question on wood

[genes]

I want to carve a face design on a flat plane with dimensions.

Its simple really, but I am so new I dont even know where to start. I want the front teeth to be closer to the looker and then layer the teeth flatter as it goes around the face.

I went to Michaels hobby store and the only flat basswood board they had, had the grain going in a circle.

Is this the board grain style to use? thanks in advance for any help

[chuckbolton]

look for another board-- check with some of the better lumber yards in your area- or in kansas city we have several hardwood suppliers that have basswood. keep looking- what you must have found could be a slab cut from a limb-- it likely had bark on the outside-- id look for another piece-- i have used this type for a base-- i have never tried to carve it- so dont know how to respond to that-- but micheals will be the highest price you can find- contact -- Heinecke Wood Products -- dale will be very helpfull and the price will be reasonable.

[brian-bailey]

genes,

When sawing a log into lumber, the circular grain indicates to the sawyer that a knot or other defect is hiding just below the surface. Usually, when you saw the next board that defect will reveal itself and then it is time to turn the log to a better face if there is one.

The circular grain is not considered a defect when grading lumber it is just the way the wood forms around a branch end as the tree grows.

This type of grain could be somewhat difficult to carve though.

If it was me I would opt for a board with straighter grain.

[BobD]

You, know Brian...I've been working with wood for as long as I can remember, but I never thought about the grain pattern you just highlighted. Wow....Thank you!

Bob

[Irish]

Her ya go, Bob. This is a Walnut Hollow end grain slab.
Susan

[brian-bailey]

Hi Bob,

I wondered if anyone would notice the content of my post.

As a sawyer, I don't like to see that circular grain pattern show up because it means I'm going to start losing money if I keep sawing that face.

But on the other hand, as a furniture maker I'll readily take those boards and incorporate the circular pattern into my design.

For example in the 1st picture I had a butternut board with the circular pattern in it. I resawed the board, bookmatched the pattern and made a door panel with it.


The 2nd picture is more to what I think genes was referring to as circular grain. Like Chuck said in his post, it's limb wood. The way it is cut, the circular grain (growth rings) are end grain and would be difficult to carve.

The board in my picture came from a butternut log that had a large limb on one side. Ordinarily I would turn the log so the the knot would be on the edge of the board so I could trim it off on the edger.

In this case, I liked the way the knot looked and also because it didn't have a crack in it. I was able to get several boards out of the log with this knot and burl grain in it.

Again, I resawed the board and used the two panels in the doors of a vanity.


Brian...

[Irish]

Brian! Fantastic doors!

Susan

[brian-bailey]

Thanks, Susan.

Your horse looks fantastic on the basswood round too!