carving cherry

[gaje]

A friend gave me a nice piece of cherry with a big knot (size of a dinner plate). He thought it might be fun to carve. I have only carved basswood, cottonbark, butternut, and one pine knot (that was very hard to carve!). Is it worth trying? If it is anything like a pine knot, I think it is beyond my skill level. Any advice would be appreciated!
Betty

[Eddy-Smiles]

Cured cherry can be pretty hard, especially around a knot. I don't think that it takes anymore skill level than any other wood, just some real sharp tools and if it is hard your basswood tools may not have the right angle on them so that carving the cherry will be even tougher. You'll just have give it a try.

[rickm]

i have carved some cherry, but not with a big knot, like eddie says, stay sharp and take little pieces at one time. Dont try for removing that big slice like in basswood. go slow

[gaje]

I was thinking that I would use power, at least the Foredom to get below the surface. I am not opposed to using power for the whole project, if that is what it would take. Anyone with experience using power on cherry?
Thanks so much to those of you who have responded already! It must be pretty obvious by now that I am not an experienced carver!!!

[brent]

If you a one to imbibe on occasion,then buy a six pack. Open one and start to carve on the cherry.If you can make it to the 2nd can,you have made progress in the cherry, thenset the can aside and finish the cherry. If not, then finish the beer and throw the cherry away.

[Sharon of the Dell]

I used power on some cherry limbs. Carves nice!
If you don't feel comfortable carving it yet, just set it a side until you do. The longer it dries though, it will get harder! But that's okay especially if you do use power tools.

[LBlake]

I've carved cherry several times. It's quite a lot harder than basswood, cottonwood bark, or butternut, but it's nice to carve. Just have to take shallower cuts. As for the knot, that might not be fun to carve, but power oughtta help. The tiny knots I've encountered in cherry were very brittle.

[cut up]

I'm working on a piece of cherry. It's very tough, but do-able. Take your time with small cuts an you'll be fine. If you decide to go power on it, watch your bits that they are sharp and don't get hot, or it'll burn your wood instead of cutting.
Michael

[BruceP]

I saw a very good way to use a knot at a woodcarver's roundup. The instrucor of a cane carving session showed us a 12 X 12 plank with a big knot in the middle. He cut two can handles out of the plank with each one wrapping 1/2 way around the knot. This way he had the shape of the cane handle follow the grain.
Bruce

[Grimnir]

Good idea Bruce, I might have to keep an eye out for bits like that