ordering wood for the first time

[TexasSteve]

I am new to this and have fiddled around a little with the scrap wood in my bins. I am getting ready to order some wood from Heinecke because everyone says it is good quality and it is so much cheaper than what i have found local at woodcraft and Rockler. The question I have is what is a good order? I am going to try caricature carving, maybe pieces that are 6 inches tall. I just don't know how i should buy the wood, how big a piece does a body take? I would also like to carve a few bigger pieces as well for Christmas.

Seems ambitious but I want to carve a christmas sleigh pulled by eight Armadillos. I am in Texas after all. And if I can, a Santa standing next to the sleigh getting ready for the big trip of the night.

Any help would be appreciated on how much wood and sizes to order for general carving. I would rather order more up front so i have it laying around, I already know I am getting hooked and would hate to have to wait for wood when the urge arises.

Thanks
Steve

[Claude]

Steve: it all depends on whether you can cut the wood up or not. If you have a 9 inch or larger band saw, order 3 x 6 x 12 inch pieces, and cut them smaller as needed. This is what I do.

Decide what sizes you need for your carvings, then order slightly large.
Claude

[TexasSteve]

Thanks Claude. Yes I do have a band saw now. Hopefully I can pull these carvings off over the next month. I will post the pics when I have them finished. I am not much of a painter, so we will see what comes of that.

[Thomp]

TexasSteve,
i usually justify postage on an order 50 to 60 bucks worth of 12"x4"x 12, 8,or6" depending on what im thinking of carving, i hate to buy practice sticks and have to turn around and glue them up, to make enough wood for a bigger project. that henders me to the point of putting off a project.

with 4" stock i can just cut my own practice sticks when needed, and still have the bigger blocks to aid my inspiration, like at 4am... i got to commit while the ideas still hot.. because if i put it off it wont get done.

another plus i love to see what i can make out of the bigger scraps when the projects are cut out of a big block..

[Tom Ellis]

Steve, Good advice from Claude, and Thomp, And keep your scraps, because you will find all kinds of things you can make from them.

Tom

[TexasSteve]

Thanks everyone. I placed my first order and can't wait to get the wood delivered. I was impressed with them as well because I recently made a wall cabinet for my wife to store all her scrapbooking stamps and punched in and I was trying to figure out a way to get carvable wood in the size of 3/4" thick x 15: wide x 30" tall and the folks at heinecke are going to help me with that as well. I am going to relief carve a squirell scene for her to attache to the front of those cabinet doors. I have big ambitions, we will see if the hands create what the mind sees.

[chuckbolton]

the kind of service you get from dale is like that you used to get at many small town stores ( and still do some places) they appreciate your business and will do most anything to accomodate you.

[TexasSteve]

You know Chuck, it may sound kind of corny, but this is part of why I am picking up carving. I can tell by this forum and the carving community, these are the types of folks I want to be around. Life seems simple, and nice folks are appreciated. A nice change from the way the world seems headed at times. I look forward to building some of those relationships in here as i become a "wood carver."

[abrakadabra]

You should search on the Internet for lumberyards in your area.
They sell wood cheaper than Woodcraft or Rockler.
Lumber Yards in Texas (TX) - AOL Local Yellow Pages

[Whittled Thumb]

Wow your carvings (especially if they are beginning ones) sound ambitious. I'd go a little more simple. Gene has some terific characture tutorials. Its how I have been learning. If you have never carved before, start small so you don't become frustrated and toss the whole hobby out the door. Also FOR THE LOVE of god, get yourself a thumb guard! Hence my name Whittled Thumb! You will want a glove too, I just use one of my old leather work gloves, works for me!

Happy Carving!