No Clue What Wood to Use!! HELP PLEASE!

[Soryny]

Please, please help!!! My 84 year old dad just came over from Puerto Rico after a 40 year absence from the states. He is not doing so well but is going nuts as he was always doing something with his hands. My friend gave him a knife and am trying to find out what wood would be best for him to do some "widdling" with so that he can create something. Also, don't know much about making baskets but he does beautiful ones from scratch.......he used stuff from his land in Puerto Rico. I have no clue to either crafts as I was born and raised in New York City, any information or direction you provide me will be so much appreciative, God Bless!

[Ron T]

Hello soryny. Almost any wood will do. Any kind of scrap, even a table or chair leg from a discarded piece to keep his hands busy until you can find a craft store like "Michael's Crafts" or do a search for carving supplies.

Then, basswood is best, or go to one of the carving suppliers and buy him a roughout. Look at the ads on the right side of the screen or do a search here. There are tons of posts that will tell yo7u where to buy them.

Good luck.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Soryny, below is a link to a GREAT website, lots of good info, carving supplies, and tools. The owners are really good people to do business with. Also I would get him a carving glove and thumb guard for protection. Hope everthing works out.

Little Shavers Wood Carving Supply

Dave

[Soryny]

OMG, thank you ever so much Ron!!! I had no idea! Will get on it right away, he's bored out of his mind! I work for ABC TV and was speaking to one of my outside prop people and he suggested going down to our Carpentry Shop and picking out some Balsa wood. So now am going to get him some supplies as well. My friend bought him an "Old Timer" knife but I took a look at your homepage and saw some tools there more appropriate for carving. My deepest gratitude, God Bless! Red Face

[Soryny]

Wow, Dave, thank you ever so much!!! What a great website.......oh am so very happy I found this forum!!! Feel much more relieved!! Now off to find some basket weaving forums as well, need to keep daddy busy, he's going insane, LOL!! God Bless!

[chuckbolton]

DONT use balsa wood-- basswood yes-- balsa is stringy and spilts-- u wont be happy with the results--

[Simplyme]

Hey Puerto Rican from New York here. Were in New york do you live I can probally help you with some local spots.

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Here is another store ya can buy wood and tools from, not as great as little shavers but they have alot and the best prices garenteed.
Wood Carvers Supply, Inc.
I hope this will help.
Carl

[Soryny]

Oh no! Thank you chuckbolton! I will definitely see if they have the basswood in the Carpentry shop instead of the balsa wood!! Phew, what a faux pax that would've been, LOL!

[Soryny]

Thank you Carl, will check out this website as well for the supplies, am so excited!!!