Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on June 20, 2011 at 16:56

OH no!!  That is one happy deer.  Wish I had a peach tree to save pits for you

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on June 20, 2011 at 17:25

If the pits were good, save them from dinner too.  LOL

Jan Carter said:

OH no!!  That is one happy deer.  Wish I had a peach tree to save pits for you

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on June 20, 2011 at 19:40

OK, I have a few more in the fridge for this week.  I'll start saving them up. 

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on July 1, 2011 at 15:14

Things are starting to look "PEACHY" round here.  Looking to score some peaches this weekend.  Local Peach Festival is on Monday.

If I ever get the home computer fixed(replaced) I'm thinking it's now time for our third lesson...

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 1, 2011 at 16:41

We are waiting patiently, kinda

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 11, 2011 at 18:40

JJ,

I hope your getting some pits on this trip (and a new whittler or two) 

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on July 18, 2011 at 18:09

Jan Carter said:

We are waiting patiently, kinda

Sorry for the delay, Jan.  Mannaged to put togather a short lesson on pits.  Hopefully, if we have a connection in PA,  I can do the next lesson from there.  Maybe you can bring that Great Eastern whittler?

 

Lesson 3

The Pit.

Here in my corner of the world, the middle of July is the best time for buying fresh, local, peaches. While peach season has been in full swing for several weeks, the best pits are to be found at this point in the season and there are many roadside stands that sell fresh , local peaches.

Now is the time to enjoy some fresh peach ice cream, cobbler, fried pies, preserves….

　

About got myself sidetracked there for a minute;

Peaches come in 2 distinct varieties; Freestone, where the pit is easily removed from a cut peach; and Clingstone, where the pit is much harder to remove. Cleaning the pits is definitely easier with a freestone than a clingstone, though I seem to like the shapes of a clingstone better. This is why I keep a set of picks in my carving kit

Peach pits (or stones) are simply the hard seed covering from a peach.

　

I did say seed COVERING, as the actual seed is inside of the pit. While peaches themselves are great, DO NOT EAT THE SEED CERNAL INSIDE OF A PIT, THEY ARE POISONOUS. Some folks think that the inner seed is an almond, it’s not.

 

　

For the most part, you’ll want nice shaped, whole pits to work with. The best pits should be tan to brownish-red color.

 

Some pits may be a much lighter color, almost white,, but they tend to be softer and not as strong after they are carved. They are also lighter in weight.

Now that you’ve gathered your pits and cleaned them, you need to put them out to dry. If you put them in a zip lock bag, or something airtight they could mold.

 

After they’ve dried out, it’ll be time to do some carving. Now is a good time to look over “Carving Peach Pits“, by R.V. Dietrich once again.

If you come across some earlier season crops, which have been exposed to late winter frost and freezes, they tend to have damaged pits. Most times the pits from early crops will be split or even broken within the fruit.

If I find pits that are split open, but not broken in two, I like to make pit characters with them.

　

For the next lesson, you’ll need 3 things, your knife, a thumb guard and a pit. (If you forget the thumb guard, be sure to bring band-aids.  Might want to have some "on hand", anyway.)

 

Till next time…

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 18, 2011 at 19:23

JJ

I have notice the difference is how easily some pits clean that others.  I have an old toothbrush that will take most of the peach off and then others I have to remove them by hand.  Fingernails work great for that.  I certainly will make sure I have bandaids on hand

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on July 19, 2011 at 17:51

Yep,

 

A freestone comes out fairly clean, but you'll definately need "something extra" to get a clingstone clean.

 

Have you tried to carve into one yet?  Just to test it?

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 19, 2011 at 18:22

No but I do have 2 drying in a bowl on the kitchen counter.  Cant wait.  BTW I cant draw a stright line so I am hoping this works out.  One way or the other I will let you see it when I make my attempt

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on July 19, 2011 at 18:38

You'll do fine, I'm sure.  I can't draw a strait line either.  I think that I'm the only one that can cut a circle with a skill saw.

 

With any luck, I'll be able to connect to some wi-fi,  in PA.  Hope to show the process of a simple basket.

 

Can't remember who it was here at iKC that carved a face.  I've been looking, but I can't find the old posts...

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on September 13, 2011 at 20:02

OK, my pits appear to be ready and work hours may be slowing down....Carve a pit, I feel that project getting closer

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