Getting clean cuts

I am working on a project using butternut wood, but having problems getting crisp clean cuts. I seem to get furry fibers insteand of sharp angles.

Is this a property of butternut?

Do I need to learn to sharpen my tools better?

Maybe my technique need improving?

What ya think?

Brad

[mdallensr]

You may have a couple of problems. You need sharp tools to do detail work in butternut, and you may have a soft piece of butternut. If that's the case, even the sharpest tools may not be enough to eliminate the fuzzies in relief or chip carving. If your butternut has wide growth rings, it's not going to hold detail well.

Here's a weird one that sometimes works with butternut fuzzies -
spraying it with WD-40 will firm it up and allow clean cuts. The downside is it takes 2 or 3 days for the WD-40 to fully evaporate so there is no stain in the wood.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I wonder if rubbing alcohol would help?

Thanks for the help. I think that I have both problems. Some of my tools are very sharp--new Flexcuts--but I do need to practice my sharpening skills too.

But, some areas of the wood are very porous and have good size gaps and holes. It would not look great with a natural finish.

This is really only my second or third carving project and I am having lots of fun!

[mdallensr]

Brad, don't get put off by a bad piece of wood. I'm glad you're still having fun, but there's no shortage of good carving wood in the U.S., and if you're going to put yourself into a carving, it's a shame to come up short because of some 'punk' wood. One thing is for sure: if you have a problem getting the look and finish you want 'as-carved', it'll be worse after you add the finish. Stains and finishes tend to accentuate blemishes, not hide them. Mike