My Timber stock!

[SimonLawton]

Hi there,
I originally wanted just to make sticks, but hadnt reckoned on shanks having to season, Then I thought I would Whittle/carve some handles, but a mate of mine (Kevb) got me thinking about Carving in general! I have just subscribed to this Magazine, and as I am retired early due to ill health/disability. I have plenty of time to practice. I am actively chatting to a few nice blokes on here, Whittling, Twitcher, Boydman to name a few, and am begining to get some wood stock together! I have some Yew, Willow, Mahogany, plus a few Exotics!
Now I have to bite the Bullet and make a start!!!
take care all
Simon

[kev.b]

nice selection there simon. Personally i'd leave the harder woods for a while and start with a softer wood (Lime etc) but more importantly start with something fairly simple. that way you'll gain confidence as you progress. you dont want to jump in the deep end, take on something too demanding, get disheartened and give up.
If at all possible wait for the magazine to arrive there are plenty of great ideas in there for all levels of ability.

[cut up]

Welcome to the forum of the best woodcarving magazine, IMHO.
kev.b gives good advise. I think there are some suggestions in the beginners section or the tutorial section on simple plans.
Michael

[Robson Valley]

Welcome Simon:
There's a man, a block down my street, who builds furniture from diamond willow. Fabulous bed frames and tables and chairs. He pulls in 250 blanks for hiking sticks and canes, 5 year rotation in his "wood stash." The joke, this past 2011 spring, in May, was that they were bringing in 2014 wood. I've visited enough to realize that he knows exactly what to do, with a 4-5 year lead time.
Quantity? They bring home 6-10 truck loads of wood every spring. Days spent stripping the bark, more days getting more green wood. Then, they put it all away.
.
In December, my kids got to "cherry-pick" a selection of 200+ sticks for hiking staffs from the 2008 bin. Then came the tip types, the thumb grooves and the wrist thongs, not to mention the type of finish.

All I can say is "Get in there!" Get a BIG rotation of wood going and have a good time.