I have a cross left and not so much to carve away. I carved a ball within a ball for the end link. I have no idea whatever happened to them. I know I did not throw them away but I do not have them anymore!

-- Erwin, Jacksonville, FL

An instructional blog wood be a great idea. Of course enough time must be given, before the blog, to allow others to try & fail, first!!! This wood be a fun project. Thanks for sharing this.

-- Randy-- I may not be good...but I am slow!

Very nice, and neat.

-- It is fun to see where an imagination and two bored saws will get you.

It looks like really good work to me. Thanks for sharing.

-- Rick, Tennessee, John 3:16

I can only imagine trouble of making it.

-- Ivan, Croatia, Wooddicted

My grandfather loved to carve chains. He wanted to carve a chain from every different wood he could get. The biggest chain he made was from a chunk of cocobolo 2 inch sq by 28 inches long. That is when we learned cocobolo can cause a rash like poision ivy and the dust caused nosebleeds. He used a dremel tool, drill press, coping saw and carving tools. Everyone in the family has a few of his chains.

-- Fine Custom Woodwork since 1978

Well done. I have tried whittling chains several times from pine but have always screwed up.
I made the cross shape and tried to do it, just using a couple of knives but the links always split. Maybe I’ll have another go.

What wood did you use?

-- A family man has photos in his wallet where his money used to be.

Great work, would love to hear more on this.

-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"

I can’t pretend to have the patience (or time) to do a step by step … but there’s a ton of them out there a book or two I think check Fox Chapel Publishing, they always have some good carving books.

Ours was VERY simple – these can get extremely intricate and complicated. The first link is pretty good with how to make a simple one.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5056435_whittle-chain-wood-carving.html

http://www.littleshavers.com/chains.html

Thanks!

-- Eric M. Saperstein, Master Craftsman www.artisansofthevalley.com

It may be simple, but since I’m not a carver/whittler (yet), I’m drawing a blank. Can’t wait to read, and hopefully see how it is done.

Great project to have from you father. You have to have a lot of resolve to do these chains

-- Norman