basswood help please.

[jaytek]

Hello guys this is my first post to you all so firstly... hello. I recently joined the site looking for help, advice and some inspiration as I am very new to this. My question is this... I am from the UK and have noticed that there is not much about basswood and where to get it from over here. Most people I have spoken too have advised me to carve with this. I would like to know if any of you know any other alternative woods I could use from over here. I know it proberly has an obvious answer to some of you but I really am lost trying to start this new hobby up. Please help a grateful amateur. Thanks.

[Big Barn]

I believe over in your neck of the woods, Lime wood is going to be real close to basswood. I actually think it is a sub species of basswood. See if you can find that (Lime wood).

[TreeWizard]

If you can find Limewood in the UK that will fill the bill.

[Claude]

This is basswood (linden) The photos don't really do it justice, as it's a very light colored wood, little apparent grain.
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/specialcolle...e/plate_03.jpg

Lime in the UK is apparently either the same thing, or very close. This is one source for lime in the UK - I haven't bought from them, so I don't know the quality or anything - just saw the site referenced by a UK carver...
Wood & Wood Carving Tools, Limewood Batons, Kirschen Wood Carving Tool Set, Leather Apron, Arkansas Smoothing Stone, Japanese Plywood, Mallet, Pfeil Scorp

Another wood that is often carved is poplar. http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/specialcolle...e/plate_02.jpg Sometimes called tuplip poplar or yellow poplar. It's a bit harder than basswood/lime but holds detail well. A really good choice if you are carving something with a mallet and gouges. Other nice woods to carve: cherry, maple, walnut - these are all harder than poplar. And then you get into the fruit woods: apple, pear, plum, etc. These are very hard woods, but carve nicely with sharp gouges and a mallet.

Hope this helps you...
Claude

[luscher]

if you want a sample to try, there is an eBay seller in South Molton, Devon with the username scswoodwork

a listing of his wares can be found with this link :

scswoodwork | eBay

[Steve Reed]

Thought I'd add that when I was living in Germany, they called it "Linden".
Here's a link
Tilia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[TreeWizard]

In the US basswood is "American Linden" In Europe limewood Is also Linden but over hear we call it Little leaf linden. They are almost the same as each other but as the name suggests the leaves on European linden are smaller than the American varity.

Little leaf linden is a very common tree that many cities use to plant in the treelawn between the curb and the sidewalk.

[Demonmane]

hey I'm from the Uk too and yeah limewood same or at least same sort of thing as basswood but carving doesn't seem to be a big thing here. well it doesn't seem it down south east! and even the uk woodcarving site never has anyone on it. I seem to remember my old man buying me some bass from europe on ebay for cheap so that is probably your best bet but i dont think it matters what you use. i was given loads of scrap mahogany which is meant to be a hardwood but i find it cuts really easily so i mostly use that and even oak, yeah its tough to cut but you can do fiddly pieces without it snapping. maybe im just too heavy handed and inexperienced lol but i have fun with those so jus grab what you can

[CaptBouncy]

Hi Jaytek, I was recently in Canada and I brought back a small piece of Basswood to see how it compares to Lime and they carve almost exactly the same, it also depends of what you are going to carve, if you are carving a relief you might also consider poplar, the other option if you can get it is Austrian or Stone Pine.

Rgds

Dylan,

[mobjack68]

jaytek, demonmane...welcome aboard!!
let me say this....if it is wood?? it can be carved. Basswood is always at the top of the list because it is usually uniform with no discernible difference between the growth rings. There are many species that can be carved, without a great deal of difficulty.
Magnolia?? Holly?? Grab a limb, grab a knife...make some shavings!!!!
Try them all...