Tagua nuts

[Julia]

I have been told that tagua nut is easy to carve when wet. Does anyone know how to do that?

[Ron T]

Hi Julia,

A friend gave me a tagua nut and told me to soak it in water for a few minutes and then carve it. I haven't tried it yet.

[Julia]

Thanks. Seems too simple, but I'll give it a try.

[Dicky]

If you google softening tagua nuts, you will find some information there.

[Julia]

Again, too simple! Thanks Dicky

[kitaye]

The tagua nut also becomes very slippery so watch your fingers. I've tried soaking them and they were a little easier to carve, but as I said they are slippery once you get the bark off. Also, mine yellowed something fierce once it dried.

[Julia]

Thanks Kitaye, good to know, I find myself wearing bandaids constantly.
I really like your blog!

[mobjack68]

I carved a tagua nut several years ago, have been trying for 2 days to remember to take a pic and post it...maybe before the weekend is over...

I have had a lot of fun with them...sliced one up real thin, you could almost read the newspaper thru it....still rather strong. Turned one on the lathe, that was a real hoot!

There is a hollow in the middle of some nuts, no real way to tell which ones are afflicted. Cut the first one in half, solid all the way thru, the one I carved (see above...lack of pic) was hollow, had to modify carving to the defect...I'll take a pic of that too..

[mobjack68]

carved part of this wet....rest after it dried




and the hollow that I spoke of



looks like a jagged line along the base.....
Good luck and be careful...

[Big Barn]

what did you use to do the carving? Chisels or power tool/dremmel?