[Clifford_Parker]

Gergie,

Thanks for the compliments. I haven't updated my site in quite a while. Most of the basswood sticks on there are also stained or finished with Danish oil to give them more "character". Many of my sticks are now done in birch, alder, diamond willow, and maple.

Eddie,

I didn't mean to imply that modern carvers are "lazy", only to point out that there is a whole world of woods out there and many, in MY opinion, produce more attractive finished pieces due to their grains, colors, and textures. Some of the most beautiful carvings I have ever seen are in European cathedrals and are done in oak, beech, and other woods many carvers would now say are "too hard" for carving. These "masterpieces" were not carved with power but with mallet and chisels.

[Eddy Smiles]

Cliff... Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you did. I was basically commenting on my own carving abilities and choices. I prefer to carve softer woods but I do recognize that some of the harder woods are a lot more attractive. Like I said "go for it!" and happy carving.

[cseymour]

Thanks guys,
One thing I have learned from reading all these posts is the emphasis on sharp tools. I will definitely keep that in mind.

Appreciate all the advice.

Have a great Thansgiving everyone.

.

Chris

[RussL.]

By way of comparison I spent some time carving a street number sign in red oak for our home this weekend.

Not only did it require more frequent honing of my tools but it was a lot harder on the skin of my hands, too, as I slid them across the surface during the carving.

Then, last evening I went back to a relief project of a trout in basswood (or was that a bass in troutwood!?<g>) and man! It was like a warm knife through butter!

I thoroughlly enjoyed the carving of the red oak.
I also enjoyed the basswood.
Each has its place and application.

As a hobby carver I get to choose when and for which project I use either...but if I had started my carving with red oak I probably would not have continued long enough to learn the pleasures of woodcarving in general.
...but that may just be the easily-discouraged me...and afterall, that's who we mostly end up talking about on bulletin boards like this: ourselves! ;-)

RussL.