Can dry wood be re-hydrated somewhat for whittling?

[Ezzylearner]

I have a stick cut from this particular piece of jelutong wood (see attached thumbnail) that I find hard (in comparison to those from other pieces were softer) to whittle, The tendon between my right thumb and index finger, and my left thumb, are beginning to hurt from exerting pressure whittling this stick with my utility knife. Question: Is it possible to hydrate somewhat dry or too dry wood to make it softer for whittling or carving? Your help will be most appreciated. (This may have been discussed on past threads but it'll take me quite a while to browse through all the threads to find the relevant ones.)

In case you would like to know what the red thingy is (shown in the thumbnail) - its my self-made thumb guard cut from an old leather glove, reinforced with book-binding tape that also makes it tight and prevent it from falling off my thumb. It works.

[Mark Dellinger]

Eezylearner,
I believe that it is. I think that I recall Gene Messer posting a video on you tube about re-hydrating wood. You might check out his videos. Book Binding tape? Are you in printing?


Safe Carving and God Bless,

Mark

[chipmunk]

u may try to wet the wood or steam it a little to put some moisture back into the wood to make it softer other then that i don't know what can be done to help maybe someone else can give u more!

[Old Codger]

Don't know if this would work for you...but everytime I find wood that's difficult to carve because it's so dry, I spray it down with a 50/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and water... Let it set for about 15 - 20 minutes and I'm off again...much easier and less dangerous to carve... the alcolhol permits the water to dry out faster, while the water softens the wood... I learned this from my fellow woodcarvers here on the forum and it's saved me untimed hours of pain and sore hands from carving 'concrete' wood! Enjoy and hope this helps... Safe carving to you!
Kenn

[Ezzylearner]

Thanks, everyone, for the tips, reckon I'll give the "rub alcohol and water" treatment a try, if it doesn't help I'll try steaming. I am not in the print business, just left over book binding tapes - used to bind Christmas caroling sheets together for our community's carolers. Tried but couldn't find that particular video of Gene's on You Tube yet. Thanks again guys.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Originally Posted by Old Codger

Don't know if this would work for you...but everytime I find wood that's difficult to carve because it's so dry, I spray it down with a 50/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and water... Let it set for about 15 - 20 minutes and I'm off again...much easier and less dangerous to carve... the alcolhol permits the water to dry out faster, while the water softens the wood... I learned this from my fellow woodcarvers here on the forum and it's saved me untimed hours of pain and sore hands from carving 'concrete' wood! Enjoy and hope this helps... Safe carving to you!
Kenn

Ditto, I do the same, works great!

Dave

[Ezzylearner]

I tried the 50/50 alcohol - water treatment on the piece of jelutong this morning and after 20 minutes I did a bit of test-whittling - aaannnnd it works. Hooray! Thank you, guys for the tips. Found the same tip on Gene's Flat Plane Carving blog August 2009 posting, too. I raided my wife's first aid box for the alcohol and she's annoyed now, told me to use my bottle of wine instead. Wondering whether it'll work - might give it a try when I open the bottle at Christmas (I'll drink to all of you guys at WCI, cheers).

Lawrence (or Ezzy, if you like)