Dealing with Wood Grain

[BrandantR]

I posted this under General Wood Carving last week, but since this information might be very useful to beginners, I thought that I would post it here as well. I remember, as a beginning wood carver, struggling with grain direction in a carving piece and getting frustrated, not knowing the proper direction for making cuts; grain tearing out and details chipping off. It is my hope that this article will be beneficial to everyone who struggles with this difficult subject and hopefully it will help reduce the number of beginning carvers who get frustrated and move away from this most excellent of hobbies.

The article entitled "Demystifying Wood Grain, a Wood Carving Primer" is available in PDF format for download, free of any fee, and can be downloaded from my blog. Here's the link to the post on The Old Stump Blog

The Old Stump: Demystifying Wood Grain.

It took a great deal of time and effort to put this article together, so I would like to get it out there and into the hands of all those who may benefit. I encourage everyone to stop by and take a look if you have ever struggled with wood grain direction.

[Robson Valley]

As a retired wood anatomy guy, I recommend reading Brandant's piece.

Hindsight tells me that an equal problem is the issue of studying the purchased wood and deciding on the direction and angle of grain "run-out." "Runout" is a common term for the gradual rise and exposure of growth rings in the surface of the block. In other words, the fiber is angled to the surface.

All things being equal, maybe carving success is as simple as flipping the block over. Also, this is awkward to determine in pale woods such as bass, alder and yellow cedar.

For my part, I am going back to far larger blocks and splitting off slabs. They tend to follow the growth rings, keeping the fiber axis parallel to the surface.

[BrandantR]

Thanks Robson Valley for your endorsement. It's difficult for beginners and seasoned carvers alike to get a feel for how to handle wood grain. Although my article is certainly not all inclusive, I think it will give the reader a little insight and some better understanding into the structure of wood. I certainly hope that it helps someone.

[Robson Valley]

Some days, the grain issue makes me think that the block is actively resisting being carved. On two occasions in the past 6 weeks, I tossed them in the tinder box and started over. Both cases, they were wood that I bought. Fortunately there was enough wood to replace them.

Does not hurt anything to take the time to study the block (in view of the planned carving) to work out a potential strategy for the carving process. If you have to buy wood, THEN you make up your mind about the purchase.

If you can see lots of U-shaped or V-shaped growth rings on the surface of a board, think twice. That means turn it over and study the other side. Those patterns clearly show the growth rings, the grain, rising out of the surface to fight with you.