Pine for carving?

[Hotwing]

Hi everyone, This is my first post here and I've been having tons of fun looking and learning on the site. My question is, I see most people are carving with basswood. Basswood is very hard to find locally, in North Dakota. However pine two by fours are everywhere!!!!! So, is it worth trying with pine? Or should I continue looking for basswood. Thanks.

[cut up]

Pine is not really a good wood to carve because it has many issues to deal with. Yellow pine has lots of hard spots that will make carving unpleasant. White pine is too soft, won't hold much detail, tears easily (especially when your knife gets dull), sometime has lots of knots that get in the way. It is do-able if that all you can get, but realize it can get frustrating. Personally, I'd rather check into ordering bass from a wood supply. There are several people that will probably post with names of their favorite mail order house.
BTW, welcome to the forum Hotwing.
Michael

[kdispoto]

Try to hook up with a carving club in your area - they can be a great resource.

[gene-messer]

The biggest problem with yellow pine is the resin in it .. Iam not sure Iam spelling resin right .. but its the sap type glue in yellow pine .. it dulls the knife and sticks to the knife .. it is not good for a blade

Gene

[TreeWizard]

I've done several relief carvings in white pine and they came out well. I haven't tried any in the round carvings with it bur I don't think it would be much different.

Basswood is easy to carve but you can find hard spots in it as well, with good sharp tools you can carve most any wood.

[mobjack68]

Sugar pine is actually a lot like basswood, 'cept it smells like pine (sugar pine was the wood of choice for years for patternmakers).....My suggestion?? Try it!! if you are looking at 2x4's, you may find that some of the sticks might just carve pretty okay.....
Next time you are at the store and you see sized lumber, pull out your pocket knife and cut a sliver or two. You may find some of it to your liking. Lot of the pines will have way too much difference between the hard rings/soft rings to make carving any fun at all....

AND...don't discount any local wood that might be available to you...alder?? poplar? maple? buckeye cuts a lot like basswood, dries very even without a lot of cracking splitting of you air dry it, willow is very easy on the hands and nerves if you stay away from knots/burls and crotches....

[AlArchie]

The Dakotas most likely get their "pine" from the same place we do here in Upper Michigan......namely Canada. A lot of that Canadian pine is actually SPRUCE, which is a whole nudder animule. Canada has been milling pole sized spruce for 2x4's and sending them our way. Pole size means that you will probably get 2bys' with heart wood and even bark on one corner in every piece. This junk is not suitable for carving and in my opinion, not even good for construction. I complained to our local lumber company and was told that is all they can get riight now.

If you can possibly find "select and better" grade pine you may get some decent carving material, but you will pay through the nose for it. Poke through the #1 pine stacks and you can also find some with sections of nice clear carving wood.

As mentioned above, sugar pine is fine for carving and #1 and select white pine can also be good for carving. The trouble is PINE covers a lot of ground, and unless you have a source where you can request clear white or sugar pine, you really don't know what you are getting.

Al

[Claude]

Since no one else has mentioned it so far, I'd suggest going to Heinecke Wood Products to buy your basswood. They have fast response and the wood is great.

Claude

[Hotwing]

Thanks for all the replies. I've found that the hard spots in the pine are not to difficult to work with. However, cutting around the knots to make my chunks is a pain. Im going to make some calls and see what some local stores can get in for basswood. Again, thanks for your input. With a new baby in the house finding time to carve is getting hard, but i hope to have a hillbilly or little guy to show everybody in a couple weeks.

[Spalted Carver]

While basswood is the "standard" for most carvers you might like to also try another option.

Actually, if you can find "air dried" white pine, not the typical "pine lumber" you see everywhere, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

It is extremely easy to work.

Myself & another member of the carving club I belong to LOVE it!!

If you remember the Rick Butz TV shows, that was the type of wood he mostly used.